Nancy had a pain medicine drawer to rival a pharmacy. Shifting vertebrae (spine bones) and collapsing discs (the cushions in between) gave her excruciating back pain. These problems put pressure on her sciatic nerve, causing pain and weakness radiating down her leg. And an abnormal curve in her spine from scoliosis further complicated things.
“I was masking it with anti-inflammatory pills and pain medication,” says Nancy. “I’m very active and have a high pain tolerance, so I just plowed through.” Nancy kept up with her routine of hiking and hitting the gym. But then the pain got worse, and she needed a new kind of help.
As a consultant and instructor at Emory Continuing Education for many years, Nancy was on her feet teaching classes throughout the day. When standing became hard, she would lean on things for support. She’d find herself halfway through taking a walk and worry she couldn’t make it home because of her back pain and sciatica that radiated down her legs
Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatments
“I tried everything not to have surgery,” says Nancy. She worked with Jose Garcia, MD, an orthopaedic specialist who provides non-operative treatments.
“Spine surgery is a big decision,” says Dr. Garcia. “About 70 to 80% of patients who come to see us don’t need surgery, and every patient’s case is different. At Emory Healthcare, we're conservative about surgery and help patients exhaust their non-surgical options first.
A series of steroid and pain management injections provided temporary relief. But the back pain returned and worsened.
“We had checked all the boxes for non-surgical treatments, so we were confident that she was ready to take the next step for surgery when the time came,” says Dr. Garcia.
A Custom Spine Surgery Approach
Nancy consulted with Gerald Rodts, MD, one of Emory's fellowship-trained spinal surgeons who specializes in treating routine and complicated areas of the spine. “I chose Dr. Rodts at Emory for his reputation and confidence,” says Nancy. “From the moment I met him and his team, it was not a question.”
Dr. Rodts ordered X-rays and proposed a plan for Nancy’s unique situation. To address the causes of her pain, Nancy underwent a two-stage procedure with two separate incisions completed in one day. The first stage was completed by a vascular surgeon working with Dr. Rodts, where an incision was made into the left side of her abdomen. Dr. Rodts then removed three discs in her lumbar spine and placed implants inserted into the disc spaces to straighten out her scoliosis. The second stage included rods and screws placed in four areas in her vertebrae and to the sacrum and pelvis. These procedures helped ease pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and provided stabilization to the spine. Both procedures took about three to four hours each.
Nancy recalls, “Dr. Rodts said to me, ‘This surgery is no joke. The recovery will be long. I want you to come back for surgery when you can no longer bear the pain because it is impacting your life.’” So, Nancy took a few months to process the plan for surgery and prepare.
In December 2021, Dr. Rodts performed Nancy’s surgery, and Nancy spent most of the following year recovering. She worked with Dr. Rodts and a team of occupational and physical therapists. After the first six weeks at home, Nancy began to walk the length of her house each day. Then she walked to the corner of her street and back. Then to the next street. “I began to see the path forward when I noticed the pain was different. I had pain from the surgery, but no longer the chronic pain I’d had before.”
Throughout the process, Nancy felt supported by Dr. Rodts and his team. “They would explain everything so I understood it,” she says. “His staff were so helpful. They would talk to my insurance company, answer my messages when I was in pain—anything I needed, they responded quickly.”
Reclaiming an Active Lifestyle After Spine Surgery
In March 2022, Nancy began consulting and teaching online, adding a few classroom hours in June. She continued to take walks throughout the year for recovery and exercise.
By 2023, she was back to her usual, active self with one new addition: a knack for pickleball. “I’m pain-free and pill-free. It is unbelievable,” says Nancy. “Chronic pain had taken over my body and mind. Dr. Rodts and his team gave me my life back.”
Now, Nancy has repurposed that old pain medicine drawer for other uses. “I wish I would have gotten this surgery sooner. It’s life-changing.”
Find Relief for Neck and Back Pain
Living with chronic back or neck pain, especially as it radiates down your leg or arm, affects your whole life. Spine specialists at Emory Healthcare look at the whole person to understand the impact of pain on their health, well-being, abilities and mood. They create individualized care plans for each patient, including non-surgical and surgical options.
If back, neck or radiating leg and arm pain interrupts your daily life, don’t put off finding relief any longer. Contact the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center online or call 404-778-3350.
