Second Chance to Walk Pain-Free

After complex spine surgery to treat a genetic condition, Mina Diaz, 44, is back at work and grateful to the team of clinicians who made her recovery possible.

WRITTEN BY LISA BUFFINGTON | PHOTOGRAPHED BY VINCENT RIOS

In her 22 years working as a unit secretary in the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department (ED), Mina Diaz has never called in sick. But in March 2021, she began to experience nerve pain that radiated down the back of her leg, making it difficult for her to walk, work and perform her normal activities.

As a member of the ED’s Stroke Committee, Mina worked closely with Paula Eboli, MD, medical director of Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Neurosciences Institute Neuroendovascular Surgery Program. Dr. Eboli is a neurosurgeon who provides general spine care and specializes in treating neurovascular conditions such as aneurysms and stroke.

“I told Dr. Eboli, ‘I think I have to come and see you’,” says Mina, who had already tried anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to manage her pain.

A SURGICAL SOLUTION FOR A GENETIC SPINAL CONDITION

Mina scheduled an office visit with Dr. Eboli, who ordered an MRI. The MRI revealed Mina had a genetic, degenerative spinal condition called pars defect/spondylosis, which causes the spine to become damaged and leads to stress fractures, muscular weakness, and problems with spinal discs and joints.

“Not everyone with this condition has pain, but Dr. Eboli told me if you’re going to have problems, they usually occur in your 40s,” said Mina, who is now 44. “I was miserable.”

“We decided to try a nerve block and steroid injections to see if that would help relieve Mina’s pain,” says Dr. Eboli, who referred Mina to Torrance Memorial interventional radiologists Donny Baek, MD, and George So, MD.

Although Mina’s nerve block and injections helped for a few months, the relief didn’t last. By this time, she was unable to bear weight on her leftleg, causing it to dragwhen she walked.

Dr. Eboli referredher to Lindsey Ross,MD, who specializes incomplex spine surgery.Dr. Eboli and Dr. Rossare Cedars-Sinaineurosurgeons whobring their expertiseto South Bay patientsthrough the affiliationof Cedars-Sinai andTorrance Memorial.

“I needed to have surgery, and whenDr. Eboli referred me to Dr. Ross, I knewshe would take the best care of me,” saysMina. “I was also relieved to be able tohave my surgery at Torrance Memorial—close to home and among familiar peopleand surroundings.”

“When I met Mina, I could see theproblem in her spine right away, and Iknew the surgical solution I was offeringwas going to help,” says Dr. Ross.

COMPLEX SURGERY YIELDSOUTSTANDING RESULTS

Three days before her birthday, Minaunderwent a two-stage, minimallyinvasive anterior lumbar interbody fusionprocedure. By her side, were Dr. Eboli, Dr.Ross, vascular surgeon Amir Kaviani, MD,and anesthesiologist Ronald Rothstein, MD.“Mina’s surgery was complex because wehad to access the spine in two stages—fromboth the front and the back of her body—tomake the repair,” says Dr. Ross. “Having Dr.Kaviani on our team was critical becausewe needed him to move Mina’s majorblood vessels out of the way so we couldaccess her spine through her abdomen.”And although Mina says she wasnervous before her procedure, she feltconfident that her surgical team wouldtake excellent care of her.

GRATITUDE FOR A SECONDCHANCE

Mina came through theseven-hour procedureflawlessly and was able towalk a few steps the nextday. She spent five days inthe hospital before returninghome, where she receivedseveral weeks of occupationaland physical therapy.She wore a back brace andused a walker for a month,followed by a cane foranother month.Throughout her recovery, Mina saysthe encouragement she received from herTorrance Memorial coworkers and prayersfrom family and friends kept her going.She says there wasn’t a day that went bywhen she didn’t receive a text from someoneasking how she was doing. Althoughit was tough to be away from work andher normal activities, Mina’s experiencegave her a new appreciation for things shepreviously took for granted.

“By month three, I was walking a milea day,” she says. “By month five, I wasable to come back to work, and today,at month six, I am back to my everydayactivities and exercise routine with only afew restrictions.”

“Mina was an excellent patient, andshe did really well. Her story illustrateshow the Torrance Memorial team takescare of every patient in our communitywho needs our help,” says Dr. Ross, whopoints out Mina’s complete recoverywill take a year or 18 months. She willcontinue to follow up with Mina until thetwo-year mark.

“I would choose the Torrance Memorialteam all over again,” says Mina. “Theygave me a second chance to walk withoutpain, and I will forever be thankful to allthe surgeons who made this possible. I amso blessed.” •

Never underestimate a woman with a bionic spine.