Susan, 61, tried to alleviate the constant
pain in her lower back and leg by exhausting
a wide range of noninvasive methods: ice,
heat, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory
medications and even platelet-rich plasma
(PRP) therapy, a process that uses injections
of one's own platelets to speed the healing
of injuries.
Some of the measures helped for a short
time, but the shooting pain always returned.
"I tried everything but voodoo," she says.
Time to Consider Surgery?
In 2019, Susan decided it was time to explore
back surgery. With her medical background
and health care connections, she had heard
of Nathaniel Whitney, M.D., a neurosurgeon
with Providence Spokane Neuroscience
Institute with expertise in treating
scoliosis patients.
"They said he works on the most difficult
scoliosis cases in the region, and I said,
'Okay, I'm ready to talk to him.'"
After reviewing the images of Susan's back
and listening to her describe the years of pain
and frustration, it was clear to Dr. Whitney
that back surgery was her best option.
Without hesitation, Susan agreed. Her
meeting with Dr. Whitney and his staff had
given her confidence in his abilities. She
knew surgery was the right thing to do.
"I was seeking a solution and I looked at it
as an opportunity," Susan says." Dr. Whitney 's
quiet assuredness and the fact he and his
nurse practitioner had reviewed my case
together ahead of my visit really impressed
me. And during my appointment he sat
and faced me, made eye contact and
listened to me."
For most people, surgery for back pain is
an option when other noninvasive methods
have failed, and pain is disabling.
Dr. Whitney explained that imaging has
become more exact and high resolution,
which improves a surgeon's ability to
navigate around the spine with less risk
of injury to tissue or nerves.
"We're really at the leading edge of the
tools we can use on surgery, and help speed
recovery for our patients," Dr. Whitney says.
Robotic-assisted Fusion
Susan's condition required freeing up the
nerves at the two lowest levels of her spine
and a spinal fusion.
Dr. Whitney performed the four-hour surgery
on Susan at Providence Sacred Heart Medical
Center, where he was aided by a robotic arm,
a remarkably complex navigation device to
help with accuracy.
Susan left the hospital within two days after
surgery with a brace she was required to wear
for nearly three months. Rehabilitation started
immediately and she was fully committed. If
she was told to walk 10 minutes, three days a
week, she walked 20 minutes, five days a week
with her two Great Danes, Vito and Molly.
Susan started a rigorous physical therapy
program with input from Dr. Whitney 's team.
The attention to her care beyond surgery
made an impression. "It showed a collaborative
continuity of care," she says. "I liked the way
the whole staff worked. The schedulers, the
people at the desk, the nurses; everyone
knew their role. I got the sense they were
all there for me."
Susan encourages anyone experiencing
unrelenting back pain to be persistent in
finding answers. "Get good diagnostics and
a referral for at least a consultation,"
she says. "Don't give up."
■
Meet our new
surgical robot
A new robot at
Providence Spokane
Neuroscience Institute is
enhancing the accuracy
and recovery of spine
surgery for patients in
the region thanks to
donors who contributed
$1.5 million through the
Providence Health Care
Foundation. The robot is
the only one of its kind in
Eastern Washington.
Considered a best-in-
class system, the robot
combines surgical GPS
navigation and robotic
guidance to improve the
accuracy of drilling and
screw placement during
spine surgery.
"At some point in
everyone's life they have
some type of spine
trouble, but not everyone
needs surgery," says
Nathaniel Whitney,
M.D., neurosurgeon at
Providence Spokane
Neuroscience Institute.
"But if they do require
surgery, this robot
technology helps reduce
the risks of surgery,
minimize recovery and
solve bigger problems
related to the spine."
"I saw my spine and thought 'what
the heck happened here?'" says the
Spokane resident. "I'd taken care
of my back my whole life."
For more information or
to request a consultation,
visit Providence.org/SpokaneSpine
