From Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists (ANS)
After five years of suffering with back pain and life-changing surgery that other doctors would not perform, Mary Ann Eberhardt is back to living life as she once knew it.
One of the complications of multiple myeloma, a cancer formed by malignant plasma cells in bone marrow, is the inability to fight infections and bone fractures. Add to that fractures in the thoracic spine – the 12 vertebrae in the upper and middle back that hold the body upright and protect vital organs – and it’s not hard to see why most doctors would not perform spine surgery on Mary Ann.
Since being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010, Mary Ann, who is from Bud Lake, has suffered with back problems.
“I went to several specialists who refused to offer any relief besides pain management, let alone surgery,” Mary Ann said. “As the pain worsened, it became debilitating. My life was reduced to living on the sofa. That’s when I was introduced to Dr. Stillerman.”
Dr. Charles Stillerman, MD, FAANS, a board-certified neurosurgeon at Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists (ANS), specializes in thoracic spine, spine trauma and reconstruction/stabilization.
“I knew I could help Mary Ann,” Stillerman said. “However, it would be a risky surgery, one that could result in paralysis. Operating through just a few small incisions and guided by remote control, I was able to shave down the disks that were hitting Mary Ann’s spinal cord. I removed calcifications and inserted two bars to stabilize her back and provide support. The procedure was a success and Mary Ann is back to life as she once knew it.”
When Mary Ann returned home from the procedure, she was able to walk up the 15 steps in her house. Now, she is walking a mile a day, driving and enjoying her life with her husband, Andy, their family.
“I am so grateful Dr. Stillerman took on my case,” Mary Ann said.
“While she was apprehensive at first, Mary Ann’s results far outweighed her fear,” Andy said. “Don’t let your fear get in the way of getting your life back to normal.”
Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists (ANS) is New Jersey’s largest neurosurgical practice and one of the most advanced in the country. Since its founding in 1958, ANS has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system. For more information, call 732-455-8225 and visit ansdocs.com.
