Playing golf has been David Hanna’s favorite form of exercise for 60 years.
“I’ve been playing since I was 16,” he says.
For the retired bank president from New Kensington, the golf course was also a place to build and maintain important business relationships. When he suffered a damaged cervical disc in 1987, he saw Joseph Maroon, MD, a renowned UPMC neurosurgeon, for help.
“Dr. Maroon removed the disk in my neck, and he also diagnosed me with lumbar spinal stenosis,” says Dave.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that go through it. The most common causes are wear-and-tear changes stemming from arthritis and spinal injuries resulting from trauma.
The Challenge: Staying Active
Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis include pain, tingling, and numbness in the legs, and problems with walking and balance. For most people, nonsurgical treatments such as medicine and physical therapy can provide relief.
Dave’s symptoms, however, got progressively worse. In 2008, Dr. Maroon performed the first of two laminectomy procedures to help relieve the pain. Laminectomy is a standard-of-care surgical procedure for spinal stenosis. It involves removing one or more vertebrae to relieve pressure and open up the spinal cord. Dr. Maroon performed a second laminectomy on Dave in 2011.
As his condition continued to deteriorate, doctors advised Dave that spinal fusion surgery was his only treatment option. But for years he deferred surgery — which involved inserting rods and screws to stabilize the spine — because it can limit range of motion.
“I was afraid I’d never play golf again,” says Dave.
In spite of the pain, he continued playing golf regularly with a group of friends.
“It was the only exercise I was getting,” Dave explains. The 76-year-old could play 18 holes if he took pain medicine before teeing off and again at the ninth hole. He also wore a 12-inch wide back brace and rode in a golf cart. “I could only stand up long enough to take my swing,” he says.
The Path to UPMC
By late 2021, Dave couldn’t stand or walk for more than three minutes before his legs went numb. He called UPMC and was referred to Thomas Buell, MD, a neurosurgeon who specializes in complex spinal reconstructive surgery.
“For me, it had become a quality-of-life issue,” he says. “And it wasn’t just about golf. I couldn’t walk to the beach or even stroll the boardwalk with my family.”
“I didn’t know Dr. Buell so I researched his credentials,” says Dave. “They were impeccable and I scheduled an appointment.”
The Solution
Dr. Buell suggested a minimally invasive procedure that used intervertebral fusion “cages,” instead of rods and screws, to stabilize Dave’s spine. The cages serve as space holders between the affected vertebrae, allowing bone to grow and fuse the vertebrae.
“Dr. Buell said it was less invasive, my recovery time would be shorter, and my post-surgery activity wouldn’t be as restrictive, says Dave. “I said, ‘Let’s go for it.’ I had the utmost trust in Dr. Buell.”
The 11-hour surgery took place on Nov. 2, 2022 at UPMC Presbyterian. After the surgery, Dave completed six weeks of physical therapy.
The Results
At their first meeting, Dave told Dr. Buell that he wanted to play golf — but more importantly, he wanted to be able to walk.
“Dr. Buell felt he could deliver on both those goals. And he did just that,” says Dave.
Today, he can walk at least a mile or more daily before even thinking about sitting down. And he’s back to being a regular on the golf course — with no need for pain meds or the back brace.
“Overall, it was a life-changing experience that improved my quality of life,” says Dave.