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Outpatient Endoscopic Spine Surgery Cures Runner's Pain | UCI Health
2025-05-12
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Heather Austin has always had a healthy body. She easily balances her career as a clinical social worker at the University of California, Irvine, with a multitude of activities for her two teenage children. She runs three miles every morning, a habit she has carried on since college.
Two years ago, Austin began to feel what she describes as “electricity” radiating from her buttocks down her legs. Over time, the pain worsened until she could barely walk, let alone drive her children to school.
By early 2024, the 49-year-old Orange County resident was diagnosed with severe lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the lower spine that causes compression of spinal nerves, and spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra slips out of place.
Every orthopedist and neurosurgeon she has seen has recommended fusing the dislocated vertebrae with the adjacent vertebrae. But she fears that this will severely limit her ability to run and do other things she enjoys.
Today, Austin can once again run in the mornings, moving freely and pain-free, thanks to orthopedic surgeon Don Y. Parker of the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Parker is one of the few orthopedic surgeons in California who specializes in an innovative, minimally invasive outpatient procedure called dual-port endoscopic Spinal Decompression. Using minimal incisions, he can relieve compression of spinal nerves and correct misaligned vertebrae without the need for spinal fusion.
UCI Health is the only health system in Southern California offering this endoscopic surgical approach to treat a variety of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine conditions.
“My pain went away immediately,” said Austin, who had the procedure at the newly opened UC Irvine Outpatient Surgical Center. “I don’t have any nerve pain at all, just a little bit of back soreness. The surgery was at 10:30 a.m., and I was home by 3 p.m.”
Parker, founding director of the Advanced Endoscopy and Outpatient Spine Program at the University of California, Irvine, is one of about 50 surgeons in the U.S. who can perform the technique, which requires specialized surgical instruments and a high-definition camera inserted through an incision no larger than a quarter-inch.
Endoscopic surgery was perfected in South Korea, where Professor Park mastered the technique. To date, he has performed more than 500 such operations and now trains other doctors across the country.
During the procedure, he first cuts away a few millimeters of bone to get a better view of the spinal canal and to get to areas of bone growth that may be blocking nerves and causing pain.
The tiny camera provides 200 times the magnification of a conventional camera, allowing Park to see “pathological structures while avoiding normal structures such as spinal nerves and even capillaries, making the surgery as safe as possible.”
In fact, he says, the complication rate of endoscopic surgery is "ten times lower than traditional open Spine Surgery in terms of infection, bleeding, wound problems, spinal leakage and other neurological problems."
Most patients go home the same day, but some may need to be observed overnight at the surgery center. He says his patients also experience:
The double whammy of lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis left Austin with nerve pain and a deteriorating quality of life. The first thing she lost was her daily jog. After that, even walking around UC Irvine Medical Center to see patients became increasingly unbearable.
Sitting and standing became a very difficult task. While driving, she braced herself for every speed bump and sharp turn, fearing the excruciating pain that was about to engulf her body.
“My husband and kids started noticing that I was becoming more and more short-tempered,” Austin said. “I couldn’t prioritize, I couldn’t think clearly, and I had little energy. I remember watching my daughter cheer for her at games, and I couldn’t even cheer for her or the team because it was too traumatic.”
She does not take painkillers, but believes she needs muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs to function normally again.
The surgeon she consulted initially told her that to relieve the pressure on her spinal nerves, she would need not only a fusion of the lower vertebrae, but also a laminectomy. This surgery involves removing the roof of the spinal canal (or lamina), which protects and supports the back of the spinal cord. It also requires a three- to four-day hospital stay, followed by several months of recovery.
In July 2024, Austin's husband, Allen, an optometrist, sent her a video of an orthopedic surgeon and added, "I think he can help you! He can handle cases like yours."
That same day, after watching the video, Austin looked up to see a doctor from the medical center standing in front of her. Stunned, she walked up to him, showed him her phone screen, and asked if he was the man in the video. He said yes, and she blurted out, “I’m in so much pain, and I think you can help me. Can you give me a moment to talk?”
"I could tell straight away that he was different - very humble but very confident in his abilities," she said. "He also did a thorough examination of my condition, including all my X-rays and MRIs, which really impressed me. He was convinced that my condition could be treated with surgery."
“Dr. Park described the endoscopic spinal decompression procedure very clearly, and I felt very hopeful when he told me that I would likely be able to go home pain-free within a few hours,” she recalls.
Austin had surgery at 10:30 a.m. on August 23, woke up from anesthesia at 12:45 p.m., and rushed home before his kids finished school at 3 p.m.
She clearly remembers being wheeled by a nurse to a car in a wheelchair, screaming in pain as the road bumped. The nurse asked her if it hurt, and Austin realized she was about to scream out of habit.
Within the first two weeks after the surgery, Austin began walking to regain her strength. She regularly attends physical therapy sessions. Finally, six weeks after the surgery, she went for a run for the first time.
Parker noted that Austin's return to normal activity and function after dual-port endoscopic spinal decompression surgery is common for patients of all ages. Even patients in their eighties and nineties can recover quickly with minimal pain.
“I have performed many other types of spine surgeries with excellent results,” he said, “but I have personally seen that this technology has had the greatest impact on patient outcomes and quality of life.”
