At Kalra Brain & Spine in Frisco, Texas, Ricky Kalra, M.D. is a board certified, spine fellowship trained neurosurgeon who specializes in conservative treatment, minimally invasive spine surgery, and complex spinal deformity. During Dr. Kalra’s fellowship training he completed an additional six months of training in Germany to learn advanced spine procedures and new technologies coming out of Europe. Dr. Kalra also has been recognized as a D Best Neurosurgeon in Dallas by his physicians colleagues from 2017-2023. 

Does Dr. Kalra See Patients for Second Opinions?

Yes, Dr. Kalra sees patients for second opinions and also encourages his patients to seek a second opinion. Dr. Kalra wants to ensure you make an informed decision that is best for you, your health, and your recovery, regardless if it is with him or another surgeon. Remember, statistics show that roughly 80% of Americans will experience some form of spine pain in their lifetime, however only 10% of spine pain truly requires surgery. If you have been told you need spine surgery a second opinion may also help you find treatment options you were unaware of, or never considered. Two of Dr. Kalra’s patients share their experience on how a second opinion made all the difference:

“Life Changing!! I have had a great experience with Dr. Kalra! He was my second opinion and gave me options that I did not realize I had. He really cares for his patients and will spend as much time with you as you need to answer all your questions. His team worked extremely hard with my difficult insurance to get the surgery approved that was best for me. I am a young mom who could no longer spend time with or take care of my kids due to pain. Now I am pain free and can do all the fun things with my kids again! I have my quality of life back!!” Bailey W.

“With little time remaining before my scheduled cervical fusion surgery I set out to find alternatives and discovered the Mobi-C. I found that Mobi-C patients generally have better outcomes, are less likely to need follow up surgery, are sent home the same day, do not need a neck brace, and most patients report returning back to work in one week. This sounded a lot different then my conversation with my first surgeon regarding a cervical fusion. We researched for a surgeon with advanced training on the Mobi-C and are so grateful to have found Dr. Kalra! With my surgery so close my expectations were low but Dr. Kalra and his staff went out of their way to be flexible and provide a thorough second opinion on my two level ACDF that was set to take place in less than a week. After meeting Dr. Kalra I cancelled the scheduled fusion and proceeded with his recommended C6-7 Mobi-C disc replacement. This was by far the best decision and outcome I could have hoped for. If you are looking for a neck or back surgeon, consider Dr. Kalra. He is genuinely interested in providing the best outcome and his staff is very friendly and helpful!” Jocelyn H.

What Diagnosis or Procedure Does Dr. Kalra See Most Frequently for Second Opinions? 

Patients often seek out Dr. Kalra’s experience and expertise in managing a wide variety of spinal conditions. One of the most common diagnosis Dr. Kalra sees second opinions for is patients who have cervical or neck pathology and have been recommended an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). ACDF has been considered the gold standard for many years in treating neck pathology however cervical disc replacement may be a superior  treatment option for certain patients. Many of these patients who see Dr. Kalra were unaware they had this option to avoid a fusion.

When Should I Seek a Second Opinion? 

You should seek a second opinion for spine surgery when:

• • You want to obtain additional information and knowledge on your diagnosis. 
  • No alternatives or options to a single procedure are presented.
  • Your surgeon recommends a second or confirming opinion.
  • You had previous spine surgery and require a revision surgery.
  • You are not completely comfortable or confident with your surgeon.
  • You experience difficulty in contacting or scheduling with your surgeon’s office.
  • Your surgeon refuses to perform your surgery in a hospital.
  • Your surgeon does not fully answer or address your questions regarding a recommended surgery.
  • You want to ensure you were not misdiagnosed.
  • If you feel pushed or rushed to make a decision on surgery right away.

What Should I Do After I Seek a Second Opinion? 

If you have done your due diligence and sought out a second opinion, what happens next depends on the information and recommendations you were given. If you consulted two surgeons with both confirming your pathology and surgical procedure you should have piece of mind in the recommendations. At this point you need to make the decision to proceed with surgery or continue managing your pain through physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, pain management, or medications. If you determine surgery is your preferred choice, go with your instincts and pick the surgeon who you had the best experience with. Which surgeon answered all your questions, had the best bedside manner, had the better or more helpful staff, and really put you at ease with their thoroughness and confidence. 

