Carol A. Denman

I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease at L4/L5 of the Lumbar Spine in June of 1997. Over the years, my lower back pain grew steadily worse, to the point that my husband asked me how much longer before he’d be pushing me a round in a wheelchair. That got me thinking that IF the medical technology improved, to the point that I could possibly have any type of minimally invasive back surgery, I’d research it. I’d heard about too many back surgeries that went wrong and felt as long as I could keep taking pain pills to cope with the pain, I’d continue on.

In January 2001, I underwent DRS System treatment for disc decompression 4 times a week for 6 weeks at the Orlando Pain & Medical Rehabilitation Center in Altamonte Springs, FL. My back pain subsided for several years, but in June 2006, I found myself having spine adjustments with a chiropractor. When I realized they only helped temporarily and I was spending a lot of money, I bought an inversion table. Again, this provided only temporary help.

In 2008, I received information in the mail from Florida Hospital Celebration Health introducing Dr. Faissal Zahrawi, Director of their Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute. He was performing minimally invasive spinal fusion surgeries. I scheduled an appointment with him. He told me that all of my trips to the chiropractor and my use of the inversion table would not heal my back. Then he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I will heal your back.” September 2008, I had a lower back MRI and October 2008, Dr. Zahrawi performed Lumbar Fusion Surgery on L4 and L5 Degenerative Discs.

1 year and 9 months later and I am more active now than I was before I had the back surgery. I exercise daily before I get ready for work (from 7-7:30 AM) to a show called “Total Body Sculpt with Gilad” on the FIT TV channel. I’ve lost 20 pounds and can chase after and pick up my grandkids without even thinking that 2 years ago, my back riddled with pain.