I started having back pains at 26. Got progressively worse over the next couple of years. People I knew were very negative about back surgery—people think it’s not efficient, it doesn’t work. On and on. My leg was hurting—my back—my toes. Went for two opinions—surgeons in the area—and both recommended surgery. One of my dad’s best friends is a neurologist and he looked at my MRI and said you should really go for it. Greg // Age: 30 Condition // Herniated Disk Occupation // Financial Advisor (CT) How did you find Dr. McCance? My wife’s best friend’s husband had back surgery with Dr. McCance and he said the surgery was great. He recommended I go see him. At the time we just had our first baby. I’d pick up my baby daughter and my back would hurt. I couldn’t put my underwear on. I’m thinking, I’m 29 years old and I shouldn’t have these problems. Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? I went to see Dr. McCance. Then I got few more opinions after that. Everyone pretty much said that surgery was inevitable. They said that if I did it early I could avoid more pain

It all started in 1996—I was out raking leaves and I felt all this pain in my back. Went to a doctor a friend recommended. Had an MRI—they found a herniated disk and they wanted to operate right away. I asked if I could try physical therapy first, before any surgery, and they said yes. I got better, but it never went away. I suffered with pain—but not severe. Over the years I developed spinal stenosis. It hurt to pick up my granddaughter. I couldn’t straighten up and my back was really hurting. I went to a second doctor, who recommended spinal fusion. I agreed to have it done because I was in so much pain, so I had it done. Initially it seemed better. But after a while it just got worse. Still hurting. The surgeon said sometimes it could take a year to heal. Tried water therapy. Nothing. It just got worse. I was bent over, I couldn’t straighten up. Diane // Age: 62 Condition // Spondylolistheses/Failed Fusion Occupation // Teacher (NY) How did you feel after your surgery? After the surgery, as soon as I awoke, I knew that my pain was gone. I could feel immediately

At 21 I was diagnosed with a herniated disk in my lower spine. In 2009 I started experiencing numbness in my right and left hands. I would wake up with a stiff neck in the morning. Then it became pins and needles from my shoulder to my hands. And then it got really bad—the pain was very great. It felt like I had broken an arm. Saw an orthopedic doctor. He ordered X-rays and MRIs. The diagnosis was two herniated discs that were causing pressure on my spinal column. The nerves that controlled my arms were being compressed. Then my balance started to go off. I felt like I was off-balance. Can’t drive. Find my keys. Button my shirt. Carry a liter of milk. I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t sleep. Terrible pain. On pain medication. Still in pain even with the meds. Tried acupuncture. Didn’t help. Then they recommended epidurals. Had them two months apart. Temporary relief, but I was still on transdermal morphine. Then there were the side effects of the medication—mood swings, appetite loss, paranoia, vomiting, nausea. I started to feel like a psycho. Couldn’t hold a pen to write—and I’m a teacher. I didn’t want to

I was diagnosed at 14 or 15. At the time my doctor told me there was nothing that could be done—other than exercise. But the pain continued throughout my life. I was 38 when I went to see Dr. McCance. By then I had trouble getting out of bed in the morning—it was a really painful experience. I had arthritic pain from the bones rubbing together—and bones hitting nerves. My life from boyhood until nearly 40 was one long, painful experience. Tom // Age: 38 Condition // Spondylolisthesis Occupation // Market Research (NY) How did you find Dr. McCance? When I initially searched online I was looking for a more holistic treatment. While I was searching I came across people talking about Dr. McCance. And there was someone in my office who had back surgery with him. I liked that his website had information on alternatives to surgery. I went to talk to him and he did think I was a candidate for fusion surgery. I left his office thinking I was not going to do it. I had heard so many things about back surgery. Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? When I first walked

