Hope Stories

Spinal deformity surgery rebuilds Tom' spine – and his daily life

The unnatural curves that had developed came with devastating impact: a hump behind his right shoulder that caused him to walk hunched over, and a stabbing feeling on the left side of his rib cage.

"It was pretty ugly," Tom says now. "What was really crazy was how excruciating it would get when I was trying to do normal things, like taking a hot shower."

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Read: Tom's story
Scoliosis, kyphosis, Spinal deformity surgery

Specialized physical therapy helps Sara reduce effects of pelvic floor dysfunction

The difficulty started, Sara remembers, with pain and stiffness in her core. She suffered some sharp pain in her abdomen after her third C-section. Sleeping through the night and emptying her bladder became issues. Her hips sometimes locked up getting up off the floor while playing with her kids.

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Mayfield Spine Athlete

Most of us don’t give much thought to the spine – an engineering wonder of disk-buffered vertebrae that allows us to twist, bend, and lift. "For most people the spine is an invisible component of their lives – until it goes bad," says retired Mayfield neurosurgeon William Tobler, MD. "But once it goes bad, it’s a lifestyle-changer."

If you are undergoing treatment for a back problem, are facing surgery, or are simply fortunate enough to have a healthy back, now is the perfect time to start thinking like a "spine athlete,"  Dr. Tobler says. "Just as a professional athlete trains constantly, spine athletes benefit by becoming disciplined with regard to their conditioning and healthy living."

Need some inspiration?

Here are the stories of some of our spine athletes.

Dr. William Tobler (retired)