John’s Laminectomy and Spinal Fusion Patient Story

Posted on: October 25th, 2025 by Our Team

I initially consulted Dr. Girardi ten years ago regarding significant cervical disc degeneration, the result of decades of long-distance bicycling. I was able to manage day-to-day activities without pain by following a regimen of physical therapy and targeted exercises. However, fusion surgery would have been required to continue my extreme bicycling. Dr. Girardi was confident about the outcome of surgery but, recognizing that it was elective rather than imperative, he presented a pragmatic view of the potential long-term drawbacks I might experience well after my bicycling days. I am forever grateful for his caution and for my decision to make changes in my recreational pursuits.

Several years later, I returned to Dr. Girardi for lumbar spondylolisthesis, which had become problematic as a result of hiking and skiing. Physical therapy, focused exercises, and steroid injections helped—until they didn’t. Eventually, I reached the point where I could not walk more than 100 yards without persistent pain. Once again, Dr. Girardi’s cautious approach led him to recommend a less-invasive procedure first—a laminectomy in October 2022. I appreciated his conservative strategy, but unfortunately, I was among the minority of cases for whom this approach was not effective. A year later, in October 2023, Dr. Girardi performed a lumbar fusion, which has been an unmitigated success. Other than moderate post-operative discomfort requiring minimal analgesics at home, my recovery was remarkably speedy. I now have absolutely no discomfort and have resumed all of the activities I love.

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of my surgery, my daughter took me hiking and camping to prove that, once again, I can comfortably hike 12 miles with 4,000 feet of elevation each day (photo attached). YAY Dr. Girardi!