Summary
An Army veteran had been living with lower back pain since 1973 — over 50 years — after injuring his spine loading helicopter blades during his military service. Three years prior to visiting Deuk Spine Institute, the VA performed a laminectomy removing three bones from his spine, leaving him unstable, dependent on a walker, unable to work or mow his lawn, visiting the ER 15 times from falls, and losing 80 pounds of muscle mass. After discovering Deuk Spine Institute and undergoing the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® — in which Dr. Deukmedjian repaired five areas across three discs, addressing nerve compression on both sides — the veteran walked out of the facility the next morning without his walker for the first time in years, completely pain-free, with no pain medication, and moved to tears as he described feeling hope again and the desire to be a man of self-worth.
Transcript
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: I’m Dr. Deukmedjian and I’m here with one of my lovely patients who came to Deuk Spine Institute with a problem with his lower back. I can tell you he’s had a laminectomy before — it didn’t work. He looked us up, came here yesterday, had the Deuk Laser Disc Repair®. We fixed five areas on his disc. And how are you doing today?
Patient: I’m very emotional. I got home yesterday and the sunset was behind me and my wife took a picture of me thanking God for what happened to me yesterday. I’ve had back pain since 1973. I got hurt in the Army putting helicopter blades back on a helicopter. I lived with it for over 50 years of pain. Three years ago the VA decided to cut three bones off my spine. I’ve been unstable and on a walker ever since. My life has deteriorated immensely. I was 280 pounds three years ago. I’m barely 200 pounds now. And it’s not because I wanted to lose the weight. All my muscle is gone because of what happened before.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: And did the VA surgery fix your problem?
Patient: It made it worse. That was a laminectomy. They cut the bones off my spine. But the thing about it is, after that it took me three years to even get them to; I was at 30% disability to begin with, and it took them three years to get me to 80%, and now I’m at 90%. But I haven’t been able to work. I haven’t been able to mow my lawn. I can’t ride my Harley-Davidson anymore because of the surgery they did — the instability. I’ve been in the ER 15 times since that surgery from falls. The worst feeling in the world to be a 280-pound farm boy down to 200 pounds, very weak, mentally and physically. I can’t get up and go do anything without a walker or somebody. It was until yesterday. What you did for me yesterday; there’s no amount of thankfulness that I can show you or tell you, except that I took you for a man of your word, and you came here for me. I walked in here without my walker. I’ve been walking around this morning without my walker, and I don’t feel like I’m going to fall. I’m not afraid anymore. I got hope again. I got hope to be a man again and have self-worth.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You had the Deuk Laser Disc Repair®. We went in and fixed three discs. Two of the discs from both sides because the nerves were being pinched on both sides. And now you’re walking without the walker. Do you feel like a new man?
Patient: I feel like a new man, but hopeful to be a great man again. I thank you with all my heart. My family thanks you.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: You’re welcome. And you can see in the surgery we did on your back. We went in with the laser and we cleaned out the tears and got rid of the herniations, and now your discs will heal naturally. We didn’t put anything artificial in your back. You have your natural spine. Mind you, you didn’t need the laminectomy that the VA did. It was unnecessary and it put you through a lot of pain and suffering. Are you on any pain medication today?
Patient: You know, I didn’t even take Tylenol for my neck at all. I have no pain anywhere in my body. I can feel one spot that feels like something happened there, but it’s not painful at all.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Well, is there anything you want to tell your people out there?
Patient: Anybody — anybody — needs to check with this clinic and this man right here. And the staff here is just absolutely unbelievably wonderful. I got treated with so much dignity and fun, actually. Yesterday it was a blast. Anybody that has questions. Do not allow people to cut into your back until you do research. And this is where you need to start your research.
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: Thank you. I appreciate you so much. Well, we love our patients, and we especially love our veterans who are patients. This one sure was special.
Patient: Thank you. Take care. God bless you all. Thank you.
The Better Way: Deuk Laser Disc Repair®
This Army veteran underwent the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® at Deuk Spine Institute for multilevel lumbar disc herniations causing over 50 years of back pain — significantly worsened by an unnecessary VA laminectomy that removed three vertebral bones, left him unstable, and confined him to a walker. Dr. Deukmedjian repaired five areas across three discs using a minimally invasive laser approach, addressing nerve compression bilaterally — with no bone removal, no implants, no hospitalization, and no narcotic pain medication required. Unlike the laminectomy he received elsewhere, the Deuk Laser Disc Repair® preserves the natural spine, eliminates the herniation at its source, and allows the disc to heal fully and permanently. Veterans and patients who have suffered through failed back surgeries are encouraged to begin with a complimentary MRI review and virtual consultation with Dr. Deukmedjian before undergoing any further spinal procedures.