Last Thanksgiving, Charles was in agony. What started as what he believed to be sciatica quickly escalated into excruciating discomfort that shot down his back and legs. He couldn't sit at the kitchen table, let alone walk, without severe pain.
“Lying flat was the only position I could find relief,” says Charles, 70, a longtime Teaneck resident.
He first visited Holy Name orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jake Zarah, who tried cortisone pills and then a cortisone injection to relieve the pain. But Charles' case was unrelenting, so, Dr. Zarah referred him to Dr. Teja Karukonda, an orthopedic surgeon at Holy Name specializing in robotic spine surgery.
X-rays revealed the problem: degenerative disc disease, which happens when the discs in the spine wear down, and spondylolisthesis, which is when a vertebra shifts position. Dr. Karukonda explained the images to Charles. “Once I saw the images, I understood why the pain was so intense,” Charles says. “The vertebrae were putting pressure right on my spine.”
Charles and Dr. Karukonda decided on robotic surgery to correct the issue. By the time of his surgery on Jan. 7, 2025, Charles could barely move. “I had to lie down in the car, and at home, I spent my days flat on my back just to manage the pain.”
Everything changed the day after the operation.
“I left the hospital 75% pain-free,” Charles recalls. “I could sit up in the car without any discomfort. It gave me my life back.”
Charles was walking normally the next day. After completing physical therapy, he continues to practice the stretching exercises he learned and has even returned to swimming. Now, three months out, his mobility is excellent and he's pain-free. “There were a few muscle spasms early on, but Dr. Karukonda explained everything and guided me through it.”
Having previously had his gallbladder removed at Holy Name, Charles was confident in the care he received there. “Dr. Karukonda was very professional, knowledgeable, and always responsive when I had questions,” he says. “He explained everything and made me feel comfortable every step of the way. I could tell this was his expertise”
Looking back, Charles wishes he had done the surgery sooner. “I couldn't live the rest of my life with that kind of pain. I want to play tennis again, chase my grandson around, and stay active.”
Thanks to Holy Name and Dr. Karukonda, he can.
