Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/883365
torrancememorial.org PULSE | 39 "My focus is educating patients and training them to take care of themselves," Satterfield says. "Most do not need surgery. But those who do oen have a fear of spinal surgery. ere has been lots of negative feedback from older surgical techniques. I help patients who need surgery not be so afraid of the 's' word. With our new techniques and high-powered microscopes we can do a lot, conservatively and with minimal invasion." Spinal surgeon Randy O'Hara agrees. "During surgery we can actually monitor the spinal cord itself, and if there are any changes, we know and can respond immediately. at has made surgery much safer." BACK ON THE SLOPES For Palos Verdes real estate developer Paul Mayhack, the road toward surgery was miles, decades actually, long. "I had back issues for many years," he recounts. "One morning I was lying in bed and felt this big sneeze coming. I held my nose … and blew out my L4 and L5." Mayhack went to Torrance Memorial and saw Dr. Rogers, who got him in for surgery immediately. "I was in and out of surgery the same day. Dr. Rogers put me on PT right away, working on core strength and stretches. It took awhile, but I got back on skis the next season. And I was so glad I got the surgery. I don't have a back issue anymore. Dr. Rogers saved my life." Like many, Mayhack was afraid to have back surgery. "It felt like getting brain surgery," he jokes. But for so many years he was constantly tearing his back and then taking Vicodin for the pain, a debilitating cycle. "I'm off the pills completely now and haven't taken any since right aer the surgery. And I'm skiing better than ever. I don't jump off cliffs like the young skiers, but I go all the way to the top [at Mammoth] and back down." Mayhack also admits he's getting more exercise and taking better care of his body these days, thanks to Dr. Rogers. "She's an athlete and really knows her stuff," he says. at ability to relate to patients is evident throughout the department. Dr. Zickuhr, for instance, has been athletic all her life "and I've had five knee surgeries, shoulder problems, hip problems and Achilles tendonitis. So I understand what it's like to be on the patient side. "Because we're in California, I get lots of runners and dancers who just don't get an adrenaline rush from anything but their favorite activity," she continues. "So I try to modify it or find something that's close so we can give them that same satisfaction. And I understand how frustrating it can be for the body to heal more slowly than they want. Other doctors might have blown them off saying, 'Oh, you're fine.' My goal is to get them back to their previous level of activity." A runner himself, Dr. Nuccion also stays fit coaching his daughter's basketball and son's flag football teams. Dr. Rogers shied her passion for basketball to surfing, and Satterfield, a semi-pro and collegiate soccer player, now does a bit of everything : cycling, swimming, skiing. "Someone who is an athlete will definitely find someone sympathetic here," he says. He's referring to the hospital, of course, but "here" also is the South Bay; all of the doctors are locals. "Part of the fun," Dr. Rogers concludes, "is taking care of my neighbors." Tiffany Rogers, MD "OUR ABILITY TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT AND SURGICALLY REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS HAS ADVANCED DRAMATICALLY." Paul Mayhack, patient THREE SIMPLE BACKSAVERS "So much of it is what your mother told you," says orthopedic surgeon Tiffany Rogers. "Don't use your back to li heavy objects and keep your core muscles strong." To be specific, here's what she recommends: STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE: Pretend someone is going to sneak up on you and punch you in the belly. Prepare for that punch. It's a simple way to start the process of strengthening your core muscles. AVOID A LOT OF SITTING: Yes, sitting is the new smoking. "It really compresses your discs," says Dr. Rogers. If you work at a desk, get up and walk around every 30 to 40 minutes. Set a timer and stick to it. On long car rides, pull over every 90 minutes and take a quick run around the car. STAY AT AN OPTIMAL WEIGHT: Your Torrance Memorial doctor can help you with this.