Kathy’s story
Herniated lumbar disc, radiculopathy
Choice to have surgery helps Kathy 'get my life back on track'
Kathy loves to travel. She loves to dance. She loves to walk on the beach. Thanks to spine surgery with Dr. Juan Mejia of Mayfield Brain & Spine, she's back to doing all of those things.
"I think anything is frustrating when you can't do the activities you enjoy," Kathy says. "Now, I'm feeling great. I just got back from Florida – dancing three nights a week, walking on the beach every day – just doing everything I love."
Kathy's back problems began years ago after a fall. More recently, she developed pain in her right hip and down her left leg. At first, she was hesitant to consult a surgeon. But after a gentle "intervention" from family and friends, Kathy made the call to Mayfield.
Imaging revealed a significant disc herniation at the L4–L5 level of her lumbar spine
She was scheduled to see Dr. Mejia, a neurosurgeon based at Mayfield's Anderson Township office. Imaging revealed a significant disc herniation at the L4–L5 level of her lumbar spine.
"He informs you, but he's very warm and friendly," Kathy says. "He said, 'These are the options you have.'"
Kathy had planned a European cruise and hoped that another round of pain injections might help. But over several visits, her symptoms worsened, reaching a pain level of 8 or 9 out of 10. Dr. Mejia recommended surgery at the Mayfield Spine Surgery Center, an outpatient facility located along I-71 in Norwood. The procedure would involve a minimally invasive lumbar decompression to remove the herniated disc and relieve pressure on the nerve roots.
"Kathy was interested in exploring alternatives to surgery," Dr. Mejia says. "But eventually the symptoms from the herniated disc in her lumbar spine were too severe. Once the pain intensified and began affecting her daily life, and she hadn't found relief from medications, physical therapy or spinal injections, we felt surgery was the appropriate next step."
A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes through a weak area in its tougher outer wall – much like the filling of a jelly donut squeezing out. This can cause pain, tingling, numbness or weakness when the disc material compresses nearby nerves. In Kathy's case, the herniation was causing radiculopathy, or pain and tingling radiating from pressure on spinal nerves.
Dr. Mejia says the procedure relieved that pressure, allowing Kathy to regain strength and return to the activities she enjoys.
"The prospect of undergoing spine surgery can be daunting for patients," he says, "but we were able to pinpoint the source of pain using precise imaging and tailor the procedure accordingly. Kathy experienced immediate symptom relief from a quick outpatient procedure, and her outlook is very positive."
Now, Kathy says she's back to living the life she loves.
"I took a chance, and it worked out for me. That was Dr. Mejia," she says. "I've absolutely got my life back on track, doing everything I love."
~ Cliff Peale
Hope Story Disclaimer -"Kathy's Story" is about one patient's health-care experience. Please bear in mind that because every patient is unique, individual patients may respond to treatment in different ways. Results are influenced by many factors and may vary from patient to patient.
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