Jacob Boxer, an active 42-year-old, had always stayed on top of his health - though an old back injury lingered. In college he had worked for an office supply retailer who didn’t provide him with much training, he picked up one too many 60-pound boxes of copy paper and ruptured a disc in his back. While the injury resurfaced now and then over the years, causing occasional discomfort, it was never enough to hold him back for long.

Fast forward to November of 2023, Jacob and his family moved to Colorado from New York and the packing and lifting, along with an active 2-year-old son, caused his back pain to flare up again. But this time, Jacob’s pain was different – there was tightness, numbness in his feet and legs, and pain in his calves. Soon he could no longer walk his dog or even pick up his son. He went to a chiropractor who suggested he see a doctor. Being new in town, Jacob relied heavily on the internet to choose a spine specialist. After careful consideration, he made an appointment with Dr. Chris Johnson.

“Dr. Johnson was pragmatic, he presented me with a range of treatment options, and didn’t push me toward surgery,” Jacob says. But Jacob decided the best long-term solution for him was surgery, so he underwent a bilateral L4-L5 and L5-S1 micro decompression on March 14, 2024. Having an active toddler himself, Dr. Johnson suggested Jacob stay the first night in the hospital, even though his was typically an outpatient procedure. “That was a lifesaver,” Jacob says, “it would have been tough being home that first night with my 30-pound 2-year-old trying to climb all over me!”

“Dr. Johnson gave me realistic expectations for my surgery and my recovery, he made sure I had no surprises,” Jacob says. “And any time I had a question, Haley, Dr. Johnson’s Medical Assistant was caring and quick to respond.” Jacob followed his post-surgical instructions, including five weeks of physical therapy. After six weeks, Jacob was getting around much easier and picking up his son. And after one year, as Dr. Johnson predicted, Jacob is “back to normal - I can run five miles, bike, hike, and play with my son like before,” he says.

“Spine surgery is terrifying enough without surprises,” says Jacob, “but Dr. Johnson and his team made sure I knew exactly what was happening every step of the way. I can’t thank them enough for giving me my life back.”

The Back Bulletin

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Patient Spotlight: Jacob Boxer

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