My name is Iris, and on April 4th, 2018, I took a giant leap of faith and underwent lumbar artificial replacement (ADR) surgery at my L5/S1 disc segment instead of settling for spinal fusion surgery, the most commonly performed procedure that has serious drawbacks. This is my story, and I hope to be able to reach others who find themselves in a similar situation and do not want to be forced into spinal fusion by the messed-up healthcare system in the United States.
Ever since childhood, I was always naturally slim and athletic without much effort. In fact, I consider myself one of the “lucky ones” who don’t’ have to struggle with body weight issues and related illnesses. However, a car accident in 2007 was the beginning of a life-altering change in my spine - even though, I didn't realize it at the time!
Never in a million years would I have thought that I would end up in perpetual crippling pain, not being able to bend, squat, or even pick up my 13-pound puppy. Just brushing my teeth, putting on my socks in the morning, or cleaning my house became almost impossible tasks. I was only 42 years old and just had started a fulfilling career in nursing when my lumbar disc started to degenerate at an alarming rate. The timing seemed so ironic, and dealing with the constantly worsening symptoms was taking an enormous toll on my mental health. It is really unbelievable how we tend to take things like health for granted, until they are taken away.
I hope to be able to provide some hope for others that there can really be a life after back surgery, such as mine. Looking back, this is my as a second chance at life...