Dan U. is no stranger to back pain. By his mid-20s, he was already dealing with two severely herniated discs in his lower spine.
“Of course, I continued my manual labor jobs,” says Dan, 51, of Mifflintown, Pa. “I really thought I was invincible back then.”
That was 2001. It would be years before he found the care he needed with Bryan Bolinger, DO, a spinal surgeon at UPMC in Central Pa.
After undergoing two spinal fusion surgeries with Dr. Bolinger in 2016 and 2017, he received his latest spinal fusion in 2025. Now pain-free, Dan is grateful for the care he’s received from Dr. Bolinger along the way.
A Long History of Pain
One day during those invincible years, Dan helped his landlord up after a fall — and felt excruciating pain himself. He went to a doctor for help.
The doctor ordered x-rays, but didn’t follow up with him. Dan found a chiropractor, who reviewed the images and recommended that he find an orthopaedic specialist. When he finally talked to a spine surgeon in 2002, they advised against surgery because of his young age.
Dan was in chronic pain and completely on his own. He tried every possible solution he could find — chiropractic care, physical therapy, injection therapy — but none brought much relief.
Despite his pain, Dan made life work for another 15 years. He got married, had two children, continued working physically demanding jobs, and maintained a presence in the gym.
But eventually, Dan’s left leg started buckling under his weight, and he had trouble walking. He coached his daughter’s softball team while using crutches.
“I refused to not be a part of my children’s lives,” Dan says. “But my quality of life was quickly worsening.”
The Turning Point — Finding Dr. Bolinger
One day, Dan reached his breaking point.
In late 2015, he opened his computer and did a quick internet search for spine surgeons in his area. That’s when Dan discovered Dr. Bolinger. He eagerly called Dr. Bolinger’s office and set up an appointment.
Dr. Bolinger performed a physical evaluation on Dan and recommended spinal fusion surgery.
A uses metal rods and screws to permanently join two or more vertebrae (spinal bones) together. Spinal fusion surgeries can minimize pain in the spine by eliminating motion and stabilizing the vertebrae spinal fusion surgery
Dr. Bolinger performed a spinal fusion surgery of Dan’s lumbar spine (lower back) in April 2016. The fusion was successful, providing a “100% improvement” for Dan’s pain.
But in 2017, Dan started feeling a burning sensation in his neck and pain down his right arm. After more x-rays and an MRI, Dan returned to Dr. Bolinger.
Dr. Bolinger diagnosed Dan with a disc herniation in his cervical spine, in the lower neck. Once again, he needed a spinal fusion surgery — this time, of three cervical vertebrae.
Although he had permanent nerve damage in his right index finger and hand, Dan again felt fully healed.
Before Long, a Third Spinal Fusion
Life continued as normal until 2024, when new symptoms started to appear. Dan began feeling nerve pain in his right leg along with some familiar pains.
This time, Dan was heavily weight training and working out with collegiate football players. He was holding his own against kids his son’s age.
But as the symptoms worsened, Dan knew he needed to see his family doctor again. After viewing the x-rays, she told him his lumbar spine was again the culprit. She offered him physical therapy or an MRI.
Dan’s response? “I want a referral to Dr. Bolinger.”
After checking Dan’s latest x-rays, Dr. Bollinger told him he was suffering from adjacent disc disease. This is a common condition seen in people who’ve had spinal fusions. The vertebrae above and below the fusion take on more stress and degenerate more quickly.
In Dan’s case, the spinal bones above his lumbar fusion — now herniated — were compressing on his nerves.
In February 2025, Dan received a third spinal fusion from Dr. Bolinger. He spent a few days in the hospital, finding recovery a bit harder than the other surgeries.
“I am 10 years older, so that was definitely a factor,” Dan says with a laugh.
But the surgery was once again successful in eliminating his pain.
Life After Three Spinal Fusions
It’s been over a year since Dan’s last spinal surgery, and he continues to enjoy his pain-free life. Without chronic pain, spending time with his wife, children, and granddaughter, riding four-wheelers, and having cookouts at his pool are more fun.
Feeling dismissed and unheard by practitioners for years made finding a spinal surgeon who really cared life-changing.
“Dr. Bolinger is relatable, and he actively listens to you,” Dan says. “He’s fully engaged, you can talk to him about anything, and you can tell he really prioritizes taking care of you. Plus, he’s a music junkie, so we’d enjoy talking about music we love and concerts coming to town.”
According to Dr. Bolinger, working with people like Dan is what makes this work genuinely fulfilling.
“The trust each patient places in me is something I never take lightly, and Dan has extended that trust three times,” he says. “Dan is basically part of my family at this point.”
In addition, the compassionate care at UPMC helped bolster his recovery process.
“The entire UPMC team from start to finish was just fantastic,” Dan says. “The doctors, anesthesiologists, nursing team, and follow-up care — it was all great. I know that made a positive impact on my journey.”
And while he’s hoping to never need another spinal fusion, Dan couldn’t be more pleased with where he is now.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome,” he says. “And I’ll forever be grateful to UPMC and specifically Dr. Bolinger for helping me get my life back.”