Janet's Story: How Janet got back to her active life after Dr. Daniel Tobert removed a spinal cyst

Janet's Story

Condition:  Spinal cyst hitting a nerve
Interests:  biking, tennis & walking

"In May 2020, one morning as I was getting out of bed, I felt a great pain in my gluteus and thigh. After an MRI, the diagnosis was a torn gluteus minimus. This led me to physical therapy for several weeks with no improvement.

I tracked down Dr. Ashwin Babu, a physiatrist, who is known for platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatment, which I read might be a possibility. After several physical therapy appointments, my PT thought it was more of a SI problem. That led Dr. Babu to see me in his Wellesley office. After a thorough check, he told me that it was a spinal problem. I had a spinal MRI in Boston, where a large cyst was detected on my lower lumbar spine hitting a nerve and causing the pain in my gluteus minimus.

I saw Dr. Daniel Tobert, an orthopaedic spine surgeon, to discuss the MRI findings. Showing the MRI on the screen, Dr. Tobert explained precisely the location of the cyst and the procedure to remove it, including any possibilities which could occur during surgery. He was very thorough, polite and patient answering all of my questions. I was particularly concerned about my recovery time, anxiously wanting to get back to my normal activities. I was totally impressed with his gentle manner and felt confident all would go well. And it did!"

- Janet