If you receive a second opinion that differs from your first opinion and you are not comfortable with either, it may make sense to seek a third opinion. If you find yourself in this situation make sure you do your research and know exact details of both previous surgical recommendations. You should think through each one logically, weigh pro and cons, and address your concerns or doubts with the previous recommendations. 

If you have been told you need a neck or back surgery Dr. Kalra advises you and his patients to seek a second opinion. There are many new ideas, techniques, and technologies that may help you avoid a complex spine surgery or unnecessary pain. Remember, less than ten percent of people that experience neck or back pain need spine surgery. If you are considering spine surgery and need a second opinion, call Kalra Brain & Spine at (972) 905-9226 or schedule an appointment on our website.   

The post Why Your Spine Deserves a Second Opinion appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

At Kalra Brain & Spine in Frisco, Texas, Ricky Kalra, M.D. is a board certified spine fellowship trained neurosurgeon who specializes in conservative management, second opinions, and minimally invasive cervical spine surgery. Following Dr. Kalra’s fellowship training he completed an additional six months of training in Germany to learn advanced spine procedures and new technologies coming out of Europe. He also received advanced training and has achieved superior outcomes utilizing cervical disc replacement technology for his patients. Dr. Kalra has been recognized as a D Best Neurosurgeon in Dallas by his physicians colleagues from 2017-2023. 

What Are The Most Common Causes of Neck Pain? 

The most common cause of neck pain is muscle strain that typically resolves in days but can last up to six weeks for more significant strains. Musculoskeletal strain describes injury to the muscle, ligaments, tendons, or bones. This occurs when one of these structures are stretched too far and tears. Most neck pain will subside on its own or with over the counter treatment such as rest, ice, and medications. Sleeping with your neck in an awkward position or being hunched over your computer for hours can both result in neck pain. Other common causes of neck pain include: 

• Degenerative conditions (osteoarthritis)
• Nerve or spinal cord compression (herniated discs) 
• Injuries or trauma (motor vehicle accidents)
• Diseases (rheumatoid arthritis)

When Should I Be Concerned About My Neck Pain? 

Neck pain can result in significant discomfort and pain. Most neck pain can be managed or controlled with conservative non-invasive treatments. You should be concerned about neck pain and seek immediate medical attention if it is so severe you can not manage it or if you have any of the following symptoms that accompany severe neck pain:

• Significant pain and numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both hands or arms 
• Fever and headache
• Chest pain
• Chronic swollen glands
• Extreme instability of head or neck

If you experience the above symptoms neck surgery may be necessary. Neck surgery or cervical spine surgery is most commonly performed for three main reasons. The first reason is a pinched nerve or impingement on the spinal cord that may require decompression surgery. The second reason for cervical spine surgery is when a tumor or mass develops at the base of the skull or in the cervical spine that requires removal. The third reason cervical surgery may be performed, is when a patient is experiencing spinal instability and fusion surgery is recommended. With improved minimally invasive surgical techniques, pain control, and technological advancements cervical fusion is no longer a must for cervical spine surgery patients.

How is Cervical Disc Replacement Different From A Cervical Fusion? 

 The surgical procedure for an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) involves an incision on the front of the neck and removal of the diseased disc. The cervical disc is then replaced with a surgical cage.  A metal plate is secured to the vertebral body above and below the where the cervical cage was placed.  The metal plate will provide stability of the vertebral bodies while a boney fusion is formed. Over the course of six months to one year a solid fusion mass  will form providing stability of the vertebral bodies. Anterior cervical disc replacement (ACDR) surgery requires an incision to  be made on the front of the neck and the diseased disc is removed. Instead of then fusing these bones together Dr. Kalra inserts an artificial disc that allows this space to remain open creating a more natural anatomic structure that functions like your natural disc. Although the two surgeries have similarities, the main difference is post operative cervical range of motion or neck mobility and the recovery time of a cervical disc replacement is much less than the cervical fusion.  

What Are The Benefits of Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement Compared to Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion? 

