In July 2025, Eugene Wilson, of Covington, Virginia, suddenly fainted and fell, forcefully hyperextending his neck. When he regained consciousness, he was briefly unable to move his hands or feet. Eugene had undergone a prior cervical fusion of the C6 and C7 vertebrae more than 15 years earlier and sought evaluation from Dr. Joshua Prickett, a board‑certified and fellowship‑trained neurosurgeon with LewisGale Physicians Neurosurgery. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Prickett initially recommended conservative treatment, including physical therapy.
While these measures provided partial relief, Eugene continued to experience numbness, hand weakness, and difficulty with balance when lifting even light objects. Given his persistent symptoms, Dr. Prickett recommended surgical intervention. The proposed operation combined two procedures during a single surgery: a cervical laminectomy to decompress the spinal cord and nerves, followed by a multilevel cervical fusion using bone graft and internal fixation to restore stability to the neck.
On October 9, Eugene underwent surgery at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem under general anesthesia. The procedure was completed over several hours without complication. When he awoke, Eugene immediately noticed significant improvement. “When I had my first neck surgery years ago, I had to wear a collar and it took months to recover,” Eugene recalls. “This time, I barely needed pain medication, didn’t need a neck brace, and was back to driving and working within a week.”
Eugene spent one night in the hospital before being discharged home with instructions to avoid bending or twisting his spine or lifting greater than 10 pounds. His pain was minimal and well controlled with anti-inflammatories, without the need for stronger medications.
At his six‑week postoperative visit, Eugene reported complete resolution of his neck pain and substantial improvement in strength and balance. He had already returned to physically demanding activities, including helping with a house demolition, without worsening symptoms. In the office, Dr. Prickett noted marked improvement in motor strength and spinal cord function.
Reflecting on his recovery, Eugene shared, “I’ve had several surgeries in my life, including for my neck and kidney stones, and this situation had me worried. Dr. Prickett got me the best outcome I could have hoped for. I feel so good now that I sometimes have to remind myself not to overdo it. He did a heck of a job on me.”
To schedule a consultation with Joshua Prickett, DO, or the team at
LewisGale Physicians Neurosurgery, call (540) 444-1240.