Case 24 – Post-Spinal Surgery Pain to Half-Marathon Recovery

A 62-year-old woman presented with long-standing spinal pain, severe functional limitation, and significant deconditioning following two spinal surgeries—a T12 thoracic surgery (5 years prior) and a C7 cervical surgery (3 years prior). She reported constant neck, shoulder, and back pain, restricted cervical rotation day and night, kyphosis, and an inability to lift more than 1 kg with either arm.

Case 24 – Post-Spinal Surgery Recovery: From chronic pain and severe movement limitation after cervical and thoracic surgery to pain-free mobility, restored strength, and completing a half marathon within weeks.

She also experienced intermittent right-leg numbness, inability to rise from a squat due to right-leg weakness, and marked discomfort after walking more than 500 metres. Over two years, she had lost 13 kg, weighing only 37 kg, and relied on daily sleep medication for many years. Despite extensive treatment across hospitals and private clinics throughout Taiwan, her pain and function had not improved.

Treatment and training commenced on 27 May. Within three days, she was able to lift an 8.5 kg box upstairs and walk 1 km pain-free. After five days, she completed her first 5 km parkrun, something she had never done in her life and had not run for over 30 years.

Over the following four weeks, she progressed rapidly:

• 5 km → 10.1 km → 21.7 km half marathon

• All distances completed without leg pain or neurological symptoms

• Cervical, thoracic, and shoulder movement restored and pain-free

• Able to lift >13 kg comfortably

• Spine alignment visibly improved

• Gained 4 kg bodyweight

• Reduced sleep medication dosage by 50% while maintaining good sleep quality

This case highlights the body’s capacity for recovery when movement, load tolerance, spinal mechanics, and nervous system regulation are addressed systematically—even in individuals with extensive surgical history and long-term disability.

Clinical Practice: Heal Young Massage

Evidence-based remedial massage and movement rehabilitation services.