Patient Spotlight: Wanda

Wanda is yet another one of our patients who seems to effortlessly fend off the ravages of aging. At 70 she has a passion towards her yoga practice that is something to behold.

However, luck in its own way can come into play and for a couple of years Wanda has been experiencing debilitating low back pain. She and I could manage it well with our treatment and relying on her fitness. Until we couldn’t. An MRI revealed what we suspected was an enormous disc bulge. Now most often disc bulges can be managed quite well with specific exercises to reduce to disc and a consistent back stability program. On occasion, however, the bulge is so big and in just the wrong spot that surgery becomes to best option. So about six months ago Wanda had lumber fusion surgery which was successful in resolving her severe nerve symptoms.

Returning to care our treatment has a new focus. We will now direct the treatment to maintaining proper spine and hip mobility around the level of the fusion. Although Wanda has been advised to discontinue yoga she and I have agreed to disagree with that unspecific recommendation. It is true that Wanda’s deep yoga practice and her deep forward folds may have contributed to the disc herniation that in no means forbids her to continue her practice. We talked about a modified practice and knowing Wanda for as long as I have, I know she has the strength and passion to resume a fully gratifying practice. She, like all of us just needs to practice a little bit of patience as she recovers fully.