Freedom from Back Pain

At 83 years young, Nancy Raulerson refuses to slow down. Even spinal surgery couldn’t keep this grandmother grounded for long before she was ready for another adventure.

Whether Raulerson is exploring the volcanos of Hawaii or seeing rollicking shows on the stages of Branson, MO, she is always on the move, checking places off her destination bucket list – including Florida, the Cayman Islands and Alaska. “I love Alaska,” Raulerson says. “If a person can only afford one major vacation in a lifetime, it should be Alaska.”

But in 2023, her active lifestyle of travel, gardening and social activities came to a screeching halt when she found herself experiencing extreme back pain. Raulerson was not normally one to grumble about such things, so her family knew it was serious. “My son often jokes, ‘when mom complains, you better get her to the emergency room,’” she says. During this time, Raulerson couldn’t bring herself to go anywhere except to church. “And that was excruciating, but I made myself go,” she says. “I was afraid that my leg would go numb on me and I’d fall and break a hip or something worse.”

The pain finally led her to consult AdventHeath Medical Group Neurosurgery at Rome neurosurgeon, Jason Harrison, MD, PhD, FAANS. He performed spinal fusion surgery in 2023, followed by a second in 2024. Since then, she’s been completely pain-free.

“I think Dr. Harrison did a fantastic job,” Raulerson says. “He was right up front and told me everything I needed to know and what he could and couldn’t do, and he did the job right. If I get another problem further up my spine, you better believe he’d be the one I’d call.”

Raulerson was so pleased with Dr. Harrison and the relief she felt after her surgery, she recommended him to two of her friends. “I really would trust him to fix all my friends,” she says. Since her surgery, not only has she been back on the road, she’s also been able to be more involved with her church, where she recently served on the hospitality committee for a senior luncheon. For the event, she worked hard setting up tables and decorations and loved every minute of it. She plans to keep helping however she can, including packing shoeboxes for the Samaritan’s Purse annual Christmas shoebox drive.

When she’s not traveling or volunteering, Raulerson loves to stay active working in her garden – where she has blueberry and pecan trees and grows beans, squash and zucchini, – and going on daily mile-long walks. “I think people need to just live and appreciate the beauty God has given them, even if it’s just to walk around the park. Get yourself out and go for a walk,” Raulerson says. While her freedom from pain has her back to enjoying her beautiful community, Raulerson is still always ready to grab her bags and hit the road. “I can’t sit at home,” she says. “I guarantee you that, if someone says go, give me 15 minutes and I’ll be ready.”

Don’t let spine pain stop you from living your life to the fullest. AdventHealth Medical Group Neurosurgery at Rome’s expert neurosurgery team can help. To learn more and schedule an appointment, call Call706-686-0038 or visit: https://GeorgiaNeuroExperts.com.