Pain-Free and Back to Life

After Years of Unsuccessful Treatment for Leg and Back Pain, Local Woman Finds Relief at INI Spine Institute

Deborah Meyer was four years into her treatment for breast cancer when she began having pain in her lower back. Within a few months, the pain was traveling down into her leg. An MRI confirmed Meyer's fears: The breast cancer had spread, causing a tumor on her spine. After about a year of treatment, the cancer appeared to be gone-but the pain persisted.

Living with Pain

Meyer met with a surgeon who told her surgery was not an option. She spent the next four years going to a pain clinic, trying many kinds of medications and treatments without much success.

The pain made it hard for Meyer to do her job as a physical therapist. "I couldn't be on my feet for long periods, and the pain medication made my head feel cloudy," she says.

Finding Relief

In 2009, Meyer saw Daniel Fassett, MD, Director of Spinal Surgery at the Illinois Neurological Institute at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. As a neurosurgeon with additional training in orthopedics, Dr. Fassett was confident he could help.

"Deborah had a very complex case. She had severe nerve compression. Her spine was also deformed where the tumor had destroyed a portion of her vertebrae," says Dr. Fassett. "As a neurosurgeon, I am comfortable working with nerves. My orthopedic background gave me experience treating spinal deformities."

Meyer was overjoyed to hear that surgery may relieve her pain. "Tears started streaming down my face, I was so happy," she says. "Dr. Fassett had experience with spinal tumors, so I really felt like he knew what he was doing. And he's just a wonderful, compassionate person."

The Neurological Institute is well-equipped to deal with complex back problems like Meyer's. "A quality spine center should offer efficient, comprehensive care with an array of highly skilled specialists," says Dr. Fassett. "We have these services all under one roof."

In October 2009, Meyer had surgery to remove the tumor and reconstruct that area of her spine. She is now pain-free and cancer-free. "It is very gratifying to be able to give Deborah her life back by taking away her pain," Dr. Fassett says.

Why Consider a Neurosurgeon for Back Surgery?

Many people think that spinal problems need to be treated by an orthopedic surgeon. But that's just not the case, says Daniel Fassett, MD, Director of Spinal Surgery at the Illinois Neurological Institute. "As neurosurgeons we're also trained to deal with nerve tissue. Compression of the nerves is a common source of pain," Dr. Fassett says. "This combined knowledge allows us to put all the pieces together when treating spine conditions."

Some of the common back problems neurosurgeons treat include:

• Disk herniation
• Scoliosis/spinal deformities
• Degenerative conditions, such as spondylosis
• Stenosis
• Spinal nerve and spinal cord compression