While there are potential benefits to a cervical disc replacement not all patients are candidates for this procedure. Some potential benefits include:

• Quicker recovery
• Reduced risk of adjacent segment disease
• Reduced risk of future surgery
• Greater range of cervical motion 

If you have struggled with neck or back pain and you have tried lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, medications, pain management and it is not improving it may be time to see a neurosurgeon. If you have been told you need a neck or back surgery Dr. Kalra advises you and his patients to seek a second opinion. There are many new ideas, techniques, and technologies that may help you avoid a complex spine surgery or unnecessary pain. Remember, less than ten percent of people that experience neck or back pain need spine surgery. If you are interested in learning more about cervical disc replacement, need a second opinion, or to obtain the neurosurgical treatment you need call Kalra Brain & Spine at (972) 905-9226 or schedule an appointment on our website.   

The post Neck Surgery: Can It Be Done Minimally Invasive Without A Fusion? appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

At Kalra Brain & Spine, we believe it’s especially important to talk about nagging pain in the neck and back as we are spending more and more time with our heads bent low over computers and smartphones. This unnatural position can place a great deal of strain on the muscles, ligaments, joints and intervertebral discs in the neck. The result? Nagging pain.

What’s Causing My Nagging Neck Pain?

Some causes of neck pain are beyond our control, such as sports injuries or car accidents. And physically demanding jobs, with repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting, can also come with a greater risk of neck and back problems.
But there are some chronic conditions that can also cause neck, back and even arm pain. These include radiculopathy, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and even scoliosis. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Radiculopathy. Commonly known as a pinched nerve, radiculopathy occurs when the nerve root in the neck or back becomes compressed. The result is inflammation of the nerve root. Symptoms of radiculopathy include numbness, weakness, tingling and pain.

Learn more about radiculopathy

Herniated Disc. A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner portion of the disc (the rubbery cushion between the vertebrae in your spine) is pushed out through the exterior border. A herniated disc can occur in the neck or the back and often is the result of trauma or excessive strain.

Learn more about herniated discs

Degenerative Disc Disease. This is a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. A wide range of symptoms and severity is associated with degenerative disc disease. Unlike other tissues of the body, the disc has very low blood supply. Once a disc is injured, it cannot repair itself, and a spiral of degeneration can set in.

Learn more about degenerative disc disease

Scoliosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine often noted to create the shape of a “c” or an “s” due to the spine twisting. Scoliosis occurs in both adults and children, although it manifests most often just before the growth spurt of puberty. Symptoms can vary but often include pain and muscle spasms.

Learn more about scoliosis

Kalra Brain & Spine: Your Trusted Resource for Nagging Pain

At Kalra Brain & Spine, it is our daily honor to provide the most advanced, evidence-based care to our patients. Treatment plans vary depending on the condition, and are often multidisciplinary and always directed toward non-operative management, including physical therapy, injections and lifestyle modifications whenever possible.

In cases where surgery is the best option to offer the pain relief an individual needs, the treatment is customized to each patient, and Dr. Kalra uses the latest technology and techniques to provide the most minimally invasive procedure possible.

North Texas’ Trusted Neurosurgeon

When world-class training meets hometown values deeply rooted in family and community, the result is the kind of medical care you’ve always hoped for. And that’s just what you’ll experience with Dr. Ricky Kalra. Dr. Kalra is the founder and chief surgeon at Kalra Brain & Spine and serves as Chief of Surgery at Presbyterian Hospital and Director of Neurosurgery at Medical City Frisco.

Locally awarded and recognized many times over, Dr. Kalra is as respected by his peers as he is loved by his patients. Dr. Kalra is honored to have been recognized as a Best Doctor in Dallas in D Magazine every year since 2017. He has also been featured in Living Magazine’s Top Healthcare 2019, Local Profile, Dallas Morning News and “Good Morning Texas”.

You may have also seen his name in a number of recent articles about a recent patient’s story or weighing in on Simon Cowell’s surgery recovery.

At Kalra Brain & Spine, the most important thing to know is you’re in good hands. Dr. Kalra has helped countless people get out of pain and regain their lives. Check out Baine’s story about how Dr. Kalra helped him finally find relief from years of nagging pain.

If you have unexplained pain (even if you’ve seen other doctors and still have not found relief), we’d love to meet with you to see if we can help. Schedule an appointment today.

