March 17, 2025

A Life Shadowed by Pain

For years, Angelina lived with debilitating back pain, a constant shadow over her life. As an avid gardener, she once found joy in nurturing her flower beds, but as the pain worsened, the simple joy of tending to her plants became unbearable. 

A Misunderstood Condition  

Angelina’s journey with back pain was long and frustrating. Initially, doctors attributed her "side sticker pain" to kidney issues and fibromyalgia. But she knew something was wrong with her back. Once her spine was examined, an unusual case of scoliosis was discovered — though her spinal curve was in the upper region, the pain radiated from below. She found brief relief only when bending over, to the point where walking hunched over became second nature.  

She spent years seeking answers, consulting multiple doctors, and undergoing treatments like facet joint injections and radiofrequency ablations. Yet, nothing brought lasting relief. Watching her husband undergo spinal fusion in Peoria, IL, gave her hope, but when she sought help from the same surgeon, they could not offer the solution she needed. Angelina felt trapped in a cycle of pain with no clear way out — until she found Nicholas Pallotta, MD, MS, spine surgeon at WashU Medicine Orthopedics. 

Searching for Answers 

Meeting Dr. Pallotta was a turning point; his attentiveness and knowledge immediately put her at ease. He explained everything in detail, setting clear expectations for the road ahead. When she voiced her fears — what if surgery didn’t help? — he was honest, never making false promises but offering her a choice. "Cases like Angelina's are tough because her symptoms were limited to mechanical back pain, which is much less predictable in outcome than something like pain from a pinched nerve," Dr. Pallotta explains. "I think this is why other surgeons may have been less inclined to pursue surgery. One thing that made her odds of getting better after surgery a bit better was that she did have some good, though temporary, responses to interventional pain procedures. That indicated to me that some significant portion of her pain was from her skeleton – and that's something I can help with. I had met with Angelina a couple times so I could listen to her story more than once before pursing surgery." Dr. Pallotta laid out the risks and potential benefits, and for the first time in years, Angelina felt truly heard. 

Facing Surgery with Hope

Together, the pair agreed on the best surgical approach for Angelina's complex back: T11 to L5 spinal fusion. After surgery, simple things like getting in and out of bed required careful modifications, and the initial post-surgical pain was intense. Angelina compares the experience to childbirth. "It’s like having a baby — you forget the pain once it’s over. I can barely remember it because I’m so much better off now."

Recovery and Relief at Last 

Now, Angelina is pain-free, even as she walks 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day and tends to a flourishing garden. Though there are limitations to heavy lifting and certain movement, she no longer feels like she's missing out. "I got my life back," she says with a smile. "I’m not just sitting on the sidelines missing out — I can do anything I want to now." 

Reflecting on her journey, Angelina is endlessly grateful for Dr. Pallotta’s expertise and honesty. He never promised a miracle but gave her the information to make an informed decision. And if she ever faced another challenge, she wouldn’t hesitate to call him again. 

Learn why patient's choose WashU Medicine Orthopedics, request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.