Jeff

What kinds of activities do you enjoy, especially during different seasons?

I love to ski in the winter time, so it's always about getting ready for that. I do spend a lot of time working in a volunteer position at the high school, and what that means for high school band is we move a lot of props and instruments around during the entire fall season.

When did your neck and arm pain begin, and what were the symptoms like?

I immediately suffered severe neck and arm pain down my left side to the point where I couldn't even lift my left arm up or carry any weights.

What were the first steps you took when the symptoms appeared?

I initiated some doctor's appointments with a couple of different doctors. They prescribed medicines—nothing worked. I think like most people, I asked a lot of friends and acquaintances for a referral to a neurosurgeon. I knew at that point I had something more than just a muscle problem.

How did you eventually get connected with Dr. Moroz?

I reached out to a very well-regarded neurosurgeon here at Ascension Seton, and his office then referred me to Dr. Moroz.

What was your first visit with Dr. Moroz like?

My first visit was very casual. It was very engaging. He was very pleasant. He described exactly what it was that he recommended that we do.

Were you hesitant at first about surgery or other treatments?

I did not want to, as I say, “go under the knife” the first time around. I wanted to explore whether or not a spinal injection would relieve my pain and reduce the swelling in both my neck and then in my lower back.

How effective was the injection treatment for you?

The net result of that, of course, is fantastic. I have recovered full range of motion and mobility and strength. In fact, I think I feel a little bit better now in my lower back than I have in probably 15 years.

How long did your recovery take, and what did it involve?

My recovery lasted approximately six weeks for each one of my injuries—both neck and back. I followed the prescriptive physical therapy, which is hard for someone in his 50s always, but I've been able to do all the previous physical activities that I was able to do in my 40s, for example.

Have you been able to return to your volunteer activities?

So back to that mention of helping out with the band—the props on the field, pulling and pushing hundreds of pounds of props and instruments was no problem this year.

What advice would you give to others experiencing similar symptoms?

Don’t wait. Reach out to your primary care physician. Explore and explain everything that happens. I waited a little bit too long for my first injury just to understand whether or not it was a spinal issue, a nerve issue, or a muscle issue, and probably should have pushed a little bit stronger on my primary care doctor to ensure that I had the best care possible available to me. Again, it was just incredible how quickly I was able to recover from the procedure.