Conditions + Treatments
Spine Fusion
I was born and raised in Ozark, Alabama. Aviation has been my life for the past 35 years.
I graduated from Alabama Aviation and Technical College right there in Ozark, earned my A&P certificate and FCC certificate.
Afterwards I went to work for Northwest Airlines, where I spent about 15 years. Most of that time was in Atlanta, with some stints in Minneapolis, Memphis, and Washington, D.C.
After 9/11, Northwest closed its maintenance base in Atlanta, and many of us had to move based on seniority. Eventually, we lost our jobs and went on strike.
I made my way back home and started working for a maintenance contractor at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where I’ve been for the last 20 years.
All told, that’s three and a half decades as an aircraft mechanic on my feet on concrete, climbing, bending, contorting my body in all kinds of ways to keep aircraft safe and in the air.
Over time, that kind of work takes a toll. I started having horrible sciatic pain running down my left side. It got bad enough that I went to Dothan for an MRI.
The recommendation there was a lumbar fusion - putting screws in my back and doing a major spine surgery. As soon as I heard that, I was really apprehensive. The idea of someone putting screws and rods in my spine honestly flipped me out.
Our family doctor recommended I schedule a surgical consult with Dr. Andrew Cordover at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham. Like most people these days, I got on the internet and started digging. I saw that he had treated multiple WWE wrestlers and high-level athletes, and I thought, “Well, that’s my guy. That’s where I need to go.”
I first saw Dr. Cordover in July 2025. I wanted to put off surgery as long as I could so I could get through the summer, but eventually we scheduled a two-day surgery for November 4 and 5, 2025. During that procedure, he put 10 screws, two spacers, and two rods in my back.
From the very beginning, the care I received from Dr. Cordover and his staff was absolutely first class. He took the time to explain everything in detail, which went a long way toward easing my fears about such a big surgery.
It wasn’t just the surgical skill - it was the way he communicated and how he treated my family and me throughout the process.
The recovery was no small thing. The first two to three weeks at home were tough - much tougher than I was prepared for. I remember walking down the driveway that first week after surgery, turning to my wife Elaine, and saying, “I think I have really messed up.”
It was a shock to my body, and nothing truly prepares you for how big a surgery like this is.
But every single day got a little better. And just like Dr. Cordover told me before I left the hospital, this is a heavy-duty surgery. However, the payoff on the other side can be life-changing.
Today, I’m getting ready to go back to work three months after surgery, which to me is a testament to the quality of his work and the care I received.
I can’t say enough about Dr. Cordover’s team. His medical assistant, Christy Lyman, has been fantastic - always there to answer questions once I got home.
His physician assistant, Katie Hutto, PA-C, has also been wonderful. Honestly, everyone I came into contact with at Andrews Sports Medicine starting with the person who checks you in at the front desk was outstanding. You feel like you’re being taken care of by a first-class operation at every step.
Looking back now, I can say without hesitation: I wouldn’t let anyone else touch my back. Knowing what I know now, I would choose Dr. Cordover and Andrews Sports Medicine again in a heartbeat.
Talking with Dr. Cordover doesn’t even feel like talking to a typical doctor. It feels like talking to a guy you grew up with. He’s just a genuinely good person who has surrounded himself with an excellent staff.
What started as crippling sciatic pain and fear about back surgery has turned into a true comeback for me. I’m back on my feet, heading back to work, and able to move forward with my life. For that, I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Cordover, his team, and everyone at Andrews Sports Medicine who helped me get here.
