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About Us >> Patient Success Stories
Carylyn
Denver executive back to yoga after complex spine surgery
“There were only two surgeons in
the U.S. that could perform the non-traditional
spine surgery needed to remove
the broken disc from my spinal cord. Dr.
Regan was one of the two surgeons. Now
I am pain free and back to life, including
yoga for exercise,“ Carylyn states.
Carylyn is a successful finance executive
who frequently works
long hours at a time. Some of her favorite ways to
unwind include yoga, strength training and running.
In 2002, Carylyn began having sore muscles
in her back and shoulders. At first she attributed it
to her active lifestyle, including long hours sitting
at a computer. She also started having difficulty
breathing along with an elevated heart rate, even
while at rest.
When her symptoms did not go away, she
went to her general practitioner to seek some relief.
The doctor examined Carylyn and ordered
diagnostics. The MRI revealed that she had enlarged
lymph nodes. More tests would be needed
and she was sent to a number of specialists in
a two year period. Carylyn even traveled to the
Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
While at the Mayo Clinic, an MRI revealed
a piece of her spinal disc had broken off and
was lodged in her spinal cord, this was affecting
her muscles and nerves. This was the cause for
Carylyn’s breathing problems along with back
and shoulder pain. “I was told there were only
two surgeons in the U.S. that could perform the
non-traditional spine surgery needed to remove
the broken disc from my spinal cord,” Carylyn
remembers. Fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr.
John Regan was one of these surgeons.
Carylyn made arrangements to fly to southern
California to meet with Dr. Regan. The surgeon
viewed her diagnostics and discussed with
Carylyn the Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery necessary
to treat the problem. It was important that
the surgery take place soon and Carylyn wanted Dr.
Regan to perform the surgery. The surgeon cleared
his schedule and performed the complex thoracic
spine surgery the next day.
Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS), is a
minimally invasive surgery that allows the surgeon to
directly access the thoracic area (chest) without a big
incision. Three or four small incisions (1-2 inches)
are made to allow the surgeon to use the video camera
and endoscope needed for this operation. A very
small video camera is used to project pictures of the
chest cavity onto a screen during the procedure.
Dr. Regan removed the disc from her spinal
cord and Carylyn felt immediate relief from symptoms
she had lived with for years. Dr. Regan did caution
Carylyn that a fusion surgery may be necessary
in the future to further stabilize her spine.
A couple years later, Carylyn began having
some left leg pain, especially when sitting. One day
while running on the treadmill, Carylyn noticed her
left leg would not go as fast as her right. She immediately
knew something was wrong. She called Dr.
Regan and also went to a hospital nearby for an MRI.
Dr. Regan was able to view the MRI results and soon
determined Carylyn would need the fusion surgery to
stabilize the discs at L5-S1. She made arrangements
to travel to southern California to see Dr. Regan. The
surgeon discussed with Carylyn the Transforaminal
Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) procedure she would
need to stabilize the discs at L5-S1. Dr. Regan performed
the follow-up surgery and it was a success.
Carylyn felt immediate relief from her leg pain.
Today, Carylyn is back to her career in the finance
industry. She is back to the gym and back to
enjoying yoga - all without pain.
Click here to download a PDF of Carylyn's successful recovery from complex spine surgery performed by Dr. John Regan.
Click here to watch as Carylyn talk about her successful recovery from spine surgery performed by Dr. John Regan.
If you would like more information, please contact:
John J. Regan, M.D.
8750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 385-8888
Email: mhosmann@discmdgroup.com
Quick Links: Home | About Dr. John Regan, Los Angeles Spine Surgeon | Contact Information for Los Angeles locations | Appointment Scheduling | Get a Second Opinion | Spine Conditions | Spine Treatment Options: Nonsurgical Spine Care, Spine Surgery including surgery for Cervical, Lumbar and Thoracic Disc Herniation, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Lateral Access Surgery, Anatomic Facet Replacement System | Clinical Trials | Patient Center | Educational Resources | For Physicians | Appointment Scheduling for Dr. John Regan, Spine Surgeon in Los Angeles, CA
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