Long Distance Runner Regains his Stride

When Michael K. was a young boy, his Mother frequently told him to stand up straight. The self-described Catholic "altar boy kid" says even then his back would bother him from standing and kneeling in church, causing him to slouch or have to sit down. He remembers going to museums with his family and having to sit down to rest his back.

Years later, the 59-year-old tax attorney would be surprised to find out that he had some severe problems in his lower lumbar area. A runner his entire life, Michael had enjoyed running marathons with no serious injury. His symptoms began with his left leg tingling, then it began to go numb. Worried, he sought help from Dr. Slosar.

The MRI supported a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal. In addition, his facet joints had no cartilage at L4 and L5, making his movements "bone-on-bone" which was not good. Dr. Slosar recommended a laminectomy and spinal fusion. One week before the surgery, Michael was walking across a parking lot with a client, when his leg completely gave out. He knew more than ever that it was time for surgery.

Dr. Slosar used a newer treatment during the fusion. Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), a genetically-engineered bone growth stimulator, helps the body initiate new bone growth. He used the BMP in the area between L4 and L5 where Michael had no cartilage. BMP eliminates the need for a second surgery to harvest bone to be used from another area of the body such as the hip.

"I feel like I have a 20-year-old body!" exclaims Michael. He still runs about 20 miles a week, and offsets his workouts with other exercises too. The married father of three adult children says he lives a "pain-free life" and that his encounters with Dr. Slosar and the results of the surgery were "way beyond my expectations."

 

Alcatraz Escapee Enabled Through Surgery

This 30-year-old volunteer fireman has been active his entire life, doing triathlons, swimming, skiing, etc.  After a day of heavy lifting however, Tony L. began experiencing numbness in his left leg that progressed to the point where he could not walk on his own, and couldn’t even get into bed.  Symptoms became so severe that he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

The doctors there suggested that he try pain medications but Tony knew things were more serious. Dr. Slosar had successfully treated his back condition many years ago so Tony decided to return to see if Dr. Slosar could help again.
“Tony was absolutely miserable with pain” said Dr. Slosar.  “His MRI showed that a large disc herniation was compressing the spinal nerves and he was losing function in his leg.  Tony and I decided together that surgery was the best choice.”

Dr. Slosar has advanced training in minimally invasive spine surgery and has operated on many high-level athletes.  He performed a minimally invasive microdiscectomy.  Tony was able to go home a few hours afterwards, something unheard of in spine surgery only a few short years ago.

Tony woke up from the surgery with the leg pain immediately gone.  His strength returned to normal quickly with physical therapy.  “Having the surgery was the best decision I ever made” remarked Tony. 

Tony has returned to his very active lifestyle including endurance training and firefighting.  In fact, it was six months to the day of his surgery when he entered and completed The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, placing 139th out of 2,000!
He plans on doing the Trans-Tahoe Relay swim in July.  He will be part of a six-man team that will do an 11.5 mile swim across Lake Tahoe – without wetsuits!