Age: 57
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
Surgical practice: University of South Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, Tampa, FL
Procedure: eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®)
Levels treated: L4-L5
Surgery date: March 9, 2010
On July 4, Patient Ambassador Paul G. successfully completed the AJC Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, Ga., together with his wife and daughter. Paul had XLIF surgery for back pain in 2010 and he’s now running pain-free. Congratulations, Paul!
Life prior to surgery: Paul developed back issues in his 20s, as a result of physical labor. For the next decade, he endured chronic pain until, at age 39, he was forced to use a wheelchair. Paul was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, stenosis, and disc herniation. He submitted to a discectomy procedure, but it failed to relieve his pain.
After hearing a TV announcer talk about MMA Fighter Nate “Rock” Quarry’s professional comeback following the minimally disruptive XLIF procedure, Paul sought consultation with another surgeon. Although the surgeon recommended Paul for the XLIF procedure, he was initially hesitant to undergo another surgery. But once he realized that his life had become completely compromised by pain, Paul decided to go forward with the procedure.
Situation today: Paul was up and walking two days after XLIF surgery and felt almost immediate relief from pain. He stopped all pain medications after three weeks. Just four months after surgery, Paul was walking five miles per day. Today, still amazed at his transformation, Paul feels better than he did 30 years ago. He is running five to six miles per day and working out in the gym.
With any luck, Paul hopes to run the New York City Marathon soon!
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