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                                    UR Medicine Finger Lakes HealthIn the meantime, completing everydaytasks had become increasingly di%u0003cultfor Sarah. %u201cI couldn%u2019t sit or lie on myback. Driving was a challenge, but I stillhad to go to work.%u201dThankfully, Sarah lives with herboyfriend, Justin, and her two sons,Ean, 16, and Ryan, 22, who help withdaily chores. However, she says, %u201cThepain made being a mom di%u0003cult. Iwas hurting and distracted duringEan%u2019s football games and other schoolactivities.%u201dNot only was Dr. Akoto able to diagnosethe source of Sarah%u2019s physical pain, buthe took the time to listen to her as sherelayed how di%u0003cult it had become forSarah to function normally.%u201cDr. Akoto was very kind andcompassionate from the momentwe met. He explained what could becausing my back pain%u2014a herniated disc.He genuinely cared when I told himhow my life was being impacted.%u201dSarah%u2019s story is a common one. As weage, natural erosion makes our discsless flexible and more prone to tear orrupture even from a minor strain.Dr. Akoto and Sarah agreed on astandard treatment plan that startedwith physical therapy followed by asteroid injection in the hopes the discwould heal on its own.When Sarah%u2019s pain persisted, Dr. Akotoordered an MRI, which revealed abulging, or herniated, disc betweenthe fifth lumbar vertebra and the firstsacral vertebra in her lower back. Thisherniated disc was pressing on thenearby nerve roots of the spinal cord.As a result, surgery was needed and itwas scheduled for December 17, 2024.Dr. Akoto performed a microdiscectomy,a procedure that involves removing asmall portion of the back of the vertebrato access the herniated fragmentof disc. Once this disc fragment isremoved, the compression of the nerveis relieved.%u201cHe again took the time to explainthe entire process and address anyconcerns. I felt like I could call him,or anyone at Interlakes OrthopaedicSurgery anytime if I had a question.%u201dSarah still finds it hard to believe howquickly she recovered.%u201cI went in for surgery and when I cameout the pain was completely gone! Twodays later I was back at work. When Iwent for my follow-up appointment Ihad to hug him.%u201dSarah was able to fully enjoy theChristmas holidays with her family, bepresent at Ean%u2019s basketball games,and spend more time outdoors playingwith her pups%u2014Mollie, a Great Dane,and Max, a German Shepard andBlack Lab mix.Wendy Hill, ANP, PNPSoldiers and SailorsHealth Center418 North Main StreetSecond FloorPenn Yan, NY 14527Phone: (315) 536-0086(L-R) Sarah%u2019s boyfriend Justin,with her sons Ean and RyanMollieMax Primary Care
                                
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