From Chronic Pain to Freedom: Laura’s Journey

My life change

For over five years, I struggled with debilitating lower back pain caused by a herniated disc and spinal stenosis. Daily tasks became exhausting, and even walking short distances was painful. I had seen several specialists, but no one gave me a clear path forward—until I met Dr. Ziad A. Hage.
From our first appointment, Dr. Hage took the time to thoroughly review my MRI scans and explain the underlying issues in a way I could actually understand. He recommended a minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery, and although I was nervous, his calm and confident approach put me completely at ease.
The surgery was a complete success. Within days, I noticed a difference—and within weeks, I was walking pain-free for the first time in years. Dr. Hage and his team were incredibly supportive during recovery, always available to answer questions and check in on my progress.
Today, I’m back to hiking, traveling, and even gardening—things I thought I’d never be able to do again. I can’t thank Dr. Hage enough for giving me my quality of life back. He’s not only a brilliant surgeon but also a genuinely compassionate human being.”

Laura’s X-ray revealed a herniated disc at the L4-L5 level, causing narrowing of the disc space and mild spinal stenosis. These findings confirmed the nerve compression that was contributing to her pain and weakness. The X-ray guided our decision for a minimally invasive procedure to relieve pressure on the affected nerve root.

When I first met Laura, she had been living with chronic pain for years due to a herniated disc and spinal stenosis. Her quality of life had significantly declined, and it was clear how much the pain was affecting her day-to-day. We performed a minimally invasive lumbar decompression, and her recovery was remarkable. Seeing her walk pain-free again and return to the activities she loves is exactly why I do what I do.

What stood out most about Laura was her resilience. She had been dealing with neurogenic claudication and radicular symptoms—numbness, tingling, and shooting pain down her left leg—for years, all stemming from nerve root compression at the L4-L5 level. Despite conservative management including epidural steroid injections and physical therapy, her symptoms persisted and even worsened over time. Performing a minimally invasive microdiscectomy and neural decompression allowed us to relieve the pressure on her affected nerve root with minimal tissue disruption. Her recovery has been excellent, and seeing her regain both mobility and confidence is exactly what we strive for in spine surgery.