Age: 67
Hometown: Lakeside, CA
Surgeon: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Procedures: eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®) and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
Surgery Dates: June 24 and 27, 2013

Life Prior to Surgery: Sue struggled with severe back and leg pain that affected her balance. She would become terribly sore to the point she could barely walk. Sue felt completely debilitated and was forced to use a handicap placard for her car, which she describes as the moment she hit rock bottom.

Sue is a recently retired nurse and switched insurance companies specifically to see a surgeon at UCSD. Due to the complex nature of her condition, her surgeon recommended two spinal fusion procedures – the minimally disruptive XLIF procedure and a PLIF procedure.

Situation Today: Sue underwent XLIF and PLIF surgeries in June 2013. Within one week of leaving the hospital, she was able to go about her daily routine of dressing herself and taking care of household chores. She was completely free of pain after surgery and has remained so ever since.

Sue started physical therapy four months after surgery and has completed it and returned to normal function. It only took her about six months to get back to her active lifestyle. She is a breast cancer three-day walker and is enrolled in yoga classes again. She is now doing everything she wanted to do before her surgery, and more!

“My surgeon gave me a miracle and I’m enjoying life to the fullest!” Sue says.

14-NUVA-879