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Active adult back to jogging after successful spine surgery
Chris enjoys an active lifestyle. In his free time
he enjoys jogging, riding a bike, using
the elliptical trainer and strength training. Chris began
having right leg pain about ten years ago. His symptoms
started out gradual at first. Unfortunately, instead of the
pain going away, he noticed his symptoms worsening. Chris
made an appointment to see his general practitioner.
The physician examined Chris and ordered X-rays.
His physician encouraged him to try conservative care to
help relieve his leg pain symptoms, and Chris did this for
years.
He tried using non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
(NSAIDs) to help relieve pain and inflammation. Chris
also visited a chiropractor for pain relief. He tried epidural
steroid injections to help relieve his symptoms and physical
therapy to help strengthen his core. The years went by and
Chris remained active even with the leg pain. In fact, he
found that walking fast was actually less painful than
slower walking. All of these non-surgical treatments did
offer Chris some temporary pain relief, but his symptoms
would always return. He noticed his leg pain worsening
and moving lower into his leg.
It was his anesthesiologist (or pain medicine
physician) that referred Chris to Dr. Jason Brodkey, a
fellowship-trained spine surgeon at Ann Arbor Spine
Center. In January 2010, Chris made an appointment to
see Dr. Brodkey, the surgeon ordered an MRI of his spine,
the results showed that he had spondylolisthesis. Chris’
vertebrae was out of alignment and because of the vertebrae
shifting and bone growths on the affected vertebrae, his
nerve roots were compressed and causing his pain.
Spondylolisthesis is caused by joint instability in the
low back. The rear part of spinal vertebrae has facet joints
that act as hinges, allowing our spines to twist and bend.
Either from heredity or wear and tear, the joint weakens
causing the vertebrae to slip forward out of its correct
position.
Dr. Brodkey was very straightforward with Chris
about his treatment options. He encouraged Chris to try
non-surgical care as long as he could, but also cautioned
that his condition would likely require spine surgery
eventually. Dr. Brodkey encouraged him to be informed
about his health care decisions and be his own advocate
for his health care.
Chris did a lot of research on spondylolisthesis and
his treatment options. He also sought a second opinion. “I
wanted to make sure I made the best choice for my care,
I was very nervous about having spine surgery,” Chris
remembers. But he also knew that he couldn’t continue
to live with his pain symptoms and wanted to return to his
full activity level.
Chris decided to have the spine surgery necessary to
relieve the pinched nerve root and he wanted Dr. Brodkey
to perform the surgery. Dr. Brodkey performed the posterior
lumbar fusion surgery in September 2010. The surgery
was a success and Chris felt almost immediate relief from
the leg pain he had experienced for nearly ten years. “Dr.
Brodkey was leaving the country the day after my surgery,
he called from his vacation to talk with me and make
sure I was able to get out of bed and walk around,” Chris
reflects.
Recovery from his spine surgery was not easy. Chris
followed the post surgery care instructions and was careful
not to bend or twist or do any activity that may hinder a
full recovery.
Today, Chris is back to work and his full activity level
- without leg pain. He incorporates light weight training,
jogging and uses a recumbent bike to stay in shape.
Click here to download a pdf of this complete story, detailing Chris' successful recovery from spine surgery at Ann Arbor Spine Center in Michigan.
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