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Former UFC fighter wants to be spine surgery patients’ ‘rock’

Nate “Rock” Quarry was in the prime of his career as an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter when he started to experience back pain that got so bad that he couldn’t even pick up his daughter. Afraid that having back surgery would be the death knell of his career, but knowing that doing nothing could lead to the same bad ending, he opted for a XLIF procedure that not only relieved the pain, but allowed him to get back in the fighting ring again.

Nate "Rock" Quarry was in the prime of his career as an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter when he started to experience back pain that got so bad that he couldn't even pick up his daughter. Afraid that having back surgery would be the death knell of his career, but knowing that doing nothing could lead to the same bad ending, he opted for a XLIF procedure created by NuVasive, a medical device company, that not only relieved the pain, but allowed him to get back in the fighting ring again.

Because of his own journey back to better health and his personal experience with the doubts and fears of what back surgery means for your future, he has lent his voice to other back patients through The Better Way Back advocacy group as a patient ambassador. Recently he shared his story at Camden County College in Blackwood, New Jersey at a MIS Spine Injury Seminar along with Dr. Jeffrey Gleimer of the Regional Orthopedic Professional Association.

Quarry began his story with how important being able to fight was and how it was a devastating thought to think he might have to give up on his dream.

"When I was 24 years old, I was at a party where I saw two guys fighting in a cage. I was blown away by what I saw and began to train in secret so I could beat up my friends," he said with a smile. "That was the kind of friend I am."

"About twelve years ago, I sat down with my daughter Ciera, then two years old, and asked her what she thought of me being a professional fighter and she told me to go for my dream," he continued.

"In the middle of sparring at the gym training for a fight, she would call out, 'I love you, Daddy' and I would in mid-punch call back 'I love you too'," he said.

It is obvious that she is his biggest fan and supporter. Unfortunately, it was when he was at the top of his game in 2006 after a particularly intense fight that he started experiencing back pain so severe that he couldn't sleep at night and couldn't pick up his daughter. He had been dealing with some pain for months, but now he couldn't ignore it anymore.

"I found out that because of degenerative disc disease that one of my discs had completely worn out," he said.

Quarry opened up about his fears of going under the knife because of all the horror stories he had heard about back surgery. The surgeon he went to unfortunately had a bad bedside manner and was very blunt in sharing the bad news that Quarry needed to have back surgery or his back would only get worse.

His doctor suggested the XLIF procedure to him, explaining that with it there would be less recovery time and better odds that he could fight again.

All his friends and family told him that his life would be over if he had back surgery, but he knew he couldn't continue fighting in his present condition either. "If there was 1 percent chance that I could get back in the ring again, I knew I had to take it for me and my little girl," he explained.

While waiting for one of his pre-operative appointments, Quarry found himself overwhelmed and had to head out to his car. "I broke down crying. I was terrified," he said.

He knew though that this procedure was the best shot for him and his daughter Ciera and so he headed back into the office.

Three months after surgery Quarry was back in the gym training. At his six month appointment, he saw a beautiful sight in the waiting room of his doctor's office. It was an x-ray of a beautifully fused spine. When he found out that the x-ray was of his back, he said to his doctor, "I'm going to fight again, won't I?"

And the doctor gave him the best news ever, "Sure, why not give it a shot."

"I called the UFC and told them to start finding me fights. "You didn't believe I'd be back, but now I am," he said to them.

His very first fight after surgery on September 19, 2007 had many layers of meaning to him. He wanted to win for himself, for his daughter, but also for others like himself suffering from back pain.  "I wanted people to know you can have surgery and get your life back," he said.

That fight with Pete "Drago" Sell is still talked about at the UFC. People were in awe that he not only came back from surgery to fight, having not been in the ring for almost two years, but that he won.

"During the first two rounds, I wasn't getting as many hits in, but at one point when I was knocked down in the second round, it was like the last of the ring rust was knocked off of me I knew that this was the moment I needed to turn things around, so I got to my feet more determined than ever," he said.

It was from that point on that Quarry decided that he wanted to be that support he never received to others like him.  "There is a huge disconnect between the technology available for back surgery and the patients. People only hear the horror stories so I wanted to share my success story."

As a patient ambassador through Better Way Back, he reaches out to patients on the phone and in seminars like this. He said,"They are scared and in pain, I just listen and let them know that I have been through it too."

Because of the degenerative disease, Quarry has since had a second XLIF procedure on another disc. "I consider myself ridiculously lucky not once but twice."

"I found myself still scared the second time around which made me realize that if I am scared, what about other people who don't know the success stories?"

While Quarry's testimony gave people in the seminar hope, Dr. Gleimer offered more of the technical information they needed to decide if the XLIF was the right route for them.

Dr. Gleimer introduced the XLIF as a technically advanced procedure that started on the West Coast and is still not as commonly done today. He is one of the few surgeons that perform it in the area.

The XLIF technique created by NuVasive is designed to be minimally invasive and safer than traditional lumbar surgery. Dr. Gleimer explained that to remove a diseased disc and fuse the spine, he would go in from the side instead of front or back bypassing any major nerves, which reduces the risk of nerve damage and paralysis.

"Nerve safety is a big benefit of this procedure," he reassured his audience.

Dr. Gleimer used x-rays of the actual procedure to show how he removes the disc and inserts an implant. This spacer or cage will keep the spine properly aligned so it can fuse together on its own.

He also explained the conditions for which XLIF would be indicated including degenerative disc disease, degenerative spondylolisthesis and degenerative scoliosis. It cannot be used to treat conditions at the lowest level of the spine, L5-S1.

Although there are non-surgical ways to treat back pain according to Dr. Gleimer like anti-flammatory medicine, massage, ice/heat and decreased activity, it is important to visit a doctor to see if you can find a more permanent solution.

Keep in mind that XLIF is not a solution for all back pain, so it is important to see a doctor to find out your options. Dr. Gleimer performs XLIF regularly so if you are interested in seeing if you are a good candidate for this procedure give his office call for a consultation at 856-663-7080 or visit ropanj.com. You can also reach out to The Better Way Back for more information and to speak to a patient ambassador like Quarry. Visit thebetterwayback.org or call 800-745-7099.

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.