[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/dans-three-spinal-fusions-story\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/dans-three-spinal-fusions-story\/","headline":"Dan’s Story: Trusting the Same Surgeon for Three Spinal Fusions","name":"Dan’s Story: Trusting the Same Surgeon for Three Spinal Fusions","description":"

<\/p>","datePublished":"2026-05-05","dateModified":"2026-05-05","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery\/spine","name":"Spine Health","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery\/spine","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/spine-health\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1316243310-e1778001481454.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1316243310-e1778001481454.jpg","height":768,"width":1771},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/dans-three-spinal-fusions-story\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Spine Health"],"wordCount":975,"articleBody":"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.\u201cOf course, I continued my manual labor jobs,\u201d says Dan, 51, of Mifflintown, Pa. \u201cI really thought I was invincible back then.\u201dThat 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 PainOne day during those invincible years, Dan helped his landlord up after a fall \u2014 and felt excruciating pain himself. He went to a doctor for help.The doctor ordered x-rays, but didn\u2019t 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 \u2014 chiropractic care, physical therapy, injection therapy \u2014 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\u2019s left leg started buckling under his weight, and he had trouble walking. He coached his daughter\u2019s softball team while using crutches.\u201cI refused to not be a part of my children\u2019s lives,\u201d Dan says. \u201cBut my quality of life was quickly worsening.\u201dThe Turning Point \u2014 Finding Dr. BolingerOne 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\u2019s when Dan discovered Dr. Bolinger. He eagerly called Dr. Bolinger\u2019s 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 surgeryDr. 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 \u2014 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 FusionLife 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\u2019s 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\u2019s response? \u201cI want a referral to Dr. Bolinger.\u201dAfter checking Dan\u2019s 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\u2019s case, the spinal bones above his lumbar fusion \u2014 now herniated \u2014 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.\u201cI am 10 years older, so that was definitely a factor,\u201d Dan says with a laugh.But the surgery was once again successful in eliminating his pain.Life After Three Spinal FusionsIt\u2019s been over a year since Dan\u2019s 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.\u201cDr. Bolinger is relatable, and he actively listens to you,\u201d Dan says. \u201cHe\u2019s fully engaged, you can talk to him about anything, and you can tell he really prioritizes taking care of you. Plus, he\u2019s a music junkie, so we\u2019d enjoy talking about music we love and concerts coming to town.\u201dAccording 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.\u201cThe entire UPMC team from start to finish was just fantastic,” Dan says. “The doctors, anesthesiologists, nursing team, and follow-up care \u2014 it was all great. I know that made a positive impact on my journey.\u201dAnd while he\u2019s hoping to never need another spinal fusion, Dan couldn\u2019t be more pleased with where he is now.\u201cI couldn\u2019t have asked for a better outcome,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll forever be grateful to UPMC and specifically Dr. Bolinger for helping me get my life back.\u201dSources"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2026","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Dan’s Story: Trusting the Same Surgeon for Three Spinal Fusions","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/05\/dans-three-spinal-fusions-story\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]