A Long Journey: How the Search for World-Class Spine Care Led One Patient Back to New Jersey

Howard and his wife Marilyn during one of their many adventures—this one to Death Valley. After years of back pain, Howard is finally able to enjoy travel again thanks to care he found closer to home.

Howard Zagorin is an avid traveler, visiting destinations all around the globe. But for decades, the one journey he couldn’t seem to complete was the recovery from debilitating back pain.

Howard first began experiencing lower back pain in the late 1980s, but that didn’t stop him from traveling or pursuing a busy career in construction. Doctors dismissed his discomfort as muscular, so he pushed through with the occasional steroid injection to help him cope.

The Decades-Long Search for the Right Spine Surgeon

When his pain became severe enough to warrant surgery, Howard continued his travels – but this time, to various spinal experts at well-known institutions in the Northeast. An MRI revealed severe cervical stenosis that was causing agony in his entire back.

In 2003, Howard had his first spinal surgery – a lumbar laminectomy. Over the next two decades, he underwent four more procedures to his cervical and lumbar spine, including a laminectomy and multiple fusions.

Unfortunately, the souvenirs from his procedures were less than ideal. He experienced complications and was left with more pain. Worse, he felt like the doctors at the big-name hospitals saw him as just another surgical statistic. His appointments and follow-ups were hurried and impersonal, and none of the surgeons checked on him immediately following his procedure. It was always someone else from the surgical team instead.

“In hindsight, perhaps I was more infatuated with the renowned hospitals in New York than I should have been,” Howard admitted. “I saw a neurosurgeon who told me I couldn’t walk out of the hospital – I needed surgery immediately. He scared me. I said no, I’m not doing that.”

Innovative, Personalized Care Was Actually Closer to Home

Finally, Howard’s sister referred him to a doctor closer to home. She’d had a positive experience with Dr. Fabio A. Frisoli, an expert in minimally invasive surgery for complex spine conditions at Atlantic Brain and Spine (ABS) in Morristown, NJ. Maybe he could help.

Howard’s first meeting with Dr. Frisoli was a refreshing change of direction. Dr. Frisoli actually listened to Howard’s story and recommended something surprising: holding off on another surgery. It would be challenging, but he didn’t want Howard to rush into yet another procedure given what his body had already been through.

So, Howard waited. He went back to see Dr. Frisoli again about a year later. During that visit, Dr. Frisoli still recommended holding off on surgery as long as possible, but he also said something Howard will never forget.

“You’re part of the family. Anything you need, you come to me.”

Not long after that visit, Howard went on a trip to France. Unfortunately, the pain became so unbearable during his trip that he could barely walk, let alone enjoy the sights and culture.

Howard with Dr. Kimberly Ashayeri, one of the surgeons who helped restore his mobility and quality of life after decades of complex spine challenges.

Real Relief in the Hands of the ABS Surgical Family

When Howard got back from his trip, he went straight to ABS. The timing could not have been better. It was during this visit that Dr. Frisoli introduced Howard to a new associate, Dr. Kimberly B. Ashayeri, another complex spine specialist and a leader in cutting-edge technology. She was just as caring as Dr. Frisoli. Howard could tell both were truly concerned about his well-being.

“When I first met with Howard, he felt he had exhausted all of his remaining options because he had already seen many of the most renowned spine surgeons in New York City,” Dr. Frisoli recollected. “Through extensive counseling and testing, Dr. Ashayeri and I came up with a treatment plan. We felt confident we had found a minimally invasive solution to address the chronic and debilitating symptoms he had been experiencing since his prior surgeries.”

Not only did both surgeons collaborate to provide the best care for Howard, but they also took the time to explain what to expect and made sure Howard felt comfortable every step of the way.

“They spend so much time with each patient,” said Howard. “They’re great doctors, but they’re also nice people.”

In December 2024, Howard was wheeled into Overlook Medical Center for his sixth spinal surgery – a posterior C3-4 laminectomy and C2-C4 fusion. Dr. Ashayeri led the procedure, with Dr. Frisoli assisting.

During the surgery, Dr. Ashayeri discovered the compression on Howard’s spine was so severe the bone had left an impression on his nerve. If he had experienced a fall or whiplash, he could have been paralyzed from the neck down.

The procedure went smoothly, with no complications. It was the easiest recovery Howard had ever experienced, and he was up and walking in what felt like no time. In stark contrast to his prior procedures, both surgeons came to his bedside to check on him post-op.

“It was a surprise to me – I saw nurse practitioners after my other surgeries,” Howard noted. “But Dr. Ashayeri and Dr. Frisoli both came in to see me. They wanted to know how I was doing, and they really cared about me.”

Another surprise was that the cervical procedure also eased his lower back pain. Dr. Ashayeri explained that releasing the pressure in his neck could help his entire spine. Even better, this meant he didn’t need another lumbar spine surgery right away.

Final Destination: A Return to Life and Leisure

Today, Howard is back to living life on his terms. He’s running his construction company, supervising projects, and staying active. But more importantly, he has more travel on the horizon.

“I want to see the world before I can’t see the world,” he explained. “I want to keep going until I can’t go anymore.”

It took years of searching for Howard to finally find the right destination for his spinal care, and he didn’t have to go around the world to reach it. ABS had the expertise – and compassion – he needed, closer to home than he ever imagined.