Carrie Grasso

Expert orthopedic treatment for low back pain in Dallas

Carrie Grasso started to notice a lot of back pain in her mid-20s, but she didn’t pay much attention to it. The pain intensified when she became pregnant with her son in her late 30s. Performing the duties of motherhood were tough for the new mom.

“It was literally unbearable pain,” said Carrie. “I couldn’t get on the ground to play with my son. I definitely couldn’t pick him up. I couldn’t carry him around. It made me feel like less of a mom.”

Together with her physician, Richard Hostin, MD, Medical Director at the Medical City Scoliosis & Advanced Spine Center and an orthopedic spine surgeon at Medical City Dallas, Carrie decided it was time for surgery.

Spondylolisthesis: A common spine condition

Dr. Hostin had diagnosed Carrie with one of the more common conditions orthopedic spine physicians see — an isthmic spondylolisthesis, which is a stress fracture in her lower back. This condition causes one vertebra to slide out of position and slip forward onto the one below it.

Symptoms of isthmic spondylolisthesis may include:

• Low back pain
• Sciatica (pain that radiates down the legs)
• Muscle spasms
• Leg weakness
• Tight hamstrings
• Walking with a limp or irregular gait
• Numbness or tingling in the feet

Successful spine surgery makes mom happy

After conservative treatments had failed to relieve Carrie’s pain, Dr. Hostin felt surgery was the best option. He performed a spinal fusion on her lower back to put the bones back into position and fuse them together.

“My experience at Medical City Dallas is that everyone is super loving. They make you feel like you’re important and that they want to be there to help you,” Carrie said.

Not long after surgery, Carrie was back to her mom duties and is feeling great.

“I can play with my son now, and that makes me so happy,” she said.

Visit Medical City Spine Hospital

Call Medical City Spine Hospital at (972) 940-8000