David Gleckman, 65, has spent much of his life doing what he loves most–playing full-contact hockey. An avid golfer who had also sustained a back injury while skiing years earlier, he was no stranger to the risks involved in playing sports.
But by the time he had reached his early 60’s, the cumulative effects of being a lifelong athlete had taken their toll.
“I was starting to experience a lot of numbness,” he said. “I had struggled with some minor back pain before, but then it progressed to my neck and became chronic, and my range of motion had become limited.”
At the urging of his daughter, Erin Wood, a Physician Assistant at the Hoag Spine Institute, David sought help from acclaimed Hoag spine surgeon Dr. Burak Ozgur.
A series of tests and MRIs showed significant compression of the spinal cord in David’s neck, a condition that couldn’t be remedied with steroid injections or physical therapy.
“The spinal cord was literally being compressed and bruised more and more over time due to the development of bone spurs and thickening of the ligament,” Dr. Ozgur said. “When this occurs in the neck, it’s potentially dangerous because if you slip and fall or have a minor car accident, it could cause paralysis. And conservative methods of treatment don’t work. In a situation like this, surgery is the only option.”
Given the severity of his condition, David would need to undergo a four-level cervical fusion, a significant procedure. He struggled with the news. Not having surgery, however, meant stepping away from sports entirely, something he wasn’t ready to do.
Thanks to Dr. Ozgur’s leadership, research and expertise, as well as his compassionate approach to care, David became more comfortable with undergoing the operation to correct his condition.
“You need a facility and providers that are skilled and have the equipment to handle these kinds of cases, but you also need physicians that will take the time to really get to know each patient,” Dr. Ozgur said. “They need to listen to the fears and concerns of their patients and answer their questions, and that’s what I think sets Hoag apart from other organizations.”
David’s surgery was a success. The most challenging aspect of his recovery, he said, was time.
“I was eager to get back to doing the things I enjoy most, but I had to take it easy and let things take their course, and that was hard.”
Five months later, David was on the golf course. A year later, he was back in the hockey rink.
“Any lingering pain or discomfort that I anticipated improves as time goes on,” he said. “What I think I appreciate most about Hoag is the team effort led by Dr. Ozgur that went into getting me well. From the appointment scheduling, to getting my questions answered in real time, to the outpatient physical therapy…I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people.”
To learn more about the Hoag Spine Institute, click here.
