Helping a Longtime Scoliosis Patient Live Pain Free Again

Gabrielle Eckhardt, of Valparaiso, Indiana, has lived much of her 40 years with back pain. As a growing child, she was diagnosed with severe scoliosis by a pediatrician who described her spinal curve as a "complete S."

What Is Scoliosis? Understanding a Common Spine Condition

Scoliosis, when the spine abnormally curves sideways into an "S" or "C" shape, is one of the most prevalent spinal conditions in the U.S., with almost seven million people currently living with it. It is more common in females than in males.

Everyone's spine is naturally curved to give it more strength, flexibility, and better movement. However, if the spine loses its natural and healthy curve, it disrupts the biomechanics of the entire spine. This can cause problems ranging from unbalanced shoulders and breathing trouble to extreme pain.

How Scoliosis Severity Is Measured: Understanding Cobb Angle

Curvature size is determined by a measurement known as the Cobb angle, based on a patient's X-ray. This helps determine how far out of alignment a scoliotic spine is and classifies it as mild, moderate, or severe.

• Mild scoliosis: Cobb angle measurement between 10 and 25 degrees
• Moderate scoliosis: Cobb angle measurement between 25 and 40 degrees
• Severe scoliosis: Cobb angle measurement of 40+ degrees

Gabrielle's First Scoliosis Surgery at Age 12

At age 12, Gabrielle underwent fusion surgery on the full length of her spine to treat her severe scoliosis. Her doctor performed a spinal fusion that straightened her curved spine and secured it with metal rods and screws. Like Gabrielle, most scoliosis surgeries are performed once a patient has completed most of their growth.

After recovery, she happily enjoyed life as a normal adolescent and teenager.

What Is Scoliosis? Understanding a Common Spine Condition

Scoliosis, when the spine abnormally curves sideways into an "S" or "C" shape, is one of the most prevalent spinal conditions in the U.S., with almost seven million people currently living with it. It is more common in females than in males.

Everyone's spine is naturally curved to give it more strength, flexibility, and better movement. However, if the spine loses its natural and healthy curve, it disrupts the biomechanics of the entire spine. This can cause problems ranging from unbalanced shoulders and breathing trouble to extreme pain.

Back Pain Returns: Life as a Crane Operator, Wife, and Mother

In her twenties, Gabrielle began to experience discomfort in her back again. She assumed she had already had the proper surgery, so she went about her life as usual.

Gabrielle chose a career as a crane operator in a steel mill, following in her dad's footsteps. Along the way, she learned to operate 22 different cranes and was one of a few women performing this sometimes dangerous job. She got married and celebrated the births of two children. But her back pain worsened over time.

A Ten Year Journey of Pain Management at Rush

Gabrielle visited Rush and embarked on a ten year journey of pain management that included physical therapy, medication, and spinal injections every three months. Sometimes it helped, and sometimes it didn't. She had reduced energy and struggled to keep up with her kids, began missing their softball and baseball games, and just didn't enjoy life. She took a leave of absence from work in 2025.

"I became worried I wasn't going to be able to walk down the aisle when my daughter got married," Gabrielle explains. "I wasn't helping my husband with anything around the house or yard."

Finding Dr. Daniel Park, Spine Surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush

Frustrated, Gabrielle decided to try a new provider and found her way to Dr. Divya Agrawal, a pain management specialist at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. After trying another course of injections, Dr. Agrawal recommended that Gabrielle see her colleague, spine surgeon Dr. Daniel Park. Gabrielle made an appointment immediately.

"Dr. Park was amazing," Gabrielle explains. "He reviewed my imaging and earlier spine surgery and told me that he wanted to consult with the spine team at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush about the best course of treatment. He and his team were very compassionate, and I really appreciated that combination."

Treating a Complex Spinal Fusion Revision Case

"Gabrielle's spinal issue was complex because she had an older generation of spinal fusion," explains Dr. Park. Because a large portion of her spine had been fused, the added stress on her mobility led to significant arthritis, which in turn compressed her nerves and caused her pain. Dr. Park brought the case to a panel of his MOR spine surgeon colleagues to weigh the safest path forward, freeing the nerves while deciding how far the new fusion needed to extend. Together they agreed the best plan was to connect to her existing hardware and fuse a small area of her spine, without extending down to her pelvis, offering the lowest chance of needing another surgery.

Recovery After Spine Surgery: Walking Pain Free Again

Following a successful surgery at Rush, Gabrielle followed all of Dr. Park's instructions and recovered at home. After just two weeks, she no longer needed pain medication and began taking small steps around her house, with no pain.

Today, just two months post surgery, Gabrielle is walking a half mile around her neighborhood with ease. She can rise from her bed or a seated position with no pain. Simple things like watching her kids' activities, grocery shopping, going to the movies, and getting in and out of a car are no longer painful.

"Every day I want to send Dr. Park a thank you note!" Gabrielle says. "I like to refer to him as the 'DaVinci of spine.'"

Gabrielle's Advice for Others Living with Spine Pain

When asked what wisdom she would share with others experiencing spine pain due to a mechanical issue, she says, "Just do the recommended surgery; take the chance that you will be better than before."