Former U.S. Marine Says Innovative Spine Surgery Got Him Moving Again

Joseph Gonzalez, a former U.S. Marine, knew something was wrong when he could barely walk during a trip to Disney World.

“Oh my God, I can’t even believe I can’t even walk 30 feet without sitting down,” Gonzalez recalls saying at the time.

Gonzalez met with Shelby Burks, M.D., a neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery at UHealth—University of Miami Health System. Dr. Burks told him the pain in his legs was coming from his lower back, and offered a procedure he specializes in using a device called TOPS™ (Total Posterior Spine System).

“He had slippage of one vertebrae on another, and that encloses and compresses the canal,” Dr. Burks explains. “That’s the ideal patient for surgery, because that’s what severe lumbar stenosis does. They can’t walk very far. They can’t stand for very long. TOPS™ is a replacement of the facet joints in the back. It’s essentially affixed to the bone with screws and the device has an internal mechanism to maintain motion.”

Gonzalez saw Dr. Burks at UHealth SoLé Mia in North Miami after undergoing this state-of-the-art spinal surgery. The procedure allows for faster recovery and more range of motion, benefits Gonzalez can confirm.

“I just started walking and I just couldn’t believe how he fixed my pain right away,” says Gonzalez.

“I am big on maintaining motion and I think people recover faster. I think it’s more natural for the body,” Dr. Burks says.

UHealth offers a multidisciplinary team approach to better serve patients.

“That’s what I love about my job,” says Dr. Burks. “I have close relationships with orthopaedics, my neurosurgery colleagues. We have an amazing department. I recommend all of my colleagues very highly. Our spine team is, I think, the best in the country, and it’s just nice to be able to work with people who get along really well,” says Dr. Burks.

Gonzalez is back to his active lifestyle.

“I can do lunges. I can do squats. I can do leg presses. I do Pilates now, which helps me a lot, and it’s been great,” Gonzalez says.

Gonzalez and his wife went on a cruise just four weeks after surgery. He’s grateful for getting his life back and praises his UHealth care team for making it happen.

“Every team, every nurse, everybody who comes together, is just phenomenal here,” says Gonzalez.

Written by Janna Ross. Medically reviewed by Shelby Burks, M.D.

Tags: chronic back pain relief, Dr. Shelby Burks, spinal stenosis, spine surgeon recommendations