IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Summer 2024 | Page 8

From intense pain to near instant relief after herniated disc surgery .

From intense pain to near instant relief after herniated disc surgery .

For motorcycle riders like Joe Sever , summer is the ideal time to take life by the handlebars . With the excruciating pain of a herniated disc , however , that was out of the question . “ Last summer was absolutely miserable .”
The human spine is made up of individual bones separated by spongy discs . Each disc has a jellylike center surrounded by a rubbery exterior . When the soft center pushes out through a tear in the tough exterior , this causes pressure on the spinal nerves , resulting in mild to severe pain .
This can happen due to age , injury , or in Joe ’ s case , a lifetime of hard , physical work . Joe ’ s debilitating pain led him to AHN Neurosurgery at Jefferson , where he explored a variety of pain management treatments before it was determined that surgery was his best option .
“ Joe had an L4-L5 herniation in his lower back , just above the pelvis ,” said Daniel Myers , MD , AHN Jefferson Hospital .
“ He was a very motivated patient and didn ’ t require much post-surgical pain management , so we were able to perform the discectomy as an outpatient procedure and Joe went home that same day .”
Finally , Joe experienced the relief he had been hoping for . “ It was an immediate night and day difference right after surgery . It took me a few weeks to get back on my feet , but the disc pain was gone — just like that !”
Today , Joe is completely pain free and is able to do everything he loves , including riding his motorcyle .
“ Everyone at AHN Jefferson Hospital really went above and beyond for me . I trust them with everything and recommend them to anyone . My experience there was better than anywhere else in the area ,” said Joe .

“ The pain ran all the way down my left side to my heel . It was unbearable . But after Dr . Myers performed my surgery , the pain was almost instantly gone . I can ’ t speak highly enough of him and my entire experience at AHN Jefferson Hospital .”

— Joe Sever