"Endoscopic spine surgery is a game changer and I think it will become the mainstream of spine surgery in the future."
Heather Austin has always had a healthy body. She easily balances her career as a clinical social worker at the University of California, Irvine, with a multitude of activities for her two teenage children. She runs three miles every morning, a habit she has carried on since college.
Two years ago, Austin began to feel what she describes as “electricity” radiating from her buttocks down her legs. Over time, the pain worsened until she could barely walk, let alone drive her children to school.
By early 2024, the 49-year-old Orange County resident was diagnosed with severe lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the lower spine that causes compression of spinal nerves, and spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra slips out of place.
Every orthopedist and neurosurgeon she has seen has recommended fusing the dislocated vertebrae with the adjacent vertebrae. But she fears that this will severely limit her ability to run and do other things she enjoys.
Today, Austin can once again run in the mornings, moving freely and pain-free, thanks to orthopedic surgeon Don Y. Parker of the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Parker is one of the few orthopedic surgeons in California who specializes in an innovative, minimally invasive outpatient procedure called dual-port endoscopic Spinal Decompression. Using minimal incisions, he can relieve compression of spinal nerves and correct misaligned vertebrae without the need for spinal fusion.
UCI Health is the only health system in Southern California offering this endoscopic surgical approach to treat a variety of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine conditions.
“My pain went away immediately,” said Austin, who had the procedure at the newly opened UC Irvine Outpatient Surgical Center. “I don’t have any nerve pain at all, just a little bit of back soreness. The surgery was at 10:30 a.m., and I was home by 3 p.m.”
Parker, founding director of the Advanced Endoscopy and Outpatient Spine Program at the University of California, Irvine, is one of about 50 surgeons in the U.S. who can perform the technique, which requires specialized surgical instruments and a high-definition camera inserted through an incision no larger than a quarter-inch.
Endoscopic surgery was perfected in South Korea, where Professor Park mastered the technique. To date, he has performed more than 500 such operations and now trains other doctors across the country.
During the procedure, he first cuts away a few millimeters of bone to get a better view of the spinal canal and to get to areas of bone growth that may be blocking nerves and causing pain.
The tiny camera provides 200 times the magnification of a conventional camera, allowing Park to see “pathological structures while avoiding normal structures such as spinal nerves and even capillaries, making the surgery as safe as possible.”
In fact, he says, the complication rate of endoscopic surgery is "ten times lower than traditional open Spine Surgery in terms of infection, bleeding, wound problems, spinal leakage and other neurological problems."
Most patients go home the same day, but some may need to be observed overnight at the surgery center. He says his patients also experience:
The double whammy of lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis left Austin with nerve pain and a deteriorating quality of life. The first thing she lost was her daily jog. After that, even walking around UC Irvine Medical Center to see patients became increasingly unbearable.
Sitting and standing became a very difficult task. While driving, she braced herself for every speed bump and sharp turn, fearing the excruciating pain that was about to engulf her body.
“My husband and kids started noticing that I was becoming more and more short-tempered,” Austin said. “I couldn’t prioritize, I couldn’t think clearly, and I had little energy. I remember watching my daughter cheer for her at games, and I couldn’t even cheer for her or the team because it was too traumatic.”
She does not take painkillers, but believes she needs muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs to function normally again.
The surgeon she consulted initially told her that to relieve the pressure on her spinal nerves, she would need not only a fusion of the lower vertebrae, but also a laminectomy. This surgery involves removing the roof of the spinal canal (or lamina), which protects and supports the back of the spinal cord. It also requires a three- to four-day hospital stay, followed by several months of recovery.
In July 2024, Austin's husband, Allen, an optometrist, sent her a video of an orthopedic surgeon and added, "I think he can help you! He can handle cases like yours."
That same day, after watching the video, Austin looked up to see a doctor from the medical center standing in front of her. Stunned, she walked up to him, showed him her phone screen, and asked if he was the man in the video. He said yes, and she blurted out, “I’m in so much pain, and I think you can help me. Can you give me a moment to talk?”
"I could tell straight away that he was different - very humble but very confident in his abilities," she said. "He also did a thorough examination of my condition, including all my X-rays and MRIs, which really impressed me. He was convinced that my condition could be treated with surgery."
“Dr. Park described the endoscopic spinal decompression procedure very clearly, and I felt very hopeful when he told me that I would likely be able to go home pain-free within a few hours,” she recalls.
Austin had surgery at 10:30 a.m. on August 23, woke up from anesthesia at 12:45 p.m., and rushed home before his kids finished school at 3 p.m.
She clearly remembers being wheeled by a nurse to a car in a wheelchair, screaming in pain as the road bumped. The nurse asked her if it hurt, and Austin realized she was about to scream out of habit.
Within the first two weeks after the surgery, Austin began walking to regain her strength. She regularly attends physical therapy sessions. Finally, six weeks after the surgery, she went for a run for the first time.
Parker noted that Austin's return to normal activity and function after dual-port endoscopic spinal decompression surgery is common for patients of all ages. Even patients in their eighties and nineties can recover quickly with minimal pain.
“I have performed many other types of spine surgeries with excellent results,” he said, “but I have personally seen that this technology has had the greatest impact on patient outcomes and quality of life.”
"Endoscopic spine surgery is a game changer and I think it will become the mainstream of spine surgery in the future."