Joanne’s Lumbar Lateral Interbody Fusion Patient Story

Posted on: June 8th, 2026 by Our Team

I had two surgeries with Dr. Girardi.

Before I came to Dr. Girardi, I was under another doctor’s care. He gave me an epidural and then recommended physical therapy. Unfortunately, neither helped; they only made me feel worse.

My husband then asked a friend if his son, who is a doctor in New York City, had any recommendations for an orthopedic back doctor. He gave us three names, and I picked Dr. Federico Girardi because I liked his name… ha, ha.

When we met him, we liked him instantly. He explained everything very clearly and was very cordial, caring, and concerned. I never even went for a second opinion.

My first surgery was in December 2019. It was a spinal fusion, with what I believe was a cage and six screws. My recovery was not bad at all, and I recovered quickly. Then, as old age started sneaking up on me, I started hurting again.

So, it was “back” to Dr. Girardi in December 2025. I could not stand or walk for a long period of time. This time, three vertebrae were bone on bone. He put spacers in, and the problem was solved. This recovery was a little longer, but I feel much better.

It is tough getting old, so take care of yourself. If you ever need a great back surgeon, Dr. Federico Girardi is the one. He was always very caring and concerned, and he always came to check on me after surgery to see how I was doing, which is very rare.

I will always recommend him to anyone who asks. I can honestly say that my husband and I really love him!