I always considered myself a young man. I was physically active. I liked to run with young guys—full court basketball—the whole nine yards. I had persistent back problems. My back would “go out” every couple of months. I just thought it was the aging process. The last time that I had it, it wouldn’t really go away. My primary care doctor knew Dr. McCance and recommended that I see him. I went to Dr. McCance and had a full set of tests. He said it was a congenital issue—the structuring of my spine. One of the lower vertebrae slipped forward and it really had to get fixed. It was a serious issue. Eric // Age: 50+ Condition // Spondylolisthesis Occupation // Lawyer (NY) Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? My wife is a nurse. So we did a lot of research and found out Dr. McCance is a top-notch guy. In my dealings with him I found him to be extraordinarily responsive. He’s a thoughtful guy. He provides the utmost care. I found him very personable and knowledgeable and respectful. And frank—so you feel you’re getting the right story. Another crucial element in the quality of

I had continuous pain for two years. It started in my buttock and radiated down my left leg to my foot. At first it was bearable, but after a year it became so severe that I started looking for a doctor to help me. At first I tried sports medicine doctors, and then I tried orthopedic surgeons. But I could never get a clear diagnosis. Denise // Age: 62 Condition // Scoliosis/Spinal Stenosis Occupation // Retired (Puerto Rico) Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? Dr. McCance was very thorough. He was clear. He’s very thorough. He was the only doctor I saw who described my back problem in very simple terms. He explained to me what would happen if I did nothing and what would happen if I had surgery. He pointed out where the problems were on my film. My pain was caused by a vertebrae that got out of alignment and was pinching a nerve. It’s so surprising that so many doctors had seen the same films, and Dr. McCance was the only doctor who really looked at it and determined what was wrong. I thought his staff was extremely professional. They were extremely

For me it started with a car accident. I injured my back. I did physical therapy and a lot of pain management, but I still suffered from constant pain. I am a school teacher, so it made it more difficult for me to do my job. It kept getting progressively worse. This went on for 4 or 5 years. Evelyn // Age: 44 Condition // Stenosis/Degenerative Disk Disease Occupation // Teacher (NY) How did you find Dr. McCance I went to Dr. McCance because my aunt had back surgery with him. My aunt and my cousin were raving about him. My aunt’s situation was really very severe—she was almost paralyzed. And Dr. McCance worked his magic. Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? I went in with a laundry list of questions and he answered every single question and more. Very patient man. Very detailed in his explanations—in layman’s terms. His staff—I can’t speak any higher about his staff—from his receptionist to his Physician Assistants. Very professional. Very courteous. I can’t speak any higher of this man. He showed me everything in detail. Showing me exactly where my problem was. Where the disks collapsed. I had to

In 1982 I injured my neck in an accident. The pain would come and go and I’d see a chiropractor once in awhile. Then, I was moving my daughter into college and I tried to move a refrigerator—and something happened. The pain was constant and so bad that I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t even move my head. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to drive again. I went to a neurologist who ordered an MRI. Then he referred me to a local spine surgeon. I went to see him and he explained what needed to be done. He was well-respected and everything, but I just wasn’t comfortable. And I didn’t like the idea of surgery, so I didn’t schedule anything. Jim // Age: 51 Condition // Cervical Disc Herniation/ Degenerative Disk Disease Occupation // Lawyer (NY) How did you find Dr. McCance? I was reconciling myself to a life of pain when a colleague suggested I get a second opinion from a doctor with one of the fine hospitals in Manhattan. Through my colleague’s contacts I heard about Dr McCance and then did some research on him. Why did you choose Dr. McCance for your spine surgery? When I

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