The post Nagging Neck Pain: Is it Something More? appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

The certification process is lengthy, on average taking 15 years to complete, and includes many steps, rigorous tests and oral exams. Doctors who obtain board certification in their specialty participate in assessment and training beyond what is required of their peers. This distinction is an extra step that demonstrates Dr. Kalra has reached the highest level of expertise in the specialty of neurosurgery as it relates to the brain and spine.

Dr. Kalra’s heartfelt and genuine reaction to the news via Facebook when he’d met all the requirements:

Why Board Certification Matters to You

If you have a spinal issue that is negatively affecting your life, you deserve the best care there is. You deserve an expert. Someone with advanced training in the latest proven techniques. Someone with a track record of success in helping people find relief. Someone just like Dr. Kalra.

Dr. Kalra is a spine fellowship-trained and now a board-certified neurosurgeon. He is a local guy, originally from Plano, Texas, completing his undergraduate work at Rice University in Houston. After completing his medical training at Washington University in St. Louis, he started his neurosurgery residency at the University of Utah with a special interest in brain tumors and complex scoliosis surgery. As part of his training, Dr. Kalra completed a spine surgery fellowship with training in Germany, focusing on minimally invasive approaches to the spine and complex scoliosis.

Dr. Kalra is honored to have been recognized as a Best Doctor in Dallas in D Magazine every year since 2017. He has also been featured in Living Magazine’s Top Healthcare 2019, Local Profile, Dallas Morning News and “Good Morning Texas”.

At Kalra Brain & Spine, the most important thing to know is you’re in good hands. Dr. Kalra specializes in the most up-to-date evidence-based neurological care. He has helped countless people get out of pain and regain their lives. If you have unexplained pain (even if you’ve seen other doctors and still have not found relief), we’d love to meet with you to see if we can help.

Schedule an appointment today.

The post Dr. Kalra Earns Esteemed Board Certification appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

The post Dr. Kalra Asked to Offer Insight on Simon Cowell’s Surgery Setback appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

The post D Magazine: Best Doctors in Dallas appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

Awareness months come and go. But if the condition in the spotlight is one you happen to deal with personally, you’re more likely to take notice. And if you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from severe neck or back pain, whether chronic or acute, this is your month.

National Spine Health Awareness Month is observed every October, serving as a public reminder of how important spinal health is. After all, the condition of your spine has a considerable effect on your mobility and quality of life.

Kalra Brain & Spine has helped countless people identify and treat the source of their acute and chronic pain. Sometimes, surgery offers the best solution, but lasting pain relief often can be found short of the surgical suite. In fact, at KBS, surgery is considered only when other methods have been tried first.

“Our commitment is to offer our patients the most conservative treatments that yield the greatest benefit. In other words, we want to get you out of pain and back to living your life as quickly as possible!”

– Dr. Ricky Kalra, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon

Treatments for spine pain and nerve pain in the arms or legs can include physical therapy, medication and injection treatments. In many cases, these first-line treatment modalities are enough to offer the relief that’s needed. But for others, the pain persists. If conservative management fails to provide pain relief, then surgical intervention may be considered. Common neck and lower back surgeries include cervical disc replacements, anterior cervical fusion, lumbar microdiscectomy, lumbar decompression and lumbar fusion.

When Your Spine Pain Means Surgery

When all other non-operative options have been explored, and you are still not getting the relief you need for your pain, surgery may be the best solution. This is especially true when dealing with a herniated disc (also called a ruptured or slipped disc) and some spinal deformities like scoliosis.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Offers New Hope for Chronic Pain

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion is an excellent option for people with chronic neck and spine pain that requires surgical intervention. ACDF has a great history of success in relieving severe pain.

During the procedure, the cervical spine is reached through a very small incision in the front of the neck (anterior means “front”). The disc is gently removed using a microsurgical technique. A small spacer is inserted that includes materials to stimulate growth. This acts as scaffolding across the disc space and thereby fusing the two vertebrae and stabilizing the spine at that segment. Surgical hardware is placed to immobilize the segments while the bone is fusing.

