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My back surgery story

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." — Psalm 103:2

Four years ago I had back surgery. Most back problems don't need surgery. I was one of the "lucky" few who did.

This September I hurt my back again, and it brought me back to this story. It's one of the blessings I never want to forget, so I'm writing it down.

How it started

Honestly, I'm not sure. My hunch is it built up over time: bad posture and too much sitting, which I think weakened my glutes and tightened my hamstrings. Combine that with explosive sprinting when I exercised or played. My back got strained, and without the right exercises it slowly got worse.

In 2022 I went through PT and painkillers, and I saw orthopaedic doctors in May and July. None of it really fixed it. I kept having back pain at around 6/10.

The weekend it got bad

On September 17 and 18, 2022, we went on a family trip to Tagaytay. I drove us there from Los Baños, took care of the kids (sometimes carrying them), then drove us back.

When we got home I was tired and my back hurt. Usually I'd just lie down and rest, and the pain would ease. Not this time. On Monday I was in bed the whole day. I couldn't find a good position and I couldn't sleep. Then Tuesday. Then Wednesday. The pain went to a constant 8/10, then 10/10 for several days straight.

Los Baños Doctors Hospital

Finally I went to Dr. Leslie at Los Baños Doctors Hospital (LBDH), and he decided to admit me (around September 21). They tried a host of painkillers. None really worked, until finally one did. Then, on September 23, I got an epidural shot. You know, the one you get when you give birth. 😐 I never thought I'd get one.

After that I felt better, but I knew I still needed surgery. The plan was a laminotomy discectomy on L5-S1, an open back surgery. I asked my doctors how urgent it was, what the risks were, and how comfortable they were with the surgeon and the procedure.

Honestly, I wasn't really knowledgeable about my options. I would have gone with the open back surgery.

A call from Sorsogon

Then my Tito Roland (Dr. Roland Hermo) from Sorsogon contacted me. He said that if I was open to doing it in Sorsogon, at the Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital (SMMGH), he recommended Dr. Elmer Maceda and a minimally invasive approach: endoscopic spine surgery.

It uses a small incision and specialized instruments to remove the parts of the slipped disc that were pinching my nerves at L5-S1. Less tissue trauma and a quicker recovery than open back surgery.

To be honest, this was God-sent.

Surgery week

  • October 2: Darla, Caleb (still a baby then) and I flew to Sorsogon.
  • October 4: surgery.
  • October 5: I was up and walking well.
  • October 8: we flew back home.

Two weeks earlier I couldn't find a position to sleep in. A day after surgery, I was walking.

Back to an active life

To be honest, the recovery was almost instant. A day after surgery I was walking okay, and I could already work. I took it easy for about 6 weeks, just walking, before doing any other exercise.

After that I got into basketball, then into tennis.

Two years later, on my 37th birthday, I played tennis in the morning and basketball in the evening. I love physical activity, and I'm grateful to God for restoring my health and letting me enjoy an active life again.

What I'd tell you

  • Know your options. Ask whether a minimally invasive approach fits your case. I almost went with open surgery simply because I didn't know there was another way.
  • Ask your doctors questions. How urgent is it? What are the risks? How experienced is the surgeon with this exact procedure?
  • Surgery fixes the disc, not why it happened. I stayed active after surgery and kept a healthy lifestyle. Still, this September, playing on a tired body, I hurt my back again. More on that in My Low Back Ability journey.

Thank you

To Tito Roland, Dr. Elmer, Dr. Leslie and the staff at SMMGH and LBDH, thank you.

To Darla, thank you for your full support: for coming with me to Sorsogon (with the baby!) and for being there through the whole recovery. I know you were worried. Any major surgery is dangerous, especially on the spine. I would love nothing more than to see you smile.

Praise God, He was with us all through it. He provided for us, and He healed me fully.

What has the Lord done for you that you don't want to forget?

I'm not a doctor. This is my own experience, not medical advice. If your back hurts, see a professional.