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Learn from real patients

Watch patients describe their condition, their procedure with Dr. Varma, and their recovery — in their own words. Filter by condition or procedure to find stories like yours.

Herniated Disc Joanna Augustine 34-year-old banker and tennis player — microdiscectomy for a herniated disc. Pain-free and back on the court within 3 months.

Stenosis Neil Wallach 61-year-old patient — 4-level lumbar laminectomy for severe lumbar spinal stenosis.

Sciatica Maryann Oklesson 74-year-old business developer — came back from degenerative spondylolisthesis and sciatica with a minimally invasive technique.

Stenosis Erica Peterson 71-year-old history teacher — minimally invasive treatment for severe spinal stenosis and painful sciatica.

Stenosis Judith Pinals 82-year-old from New Rochelle — successfully treated for severe spinal stenosis.

Herniated Disc Dina Fanai 50-year-old ex-dancer — minimally invasive microdiscectomy for a severely herniated disc; home the same day.

Stenosis Richard Siracusa 77-year-old attorney and runner — spinal stenosis resolved with therapy, surgery, and pain management.

Fusion William Pinzler Spinal cyst and lumbar stenosis — cyst removal and successful spinal fusion; pain free and active.

Sciatica Ruth Schroeder Severe lumbar radiculopathy treated with minimally invasive micro-decompression surgery.

Fusion Richard Miller Minimally invasive spinal fusion for severe spinal stenosis — back to an active lifestyle.

Herniated Disc Antoinette Bonocorsco Fellow NYC surgeon — successful microdiscectomy and a return to an active, pain-free life.

Stenosis Neil Boxer Severe spinal stenosis treated with a laminectomy decompression procedure.

Scoliosis Nancy Rubenstein 72-year-old — minimally invasive fusion for severe spinal stenosis and scoliosis.

Scoliosis Heather Pickett 58-year-old — minimally invasive fusion procedure to correct her scoliosis.

Sciatica Alice Cohen 83-year-old with severe sciatica — minimally invasive microdecompression.

Stenosis Toni Meeker 75-year-old — XLIF (extreme lateral interbody fusion) to correct spinal stenosis.

Disc Replacement Lauren Wood 27-year-old musician — cervical disc replacement for a herniated disc and severe cervical radiculopathy after an accident.

Fusion Paige Randall 26-year-old — herniated disc treated with ALIF surgery.