"I realized that had my surgery not been moved up, there were two huge things that I would have missed," Sherrill Hamman shared through swelling tears. "My three oldest grandchildren were graduating from Carroll High School."
Halted by ache
Months before Sherrill's back pain left her unable to leave bed, it began as a minor discomfort she had at the time attributed to mowing the yard or doing projects up at the lake. But when rest alone didn't ease the pain, she sought help from her family medicine provider in the fall of 2024 and was referred to an Ortho NorthEast (ONE) walk-in clinic.
Sherrill waited a couple of months after her initial appointment before visiting the walk-in clinic. "I'm kind of a Superwoman. I think I can take care of things by myself," she admitted. Though she noticed it had become more challenging to keep busy after retiring in 2021 from 47 years as an accounting professor, Sherrill said she's always enjoyed being active, often walking 3-4 miles a day, doing yard work and keeping up with her family.
"It was my sciatic nerve going down my left leg that hurt the most initially. That gradually included more areas," she said, explaining how the increased discomfort began to limit her mobility. "It kept me from being able to mow the yard and participate in things. I simply couldn't be on my feet or move around comfortably. I realize now how I took for granted what my physical shape was while I was working."
When X-rays performed at the walk-in clinic didn't indicate a clear cause of Sherrill's pain, she was recommended to explore conservative treatment options first. From November 2024 to February 2025, she tried two courses of steroids and 13 physical therapy sessions but found little relief. The pain made what should have been a relaxing two-week vacation in Aruba nearly unbearable.
Upon returning home, Sherrill was again on the search for a solution.
Pinpointing the cause
In early April, an MRI showed a significant central disk extrusion at the L4 and L5 vertebrae, located just above the tailbone and stenosis of the central canal. Sherrill said receiving these images was the first time she realized her back problems would need to be addressed with a surgeon.
"I sought referrals from some people I trusted, and two names were given. I selected Dr. Micah Smith based on his bio and how compassionate he appeared to be through ministry work and enjoyment of family," she said.
In the days leading up to her first appointment with Dr. Smith, Sherrill and her husband experienced the loss of both his parents. Her mother-in-law passed away on April 20 at age 97, then eight days later, her father-in-law passed at the age of 98.
When Sherrill finally met Dr. Smith on April 30, she said everything in his demeanor confirmed he was the right surgeon for her.
"He was just so visibly interested in what I had to say. He came into the room and immediately sat down on a stool and rolled closer so that we were at eye level and asked me what was going on.”
Sherrill said she could think of few other doctors who had shown her that same level of thoughtful focus.
After meeting with Dr. Smith, Sherrill was extremely eager to move forward with surgery; however, the next available procedure date was a month away. As their family navigated grief and preparations for their loved one's combined Celebration of Life ceremony, her back pain worsened. By the following day, she was unable to find relief, even while lying in bed.
"I couldn't walk very easily, so I spent a lot of time sitting. Then it got to the point where I couldn't sit. I just could not find a comfortable position doing anything."
A timely intervention
Not long after, Sherrill received a call from a member of the surgery care coordination team advising that if she could complete the items on the pre-operation checklist within three days, Dr. Smith could make the surgery happen on May 16.
A few days later, at 5:00 a.m. Sherrill arrived at Parkview Ortho Hospital ready for surgery. Despite a little bit of nervousness the day before, she was confident in her decision to move forward. An ease she credits to her conversations with Dr. Smith leading up to the day and all the care team members she engaged with at the hospital.
"I had excellent care. Everybody who was going to be in the operating room came in and greeted me and explained what their role would be during the surgery."
Dr. Smith was the last to enter the operating room. Sherrill didn't recognize him at first in his surgical cap and attire, but his bright smile and encouraging presence immediately stood out.
"In addition to saying hello, he asked if it was possible to pray with me. I was honored that he would propose that, and it just made the morning easier when I knew I was going into surgery."
Post-op and recovery
Sherrill remembered feeling only minor discomfort at the idea of having staples in her body, which were removed 10 days after the operation in preparation for her post-op physical therapy. She recalls experiencing almost no pain following the procedure.
"My husband would say I had pain, but I didn't have pain, not like I had before. I had muscles that I hadn't worked in almost a year, so I was sore as I became more mobile. But I never had pain in my spine or down my leg again."
Sherrill still had a long way to go before she would be fully recovered, but she was determined not to let her spine pain hold her back any longer. With the help of an assistive walking aid, Sherrill was able to join her family in celebrating the academic achievements of her three oldest grandchildren.
"I could just cry thinking about it. I would not have been able to go to the graduation party, and they celebrated that all together. Nor would I have been able to attend their commencement at the Coliseum. It would've killed me not to be able to go to those, and I was able to do that because of this surgery.
A little over a year later, Sherrill is still building back her endurance and has plans to continue physical therapy. Reflecting on how she felt leading up to the surgery and the time since, she shares immense gratitude.
"I'm doing well, and I'm walking again. The most I've done so far has been two miles, but I can walk with no pain. I can't say enough about getting the source of the problem taken care of by an excellent surgeon."
Do more with Parkview & Ortho NorthEast (ONE)
Your journey toward a life with less pain starts by sitting down with an orthopedic specialist for an initial evaluation. Visit our website here to schedule an appointment or find orthopedic care near you.
