Spine Patient Stories | UPMC

Dolores Grandizio: Scoliosis

Dolores wears a black v-neck shirt. She has white hair. Her make-up is done nicely and she wears eyeshadow and lipstick. Her hair is short and curly.

When Dolores needed surgery to correct a severe curve in her spine, she turned to the experts at UPMC to help her get back to being the active and energetic person she once was.

Read Dolores Grandizio's story

Michael Gazda: Ruptured Discs

This hardworking outdoor enthusiast, faced with debilitating back pain, turned to the experts at UPMC for relief.

Read Michael Gazda's story

Kersten Klein: Lumbar Disc Herniation

She wears a purple shirt. She is smiling. She has shoulder length brown hair.

This busy bank employee, faced with living with severe and debilitating back pain, found relief and a speedy recovery through minimally invasive XLIF® surgery at UPMC.

Read Kersten Klein's story

Denis Patla: Lumbar Stenosis

Denis wears a black t-shirt v-neck. He has gray hair and glasses.

When this avid hockey player began having severe leg pain caused by lumbar stenosis and a herniated disc, he nearly had to hang up his skates for good.

Read Denis Patla's story

Hannah Snyder: Lumbar Burst Fracture

A purple background with white text that reads: "I can do anything I could do before the crash, and I have my doctors to thank for that", says Hannah.

When a near fatal car accident severely fractured this high school senior’s spine, the experts at UPMC were able to correct the damage using advanced, minimally invasive surgery.

Read Hannah Snyder's story

Anjelita Weller: Spinal Stenosis

A woman stands in her garden holding a shovel. She wears a white bucket hat and a gray and white striped sleeveless blouse, with jeans.

This passionate gardener started to experience severe leg pain, turned to the experts at UPMC for relief.

Read Anjelita Weller's story

Allison DeAngelis: Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation

Allison poses at the base of a natural rock archway in Arizona.

Frustrated by the continuous intense ache and cramping pain in her leg, Allison turned to the experts at UPMC for help.

Read Allison DeAngelis's story