Age: 67
Hometown: Toms River, NJ
Surgeon: Ocean Orthopedic Associates, Toms River, NJ
Procedure: eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®) with posterior fixation
Surgery Date: October 30, 2013
Life Prior to Surgery: Thaddeus struggled with severe back and leg pain for more than a year. At first, he experienced numbness in his legs. As time went on, he walked hunched over and had constant pain shooting down his legs to his toes. The pain was progressively worsening and Thaddeus was incapable of walking more than 20 feet without sitting down and taking a break.
Thaddeus attempted to alleviate the pain with steroid injections, acupuncture, and massages. He sought temporary pain relief by applying heat to his legs. He had to drive with the seat warmers on in his car, even during the summer.
Thaddeus was referred to a spine surgeon, who recommended the minimally disruptive XLIF procedure. Initially, Thaddeus was hesitant about having back surgery. His daughter is a doctor and was apprehensive about her father undergoing what she considered to be a risky operation. However, as she conducted more research about the XLIF procedure, she had a change of heart and encouraged Thaddeus to go through with the surgery.
Situation Today: Thaddeus underwent XLIF surgery with posterior fixation in October 2013. His surgery went very well! Thaddeus stayed in the hospital one night and took pain medication for six days after his procedure.
Thaddeus is now living pain-free. He walks as much as he can and travels every two months with his wife. His recent travels have been to the Dominican Republic, Panama, and France.
“I feel fantastic – comparing before and after the procedure is like comparing day and night!” Thaddeus says.
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