A commercial real estate broker from Westport, CT, Jim suffered from chronic back pain since he played high school and college sports. Diagnosed with spinal stenosis more than 20 years ago, Jim finally decided to seek orthopedic care, as it impacted his life on many levels.
A colleague referred him to HSS spine surgeon Dr. Federico Girardi, who performed an L5-S1 spine fusion at the Main Campus in New York City in 2013. An avid golfer, Jim returned to the links in just six months. Last year, Jim required an L4-L5 fusion which Dr. Girardi performed in December. Jim realizes his passion for golf and the torquing motion of his swing may put additional stress on his spine, given that he plays 60 rounds of golf each summer.
He’s committed to finding a treatment option to keep doing what he loves most. Jim will likely need three-level cervical spine surgery with Dr. Girardi this Fall and looks forward to being back on the golf course next spring.
*After additional surgery in the fall of 2025, Jim has been on the road to recovery with a daily regimen of stretching and strengthening exercise, daily 30-minute walks and physical therapy. He has been relatively pain-free for the past six months and is ready to resume golf this Spring. Thank you Dr. Girardi and HSS!
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