At 22, Natalee Hurst set out on a family cruise hoping for a relaxing getaway. But an unexpected fall during the trip changed everything, triggering intense pain and revealing an underlying injury she had been managing since a car accident four years earlier.
“When I fell, it felt like my back was on fire,” she said. “I was scared, and I could hardly move. In that moment, I realized I couldn’t keep living this way. I needed help.”
Back pain had been part of Hurst’s life since she was 18, when a car accident left her with a bulging disc. Though physical therapy helped, the discomfort never fully went away. She pushed through the pain while juggling long shifts in the pediatric ICU and late nights bartending.
After the cruise, Hurst returned home and underwent an MRI that revealed significant damage to her spine. Traditional open-back surgery was recommended, a major procedure with a long recovery time and risks that felt overwhelming for someone so young, especially with nursing school and her wedding on the horizon.
That’s when Hurst found hope in a groundbreaking option offered by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist: The first hospital in the Piedmont Triad to offer full endoscopic spine surgery. This minimally invasive procedure is performed through a small incision, typically a half-inch long. Using an endoscope, a thin tube with a camera and specialized surgical tools, the care team can see and treat problems in the spine with minimal disturbance to surrounding muscles and tissues. Compared to traditional open-back surgery, this approach offers potential for faster recovery and less downtime.
“Endoscopic spine surgery is changing the way we treat patients with back pain,” said Dr. Jonathan Wilson, neurosurgeon at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and the physician pioneering the procedure in the Piedmont Triad area. “It provides an ultra-minimally invasive alternative with the potential for a quicker return to daily life.”
Though initially hesitant, Hurst decided to proceed. “The team explained everything clearly and made me feel supported,” she said. “I knew this surgery could change my life.”
The results were nearly immediate: Hurst woke up with the sharp pain gone. Within a week, she was back on another cruise; this time, fully able to enjoy it.
Now, she’s rebuilding strength in physical therapy and looking ahead with optimism. “I’m so glad I kept searching for answers,” she said. “I didn’t know this surgery existed, and it’s changed everything for me.”
Dr. Wilson says Hurst’s story is just one example of how endoscopic spine surgery can help many patients. “Back pain is common and often disabling, but fear of traditional surgery keeps some from seeking help. This new option offers less disruption to a patient’s body and a potential for faster recovery.”
To explore more about spine health and available treatments at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist, visit: https://www.wakehealth.edu/specialty/s/spine