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