I was having chronic back for a couple of years. I was treated with oral medication and occasional medical interventions. This worked temporarily. In some instances the pain did not return for extended periods of time—maybe two months, three months. In 2011 the back pain did not respond to any treatment. It kept getting worse, with stabbing pains in my back, going through my legs—all the way from my back down to my feet. It left me with limited flexibility in my movement. Chronic back pain has a very negative effect on your emotions and your loved ones—they were worried sick watching me suffer. After a while you begin to wonder if there is any way out of this predicament. There is a lack of sleep and sometimes anger at not being able to feel restful in any position. Anxiety—not knowing if it will get worse. Frustration—not being able to enjoy even the simplest activities. All these emotions take a toll on your physical well-being. It creates a vicious cycle when you feel trapped in this constant pain. By the end of 2011 the pain was unbearable. I was willing to put aside any concerns and have surgery—even if it

After sleeping in a hotel I woke up with a backache. I medicated myself for a couple of weeks. A friend of mine had kidney stones, and he said maybe you have kidney stones. I went to my doctor and he did an ultrasound—they found nothing. So my doctor suggested massage therapy. I did go, and I discovered they were doing Rolfing therapy.* Unfortunately, the Rolfing therapy had broken my L5 vertebrae and it was hitting on a nerve. On July 4th weekend I was driving to my home when my leg and foot became paralyzed. I kept driving until I got home, but I knew something was very wrong. Edward // Age: 44 Condition // Disk Herniation Occupation // Fashion Designer (NY) How did you find Dr. McCance? I called a doctor at Mt. Sinai Hospital, whom I greatly respected, and he immediately called Dr. McCance, who then called me. On July 5th I went in for surgery. Then next Memorial Day I felt some tingling and numbness in my leg. I called Dr. McCance again and again he saw me immediately. This time it was a herniation in my L3. Dr. McCance did not recommend surgery and he

I had spinal fusion when I was in my 20’s. After that I was very active. Hiking. Biking. Had two kids. About 10 years ago, the rod in my back cracked. I had some pain, but exercises eased the pain. About a year ago I experienced the worst sciatic pain I ever had in my entire life. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t walk. If I moved at all I was in incredible pain. My primary care physician told me I had stenosis where I was not fused. And that the rod in my back had broken—causing a crack in my back. I knew that I absolutely needed surgery. Carol // Age: 58 Condition // Scoliosis/Prior Fusion (30 Years Ago) Occupation // Criminologist (NY) How did you find Dr. McCance? My husband and I met with two surgeons. We both preferred Dr. McCance. Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? He seemed much more thorough. It was more the thoroughness. I didn’t feel like it was a business. You meet a physician and they have this checklist they go through. I actually felt that with Dr. McCance it was a personal engagement. He was very straightforward and very

I hurt my back when I was on a trip and when I got back the pain continued. I work with autistic children and one of the children was having a temper tantrum on the floor and I went to lift him up and as soon as I lifted him I felt a very sharp pain. I knew I needed to see a spine surgeon. Dara // Age: 31 Condition // Herniated Disk/ Cauda Equina Sydrome Occupation // Speech Pathologist (NY) How did you find Dr. McCance? My cousin had seen Dr McCance after an accident and she spoke very highly of him. I decided to go see him. Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? I thought he was very to the point. I thought he was very intelligent and he knew what he was talking about. What I really liked about him as a doctor is that he didn’t sugar coat things for me. ‘This is what you have. This is what you need. We’re going to help you and we’re going to fix it.’ It made me feel confident that this would work. Went to see him on a Wednesday. Had an MRI that

We were in the Dominican Republic and we all went cliff diving—about four stories high. I hit the water hard, which broke my cheek bone and fractured my pelvic bone, which put a lot of stress and pressure on my spinal cord, which was paralyzing my legs. The doctors in the Dominican Republic could not see that my pelvic bone was fractured and they were moving me around a lot. Which possibly caused more damage. And I had no pain killers. Finally I was put on a private plane and brought back to NY. Then I was taken by ambulance to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where I arrived at 6am. Which is when I met Dr. McCance. The jet I flew on belonged to a client of my father-in-law and his sister is the second most important person at Mt. Sinai—and they put Dr. McCance in charge of my case. He immediately put me in for X-rays. He told me about my fractured pelvis and the pressure on my spinal cord and he said I needed immediate surgery. Jackie // Age: 28 Condition // Spine Fracture Occupation // Teacher (NY) How did you feel after your spine surgery? Every morning after