He Could Barely Walk. Robotic Spine Surgery Got Him Back on His Feet.
After more than a year of worsening back pain, leg numbness and treatments that brought only temporary relief, Jeff Bigley was losing his ability to walk. A minimally invasive, robotic-assisted lumbar fusion with Kimberly Ashayeri, MD, relieved the nerve compression and helped him return to work and everyday life.
A Gradual Loss of Strength, Mobility and Independence
Jeff had spent most of his career working as a mechanic and was accustomed to being active and on his feet. Not long after moving into a desk-based management role, he began experiencing lower-back discomfort and occasional sciatic pain.
Jeff and his wife, Donna, regularly walked about a mile and a half around their neighborhood lake. Over time, those walks became increasingly difficult. Pain traveled down his legs, followed by numbness and overwhelming fatigue whenever he tried to keep moving.
Eventually, Jeff could walk only short distances before needing to sit down. The symptoms were no longer simply painful—they were changing how he lived.
“I could barely walk. The minute I started moving, I’d feel exhaustion in my legs, and I’d have to sit down.”
— Jeff BigleyTreatment After Treatment—But the Symptoms Kept Returning
Jeff followed the recommended conservative treatments, but the improvement was temporary and his ability to walk continued to decline.
Oral Steroids
Steroid medication reduced the symptoms temporarily, but the pain and numbness returned.
Epidural Injections
The first two injections provided about a month of relief each. The third left Jeff in greater pain.
Repeated Imaging
Jeff underwent multiple MRIs, X-rays and ultrasounds as he searched for a lasting solution.
Continued Pain Management
Jeff was diagnosed with lumbar stenosis but did not want medication to become his permanent plan.
Seeing the Cause of His Symptoms Changed the Conversation
Donna’s research led Jeff to Kimberly Ashayeri, MD, a neurosurgeon specializing in robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery.
During the consultation, Dr. Ashayeri reviewed Jeff’s imaging with him and showed where lumbar spinal stenosis was compressing the nerves. She explained why the pressure caused pain, numbness and fatigue in his legs—and why the previous treatments had not created lasting relief.
She also discussed the possibility of residual numbness because Jeff’s nerves had been compressed for so long. Jeff understood both the potential benefit and the limitations of surgery before making his decision.
“She actually showed me what was going on in my back. Nobody had ever done that before.”
— Jeff BigleyRelieving the Nerve Compression While Supporting a Faster Recovery
At Overlook Medical Center, Dr. Ashayeri—assisted by Farah Musharbash, MD—performed a robotic-assisted, minimally invasive bilateral L3–L5 transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Decompress the Affected Nerves
The procedure created more room for the compressed nerves responsible for Jeff’s leg pain, numbness and walking difficulty.
Stabilize the L3–L5 Levels
The fusion stabilized the affected lumbar levels while the minimally invasive approach limited disruption to surrounding tissue.
Home the Next Day—and Walking Without the Nerve Pain
Jeff’s recovery followed the course Dr. Ashayeri had described: meaningful improvement early, accompanied by fatigue and gradual healing.
Home After Surgery
Jeff left the hospital the following day with two small surgical scars on his back.
No Radiating Nerve Pain
For the first time in more than a year, Jeff no longer felt the nerve pain traveling down his legs.
Back at His Desk
Jeff had hoped to return in two weeks, but the expected fatigue made one month a more realistic recovery timeline.
Moving Forward
Jeff was walking normally and doing his usual activities, with some residual numbness still improving.
“I Got My Legs Back.”
Before surgery, Jeff’s posture had become stiff and hunched as he tried to compensate for the pain. During his recovery, his physical therapist saw his posture strengthen and his walking return to normal.
Jeff still had some numbness in his left foot at nine weeks as nerves that had been compressed for more than a year continued to recover. But the radiating pain was gone, his mobility had returned and he was once again doing the things that filled his weeks.
Get Answers From a Spine Specialist
If back or leg symptoms are limiting your ability to stand, walk or live normally, our team can review your imaging, explain what is causing the problem and help you understand the appropriate options.
Individual outcomes and recovery experiences vary. Treatment recommendations depend on the diagnosis, imaging, symptoms, anatomy and overall health of the patient.
