“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 together with her selection. “I’m nonetheless pain-free, and I can do any exercise I need,” 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 House Well being, ache made caring for her sufferers troublesome. She had to surrender yoga, which she liked. The day by day ache left her feeling depressed.
Nonetheless, Mary anxious in regards to the restoration time after surgical procedure. Fortunately, her backbone surgeon, Chun-Po Yen, MD, used a minimally invasive method. This helped Mary get well sooner with much less ache. She was capable of get again to her regular life before she anticipated.
In search of Again Ache Aid?
Our backbone care specialists provide a full vary of therapies, together with surgical and nonsurgical. Make an appointment at this time.
Have Again Ache? Mary’s Recommendation
Mary shares her recommendation for others contemplating backbone surgical procedure: “Don’t hand over and don’t wait,” she says. “I assumed surgical procedure wasn’t value it and I lived with ache for years. However the know-how and experience is so superior. I obtained nice care at UVA Well being all through my complete expertise.”
Learn this publish Mary shared in 2019 about her spinal fusion at UVA Well being.
In the future in 2007, my again began aching for no obvious cause. Inside 24 hours I had taking pictures, searing ache down my proper leg. My major care physician stated I most certainly had a herniated disc and would want surgical procedure. However I used to be afraid there is perhaps issues, or the surgical procedure wouldn’t repair my again ache. I made a decision to powerful 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 may do to make it higher, together with ache drugs. I used to be on the level the place I couldn’t bend over and choose issues up off the ground. I couldn’t get garments out of the dryer.
As a Continuum liaison nurse, I used to be making an attempt laborious to not let my sufferers understand it harm once I was leaning over to look after 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 fairly constructive particular person, however the power ache was making me very depressed.
Through the years, 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 steered I see a backbone specialist.
Getting Assist From UVA Backbone Middle
From the second I contacted Nicole Gibson, senior medical workplace coordinator, each single particular person 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 positive all of this may very well be completed in calendar yr 2017, as I requested, attributable to modifications 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 attainable, and he steered a modified, minimally invasive method to my L5/S1 fusion surgical procedure. This was out of the norm and tougher for him however tremendously decreased 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 should not 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 may attain out to her at any time.
My Uneventful Surgical procedure Journey
Each encounter in preparation for my surgical procedure was clean and thorough, and I felt assured main as much as my December 1, 2017 operation. On the day of surgical procedure, the employees was informative and guarded my confidentiality. I additionally felt they have been genuinely involved for what I used to be going by way of. My husband was pleasantly stunned at how typically the employees up to date him on my standing all through the day.
I wakened on 6 West, and so they 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 nicely — the nurses knew higher than I the best way to keep away from extreme post-op ache. They walked me by way of each side of my hospital restoration and checked on me continuously. I hardly ever 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 the best way to do my day by day actions and stretches with out additional injuring my backbone. Even the meals was good and scorching!
Again to Life & Ache Free
I returned to work on December 26, 2017. Now I really feel like a brand new particular person! 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. Typically I even neglect I had a foul again.
If I speak to somebody who’s experiencing power again ache, I inform them to go see Dr. Yen on the UVA Backbone Middle. I additionally inform them to not be afraid, like I used to be. The nurses, medical doctors, and whole UVA workforce actually cares in regards to the affected person’s expertise. They’ll do all the pieces attainable to satisfy their each want.
