“I neglect I even had surgical procedure; I really feel so regular.”
That is Mary Miller. Six years out from her spinal fusion surgical procedure at UVA Well being, she says she couldn’t be happier along with her selection. “I’m nonetheless pain-free, and I can do any exercise I would like,” she shares. “I neglect I even had surgical procedure; I really feel so regular.”
Mary had suffered from a herniated disc, a painful backbone situation. She confronted the identical troublesome choice many individuals face: Ought to she have backbone surgical procedure? And the place ought to she go for care?
When Surgical procedure Makes Sense
Mary needed to do one thing. A nurse for UVA Continuum Residence Well being, ache made caring for her sufferers troublesome. She had to surrender yoga, which she liked. The every day ache left her feeling depressed.
Nonetheless, Mary nervous in regards to the restoration time after surgical procedure. Fortunately, her backbone surgeon, Chun-Po Yen, MD, used a minimally invasive approach. This helped Mary recuperate sooner with much less ache. She was in a position to get again to her regular life earlier than she anticipated.
Have Again Ache? Mary’s Recommendation
Mary shares her recommendation for others contemplating backbone surgical procedure: “Don’t surrender and don’t wait,” she says. “I believed surgical procedure wasn’t price it and I lived with ache for years. However the expertise and experience is so superior. I obtained nice care at UVA Well being all through my entire expertise.”
Learn this publish Mary shared in 2019 about her spinal fusion at UVA Well being.
At some point in 2007, my again began aching for no obvious motive. Inside 24 hours I had taking pictures, searing ache down my proper leg. My main care physician mentioned I probably had a herniated disc and would wish surgical procedure. However I used to be afraid there may be issues, or the surgical procedure wouldn’t repair my again ache. I made a decision to robust it out. The ache finally obtained higher however by no means actually went away. I continued to have numbness in my leg and foot.
In 2014, I had one other massive episode and once more in 2017. The final time, the ache was fixed and there was nothing I might do to make it higher, together with ache medication. I used to be on the level the place I couldn’t bend over and decide issues up off the ground. I couldn’t get garments out of the dryer.
As a Continuum liaison nurse, I used to be attempting laborious to not let my sufferers understand it harm after I was leaning over to take care of them. I liked yoga, however generally it harm so badly I couldn’t rise up off the ground. It harm to show over in mattress, and getting up within the morning was torture. I think about myself a reasonably optimistic individual, however the persistent ache was making me very depressed.
Over time, I attempted bodily remedy, neurostimulation, and finally, a chiropractor. Sadly, that made the ache worse. My chiropractor felt I wanted additional imaging and ordered an MRI. After seeing that the imaging confirmed I had a big herniation, she urged I see a backbone specialist.
Getting Help From UVA Backbone Heart
From the second I contacted Nicole Gibson, senior medical workplace coordinator, each single individual I encountered was pleasant and aware of my distinctive wants and difficult work schedule.
Nicole promptly responded to all my cellphone calls and MyChart messages. She even scheduled the wanted exams and appointments round my work hours.
Nicole additionally made certain all of this might be carried out in calendar 12 months 2017, as I requested, attributable to adjustments coming to my insurance coverage in 2018.
I expressed to neurosurgeon Chun-Po Yen, MD, my want to get again to work as rapidly as doable, and he urged a modified, minimally invasive method to my L5/S1 fusion surgical procedure. This was out of the norm and tougher for him however significantly lowered my restoration time.
This allowed me to return to work sooner than most sufferers who obtain a spinal fusion with a spacer. A spacer is a overseas object a surgeon locations to carry the vertebrae aside so the nerves aren’t compressed by the ruptured disc.
Lara Myers, NP, taught me what to anticipate throughout and after my surgical procedure. It was very reassuring realizing I might attain out to her at any time.
My Uneventful Surgical procedure Journey
Each encounter in preparation for my surgical procedure was easy and thorough, and I felt assured main as much as my December 1, 2017 operation. On the day of surgical procedure, the workers was informative and guarded my confidentiality. I additionally felt they had been genuinely involved for what I used to be going by means of. My husband was pleasantly stunned at how typically the workers up to date him on my standing all through the day.
I wakened on 6 West, they usually handled me like a queen. I used to be so impressed with the brand new mattress and its fancy USB port and the consolation measures, like an eye fixed shade and headset.
My ache was managed very properly — the nurses knew higher than I methods to keep away from extreme post-op ache. They walked me by means of each side of my hospital restoration and checked on me regularly. I not often had to make use of the decision bell. I additionally actually appreciated the assistance I acquired from occupational therapist Erica Umback and bodily therapist Chad Aldridge, who taught me methods to do my every day actions and stretches with out additional injuring my backbone. Even the meals was good and sizzling!
Again to Life & Ache Free
I returned to work on December 26, 2017. Now I really feel like a brand new individual! I not have a limp and may train and transfer. I’m lastly having fun with life once more! I’ve gotten again to all of the issues I had given up for the final couple years, like working within the backyard and lifting heavy issues. Generally I even neglect I had a foul again.
Contemplating Backbone Surgical procedure?
Name 434.243.3633 to make an appointment with a UVA Well being backbone surgeon.
If I speak to somebody who’s experiencing persistent again ache, I inform them to go see Dr. Yen on the UVA Backbone Heart. I additionally inform them to not be afraid, like I used to be. The nurses, docs, and whole UVA workforce actually cares in regards to the affected person’s expertise. They may do every part doable to satisfy their each want.
Watch Mary’s Again Ache & Spinal Fusion Story
Mary was so relieved to be freed from her again ache that she wrote a letter to UVA Well being management describing her expertise. Watch her learn it.
