Leslie

When did you first realize you were having back problems?

I had been seeing a doctor who thought I had hip problems. Later, I found out that wasn’t the case. I actually had a cyst in my back, which Dr. Cruz discovered. Once he found it, he took care of the problem — and he did a wonderful job. I’m happy to say I’m doing fine now.

What did Dr. Cruz recommend for a treatment?

First, he wanted to address the cyst. After doing more tests and X-rays, he found that I also had a degenerated disc and that my spine was not properly aligned. During surgery, he removed the damaged disc, inserted a spacer, and placed screws to stabilize my back. When I woke up from surgery, I was fine — truly pain-free.

What do you remember about waking up after surgery?

I remember having no pain. From that day until now, I’ve been pain-free. Before surgery, walking was unbearable — even standing at the stove or refrigerator for a few minutes was awful. When I went shopping, I had to lean on a cart just to stay standing. So when I woke up and felt no pain, it was unbelievable.

What concerns did you have before surgery?

When Dr. Cruz told me I needed surgery, I was terrified. I wondered if I’d ever walk again or what I’d have to go through to get there. I worried about being able to dance again — I live alone and I’m the oldest sibling, so I was also concerned about my family and what recovery would mean for all of us.

How are you feeling now compared to before surgery?

I had a lot of challenges at first — even sitting up was hard. But being able to stand and walk without pain was incredible. After coming home, I had nurses visit, and they walked with me regularly. I realized I was wobbling when I stepped, so I started physical therapy to correct that.

Can you share a bit about your experience with physical therapy?

My therapist worked closely with me, and later I joined the YMCA, where they helped me continue to build strength and balance. Now I’m up, walking, doing my daily chores — all without pain. The only time I feel a tiny twinge is if I sit for too long and then stand up, but that’s just part of recovery. It’s been about eight or nine months now, and I’m still improving.

Did you notice any immediate difference after the operation?

Absolutely. The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that I had no pain. I moved side to side, expecting to feel it — but there was nothing. I couldn’t believe it. After living with such severe pain every day, waking up pain-free was amazing. Honestly, I call Dr. Cruz my idol.

How are you feeling today — what’s life like now compared to before surgery

I can do all the normal things I missed — bending, stepping, climbing stairs — all of which used to be incredibly painful. Now I have no problems at all. Dr. Cruz truly fixed me up, and I’m so grateful.

What did your earlier doctors think was going on, and how did you finally meet Dr. Cruz?

Before meeting Dr. Cruz, I was seeing another doctor who kept giving me shots in both hips. He thought my pain came from my knees or hip replacements, but I knew it had to be more than that. Thankfully, Dr. Sano took the time to really look into my case. He ordered new imaging, found the cyst, and referred me to Dr. Cruz. If that had been done earlier, I probably wouldn’t have suffered for so long. I’ll always be grateful to Dr. Cruz — he found the real problem and gave me my life back.