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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
