Age: 67
Hometown: Ramseur, NC
Surgical practice: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Procedure: eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®)
Surgery Date: March 28, 2013
Life Prior to Surgery: Martha enjoyed life as a teacher, but her back pain was making the job she loved harder to do each year. The discomfort started four years ago and began taking a huge toll on her life.
Martha tried a few rounds of physical therapy, but it failed to provide long-term relief. She became increasingly disappointed, as the pain affected her professional life. “It was extremely painful to walk, so I couldn’t stand up and move around the classroom,” Martha says. “I had to prop myself up with a stool just to teach a class.”
The situation only got worse, as Martha couldn’t go up and down stairs or even interact with her grandchildren. Besides her back, Martha also had trouble with her knees and went to have them replaced at Duke University Medical Center. After the procedure, she told a physician’s assistant about her back problems and the assistant referred her to a spine surgeon. The surgeon felt she would be a good candidate for the minimally disruptive XLIF procedure. “I was a little anxious about surgery, but was just so ready to get rid of the pain,” Martha recalls.
Situation Today: In March 2013, Martha underwent XLIF surgery and was walking the next day. Just two days after the procedure, she was discharged and ready to recover. “I noticed almost immediately after the surgery that the pain was gone,” she says. It took about three to four weeks to fully recover. Martha used a walker for a week, and then a cane for the next four weeks. “I can now go up and down stairs, and I’m finally back to doing housework!” she says.
14-NUVA-454