Earlier this month, The Better Way Back® team held a free patient education event at the Susquehanna Health Foundation in Williamsport, PA. Several spine surgeons gave presentations and the keynote speaker was our spokesman, Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton. Bill recently celebrated the fifth anniversary since he underwent the minimally disruptive eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®) procedure.
Bill shared his struggle with chronic back pain and how the XLIF procedure that he underwent in February 2009 enabled him to get “back in the game of life.” Bill encouraged all preoperative patients to “take control of their health” and consider all treatment options that would enable them to get back to doing what they love to do. Alongside Bill, three local Patient Ambassadors were present to answer questions and speak about their surgical experiences. When one preoperative patient explained his hesitations to one of the Ambassadors, his reassuring reply was, “You have nothing to fear about this type of surgery. We have very good surgeons in this area.”
The event was a success and extremely helpful for all attendees. A Susquehanna Health staff member noted after the event that “Bill was absolutely awesome this week! The events went very well and the crowd loved him!” Events similar to this help dispel any fears and myths potential patients may have about spine surgery, as well as educate them about the benefits of the XLIF procedure.
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