Spine Injury/Condition
When Pain Took Over
I’m 62 years old, I’ve been married for 42 years, and I have two adult children and seven grandchildren.
Over time, chronic pain began to change my everyday life.
At first, I tried to ignore it. But as it continued to get worse, walking became increasingly difficult. Eventually, I reached a point where I just couldn’t walk very far anymore.
My oldest grandson was graduating from high school and had different events going on, and there were times when I had to use a transport wheelchair because I couldn’t walk that far. I couldn’t go to the gym anymore, and even cleaning the house became difficult.
My husband and I enjoyed being spontaneous and taking trips together. Sometimes we would just decide to get in the car and drive. As my pain got worse, I couldn’t do that anymore.
The pain was affecting more than my ability to walk - it was affecting my quality of life.
Finding Answers at Andrews Spine
As the pain continued to get worse, I knew I needed to do something. Walking was painful, everyday tasks had become difficult, and I couldn’t do many of the things I enjoyed.
A good friend recommended Andrews, and that eventually led me to answers about what was causing so much pain.
I initially saw Dr. Daniel Moore, a joint replacement specialist, who determined that the problem wasn’t coming from my hip.
From there, I was referred to Dr. Charles Carnel, an interventional spine specialist, where I received a lumbar injection to try to relieve the pain.
The injection helped, but only for about four or five days. When I returned and was given the option of trying another injection, I decided against it because the relief hadn’t lasted.
That’s when I was asked if I wanted to see a spine surgeon. I said, “Yeah, let’s try that,” and I was referred to Dr. Daniel Kim.
Dr. Kim and his team discovered a cyst between my L4 and L5 vertebrae. You wouldn’t think that one tiny little cyst could cause that much trouble, but it had affected so much of my everyday life.
The rest is history.
Surgery with Dr. Kim
Dr. Kim performed surgery to address the cyst between my L4 and L5 vertebrae. Other than the soreness from the surgery itself, I woke up the next morning and I had no pain.
From there, things just continued to improve. Recovery was painful at times, but it really wasn’t that bad. For about six weeks, I didn’t do much of anything. If I did, I took it easy because I didn’t want to take a chance on injuring anything. That part was frustrating for me because I don’t sit still very well.
During my recovery, my husband really stepped in and took care of things at home. He would work all day, then come home and do the laundry, cook dinner, and wash the dishes. I felt guilty watching him do so much, but he told me, “You’ve taken care of me 40 years. It’s my turn.”
When someone recently asked me how my scar looked, I said, “What scar?” It’s just a tiny little line. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never see it.
Getting My Life Back
Since my surgery with Dr. Kim, things have continued to improve. I’ve been pain-free since the surgery, and I feel like I’m able to do whatever I want to do again.
I can walk on the beach, and my husband and I can get back to taking trips together and doing the things we enjoy.
I can enjoy life again.
My Advice to Others
If I could give one piece of advice to someone dealing with something similar, it would be this: don’t put it off.
I waited until I reached a point where I just couldn’t take the pain anymore. Looking back, I wish I had gone to Dr. Kim six months earlier.
My experience at Andrews Sports Medicine was great. Every question I had, they had an answer. I was never talked down to, and they always used language I could understand. Everyone I came in contact with was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, and they made me feel comfortable.
Anybody who asks me, I highly recommend Andrews. And if someone mentions needing an orthopedic surgeon, I always recommend Dr. Kim.
