Submitted by ORA Orthopedics

Forty-five year old Hillary Karben of Bettendorf is grateful to be up and walking again this summer. She’s looking forward to her career, favorite family activities, and gym workouts thanks to emergency back surgery.

“I have no idea what happened,” recalls Hillary. “In December, I woke up with back pain and discovered I couldn’t move. We had to call the ambulance so the paramedics could lift me out of bed and carry me down the stairs.” It was a complete surprise to the young, vibrant working mother of three. “I’m active. I go to the gym. I am not a sedentary person.” The first trip to the ER sent her home with pain medication, but the back pain resurfaced two months later. “I missed work for two weeks, and I could barely move.”

It was the second trip to the ER that resulted in a consultation with ORA Orthopedics’ spine surgeon, Dr. Myles Luszczyk. “Hillary was suffering from what we call a ‘flagrant disc herniation,’” he explains. “Our spinal columns are made up of 24 bones called vertebrae, and in between those bones are discs that act as shock absorbers.” In Hillary’s case, one of her discs had ruptured in her lower back, a condition called a “herniated lumbar disc.” Dr. Luszczyk says that while Hillary is young for experiencing a bulging disc, a sudden movement, injury, or even genetics can cause the disc to rupture and push against sensitive nerves in the spine.

Disc Herniation Is a Common Source of Back Pain for Many
“My mother had back surgery when she was 41,” recalls Hillary. “My spine is deteriorating, so I guess it was a matter of time for me.” Hillary is not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), between 60 and 80 percent of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. A high percentage of people will have low back and leg pain caused by a herniated disc.

Dr. Luszczyk says disc herniations can happen to anyone at any age. “We first try more conservative approaches, like therapies, injections, or manipulations, before we consider surgery,” he adds. “But in Hillary’s case, surgery was the best option to relieve the shooting type of leg pain that kept her from walking.”

To get Hillary up and walking again, Dr. Luszczyk performed a procedure called a microdiscectomy to relieve the pressure and pain radiating to her arms and legs. “I use a special microscope to view the spinal nerves. I make a small incision and remove the portion of the disc protrusion that is pressing and irritating nerves in the spinal column.”

Hillary says her surgery was a complete success. “I was back to work two weeks later and have felt fantastic ever since. I am also working out again and feel great!”

The QC Leader in Orthopedic Care
From active working mothers like Hillary, to amateur, elite, and professional athletes, to even the smallest child who may need orthopedic care, ORA’s 25 trusted physicians treat nearly 125,000 patients each year in a practice that serves a large part of the bi-state region. 

ORA mobilizes its team of physicians and staff to put their diverse expertise and vast resources to work and get patients back to life. “Our mission is simply to ensure our patients reach their fullest potential and restore as much strength and movement as possible, all with the least amount of risk,” says Michael Pyevich, MD, President.

“Our philosophy of care begins with respecting each patient and understanding their goals so that in partnership with us, they receive the best possible outcome,” he adds. “Our experienced physicians and staff are specialty trained in all aspects of orthopedic care so that we can offer a variety of innovative surgical and practical non-surgical options backed by sound advice.”

ORA has become the region’s leading orthopedic practice after more than 50 years of building upon the expertise and the community commitment of its physicians. “Most of our physicians grew up in the Quad City region and have come home to raise their families and improve our area’s quality of life,” says Ken Brockman, CEO.

Eight Centers of Orthopedic Excellence
ORA’s practice is built upon eight centers of excellence that focus specifically on treating conditions related to such areas as: the spine, the foot and ankle, hands, hips and knees, pediatrics, shoulder and elbows, sports medicine, and its total joint center.

“Better diagnostic and imaging technology, as well as minimally invasive surgical techniques like arthroscopy, have transformed the way we perform our surgeries and procedures: incisions are smaller, we are able to spare muscle, and our patients recover quickly.” The result: the majority of ORA’s patients return to doing the activities, sports, and hobbies they love—all while enjoying the highest standard of care in the region.

Just ask Hillary Karben who, as a working mother, says her back surgery was life changing. “Dr. Luszczyk is fantastic. I can move again.

The pain is completely gone.”

What started as two small practices in both Davenport and Moline more than a half century ago now encompasses six locations in the Quad City area. While its main offices are based in Bettendorf and Moline, there are additional locations in Davenport and DeWitt. Illinois satellite locations include Silvis and Geneseo.

For injuries such as broken bones, strains and sprains, and sports or work-related injuries, ORA offers an after-hours orthopedic injury clinic at its main office on 53rd in Bettendorf. Urgent OrthoCARE has in-house digital X-ray to help treat and diagnose your injury at the time of your visit. MRI services are also available. Iowa:  563-322-0971 • Illinois:  309-762-3621. Learn more about ORA Orthopedics at qcora.com. For events and patient success stories, follow ORA on Facebook.

Centers of Excellence

ORA Orthopedics is committed to providing high quality orthopedic care in the Quad City region. ORA offers services in general orthopedics, sports medicine, total joint replacement, pediatric orthopedics, and orthopedic trauma. The practice’s Centers of Excellence feature specialty-trained physicians in the following areas:

Foot & Ankle Center
Feet contain more than 100 bones, tendons, muscles, and ligaments and form 33 joints. ORA physicians are specialists in foot and ankle pain and problems and treat such injuries as ankle fractures, plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis. From sprains and sports injuries to surgery for bunions and fractures, ORA ensures you put your best foot forward.

Hand Center
Common problems for hands and wrists include arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and other fractures and dislocations. Many hand and wrist problems can also be treated non- surgically with splints, casts, cortisone injections, or physical therapy. ORA
physicians offer superior care, hands down.

Hip & Knee Center
Osteoarthritis, the loss of cartilage in the hip or knee joint from wear and tear, is common. Young athletes can also suffer cartilage or ligament tears that can sideline them for months. ORA’s hip and knee specialists perform common procedures including hip and knee replacements, hip and knee arthroscopy, and revisions to get patients back to life and doing things they enjoy.

Pediatric Center
Children can suffer from a number of common orthopedic injuries, including broken bones, fractures, and growth plate trauma. ORA’s physicians are also specialty trained in pediatric orthopedics to treat conditions such as clubfoot, scoliosis, and neuromuscular challenges.

Shoulder & Elbow Center
ORA physicians who specialize in the shoulder and elbow provide comprehensive treatment for a number of problems. Common shoulder injuries include tendonitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, and muscle tears. Elbow injuries can also be painful, and treatments are available for tennis and golf elbow as well as cubital tunnel syndrome.

Spine Center
Most people will experience back pain at least once during their lifetime. Experts at ORA’s spine center are specialty trained to treat back and neck pain, injuries, and other conditions, such as degenerative and herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and bone spurs.

Sports Medicine Center
More area professional and amateur athletes trust ORA to treat their sports-related injuries and manage their recovery than any other orthopedic practice in the region.Combining advanced treatment methods with one-on-one attention and on-site physical therapy to coordinate your comeback, ORA’s Sports Medicine Center is the largest in the Quad City region and is dedicated to getting you back in the game.

Total Joint Center
ORA’s joint replacement specialists have extensive experience in all aspects of joint care. Joint replacement surgery entails
replacing a severely diseased joint, most commonly the hip, knee, or shoulder, with an artificial implant. Recent advancements in joint replacement surgery include more durable implants, less invasive surgical techniques, and quicker recovery.