I suffered from a bad back for over ten years. Extreme pain and numbness down both legs from my butt to my toes. It kept me from walking a few yards before the numbness began.
I rarely went shopping as my numbness would begin before I got to the first aisle. It prevented me from walking on the beach in the winter. I would have to stop frequently to sit in the sand and stretch before I could continue.
The only solution was surgery. I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. MY L4 and L5 were out of position, causing pinching of my spinal nerve. I wanted to avoid fusion, but it became apparent that it was the best solution. I met with the surgeon, and he assured me that that was the best solution available at that time, and we agreed to proceed with the surgery that spring. My wife and I spend the winter months in Mexico.
While in Mexico, I discovered that a new procedure had just been approved in the United States called TOPS. It is an implant placed between L4 and L5. I did a great deal of research, even reaching out to the manufacturer in Israel.
When we returned home from Mexico, I read that the surgery was being done by a doctor in Pittsburgh. Remarkably, before I could reach out, I got a message that there was a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic less than a half hour from my home that is doing the surgery.
I immediately contacted the hospital and talked with three people to finally find someone who had heard of the surgery. I spoke with a nurse assistant who set me up for X-rays and an MRI to determine if I was a candidate for the surgery.
A call shortly afterwards came with the news that I was the perfect candidate for the TOPS implant surgery! They said they could schedule the surgery in November. I asked if I could be put on a waiting list should they have any cancellations.
A short time later, I received a call from a scheduler saying they had a cancellation and how soon I could be ready for the surgery. I laughed and said I could be there in 45 minutes. She said that’s great, but we have an opening on Friday. She asked if I could make that appointment. I said yes. I was late in June, and I wouldn’t have to wait until November for the surgery.
Finally, the time arrived for my surgery. We drove to Cleveland and checked in to a hotel near the clinic. The surgery was scheduled for early the next morning.
We drove to nearby Little Italy, had a wonderful dinner and a bottle of Italian wine and made our way back to the hotel. The next morning is was a shower dress, and off to the hospital.
The surgery was six hours, and when it was completed, I was taken to recovery and then to a room where Diane was waiting for me. I had some discomfort from the incision on my back but nothing too serious, but the bag removing urine from my bladder was a discomfort and I couldn’t wait for it to be removed.
Later that night, around 3 AM, the night nurse came into my room and asked if I wanted to take a walk. I agreed, and off we went walking and talking for a long walk. It was the first time in ten years I walked that distance without pain.
The surgery was a success. I was pain-free with no fusion; I have a full range of motion, and since then I have been able to return to an active life with pickleball, golf, walking on the beach, and enjoying travelling.
Isn’t God GREAT!