I was in a car accident where someone ran a red light and ran into my truck. Their vehicle hit square on my left front wheel. They were going about 45-50 mph. You should have seen my truck. It was completely totaled. A few days after the accident I began experiencing a lot of pain in my back and my right leg started giving out. Unfortunately, it took about 6 weeks before my insurance came through and I was able to see Dr. McNulty. I already had 3 previous spine operations. The first was about twenty years previous from lifting concrete blocks. They told me to take it easy, but I didn't and blew out my back again - so TWO back operations (L5-S1) within a couple of months. Then in 2015, more pain and another surgery because vertebra above previously fused vertebra was compressing. So when I presented to Dr. McNulty I had already had THREE fusion surgeries and was fused L4-S1. There were multiple screws coming in from different angles and the middle vertebra was leaned over at about 30 degrees,
When Dr. McNulty looked at my X-Ray, he immediately asked me if I was in a car accident, and I said yes. Then he asked me if it was from the left and I said yes. Then he said "OH, I see,...the vertebra above the fused vertebra have shifted to the right. I'm going to take everything out and start all over again". This he did in an eleven-hour operation. It's been about 5 years now. I am 67 years old. I have had NO pain WHATSOEVER these past 5 years, no pills. I am actually in better shape than when I was 16. I can bend down and pick things off the floor, put on my socks, tie my shoes, swim on my back, paddle my canoe, go camping and hiking, and work around the house (which if Dr. McNulty knew what I have been doing he would be furious, I'm sure). The only thing I do have is a slight limp on my right leg, but it sometimes goes away entirely. I can't express how much this means to me. When I first went to Physical Therapy they told me I would have to use a cane and probably a walker the rest of the of my life. But I didn't accept that. I started swimming, then riding my bike. I built up my legs. So some of the credit goes to me. But I am sure that if another surgeon had performed the operation, I wouldn't be in the shape I am today. By the way - I have two plates on either side from the L3 - S1 with five sets of screws coming in from the sides, like a ladder. If you are going to have surgery from Dr. McNulty take it from me, you are fortunate. I am retired. Having the chance to live a normal ACTIVE life...I don't have words to describe my gratitude.
