Finishing First Following Spine Surgery

SPINE SURGERY PATIENT FINISHES FIRST IN FAVORITE 5-MILE RACE ONE YEAR AFTER PROCEDURE.

Amanda Miller has been running the 5-mile Jim Fixx Memorial Day Run in downtown Greenwich for as long as she can remember.  “That race is my annual barometer. It tells me where I am with my running and it kicks off my summer running season,” explained the 50 year old real estate agent and mother of three.  This year’s run was particularly triumphant.  Amanda ranked first in her age group with a 39:46 minute finish and 11^th among women runners of all ages.  Her triumph, though, was the fact that she could run the race at all.  A herniated disc and subsequent back surgery in 2015 could have kept her on the sidelines indefinitely.

Amanda is married to ONS orthopedist and shoulder surgeon, Seth Miller, MD, so she didn’t have to look very far to find one of the top spine surgeons in the state.  “I give all the credit to my doctor, Paul Apostolides.  He gave me confidence that I’d be able to run again,” she said. Six months after surgery, Amanda was back on the road.

Amanda has had a lifelong passion for running distances, competing with herself to run faster or further with each race. In the fall of 2014, she achieved a personal goal by running in the New York City Marathon.  However, in many ways this year’s Memorial Day race was a sweeter accomplishment.  “By finishing the race in less than 40 minutes, I am running at nearly the same pace I was before the surgery,” she said. “I’ve always known that ONS is among the best practices in the tri-state area because of how consistently high the doctors are in the rankings, but now I’ve lived through it myself. I’m so grateful.”