What are the Advantages of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

In addition to relieving pain, fusions offer patients a consistent treatment that has a long history of successful relief of the worst instances of spine pain. Normally considered after other treatment options haven’t worked, fusions can effectively prevent painful movements in damaged areas of the spine to offer quality of life to patients who may have thought they would never find relief.

Posterior/Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF/TLIF) Offers Hope for a Healthy, Active Future

Posterior and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusions are two other options for people with lower back and nerve pain that require surgical intervention.

During the procedure, the lumbar spine is reached through an incision in the back (posterior means “back”). The affected disc is removed using a microsurgical technique. A small growth-stimulating spacer is inserted. This acts as scaffolding across the disc space, thereby fusing the two vertebrae and stabilizing the spine at that segment. Surgical hardware is placed to immobilize the segments while the bone is fusing, which can take up to a year.

What Are the Advantages of Lumbar Spinal Fusion?

Spine surgery may sound like a big deal, but living with back pain for the rest of your life is a bigger deal. In fact, most procedures, such as Lumbar Spinal Fusion, have become so common and consistent, that you can rest easy knowing your outcomes are well understood. Check out our patient Kristina’s story to learn how a lumbar fusion gave her her life back!

New Hope for Spinal Pain

When world-class training meets hometown values deeply rooted in family and community, the result is the kind of medical care you’ve always hoped for. This describes Kalra Brain & Spine, the practice of Dr. Ricky Kalra, who specializes in the most up-to-date evidence-based neurological care. If you’re living with neck or back pain that is unresolved with other treatment modalities, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kalra today.

The post National Spine Health Awareness Month appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

Car Accident Reveals Lemon-Sized Tumor

When Julio Molina of Little Elm, Texas, was in a serious car accident in early 2020, he felt fortunate to walk away with minor injuries and just a few scratches on his face. But while in the emergency room, a routine CT scan to check for internal injuries found something quite alarming. A large tumor was growing on Julio’s spinal cord, threatening his mobility and quality of life.

The tumor was a Schwannoma tumor and it was slowly destroying Julio’s spine. Cancerous or not, if left untreated, it could lead to breathing and muscle problems, even paralysis of the face.

For more than two years, Molina unknowingly experienced one of those symptoms but thought he just had a pinched nerve in his back.

“Sometimes my neck and the back of my head would feel numb, and every couple of months, my hands would become numb,” said Julio. “I didn’t know it, but the tumor was putting pressure on my spinal cord.” Julio learned he would require surgery to have it removed and our own Dr. Ricky Kalra, who serves on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian in Plano, was just the neurosurgeon for the job.

Surgery in the Days of COVID-19

In the middle of a world health pandemic, the 27-year-old expectant father was understandably nervous about having surgery in the days of COVID-19. He worried about contracting the virus and bringing it home to his girlfriend and unborn baby daughter. But the seriousness of his condition, the tingling and numbness caused by the growing tumor, and the impending loss of motor function meant surgery was his best chance of feeling completely healthy again.

Dr. Kalra performed Julio’s spine surgery, a procedure that took ten hours to complete, at Texas Health Presbyterian Plano. “The tumor was wrapped around his cervical spinal cord and the vertebral artery. It was pushing on the spinal cord and compressing the nerves that go down to your hands,” said Dr. Kalra.

To stop the tumor from corroding the vertebrae in Julio’s spine, Dr. Kalra performed a laminectomy, in which he removed the corroded vertebrae. He then performed a spinal fusion to permanently connect several vertebrae in Molina’s spine. The delicate surgery took weeks of planning.

Blessing in Disguise

Thankfully, Julio’s tumor was benign and his recovery is going well. Physical therapy is helping him to regain neck strength. He considers the accident a blessing in disguise and says he felt completely safe having surgery during the pandemic. “Knowing that the tumor is out, I can raise my daughter with the quality of life that I would like to have,” said Julio.

Julio’s story understandably attracted quite a bit of media attention. Watch Dr. Kalra interviewed in Julio’s story by clicking any of the links below.

Watch Story on FOX4

Watch Story on NBC DFW

Watch Story on WFAA ABC 8

The post Blessing in Disguise appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

The post Better Posture for Less Pain appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.

The post Hope for Herniated Discs appeared first on Kalra Brain & Spine.