Living with chronic back pain can be debilitating, and for Gary Gable, it was truly life-altering.
After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in 2013, Gary was forced to step away from his career as a package delivery driver. He also endured five back procedures in Fort Wayne in an attempt to help his condition. Unfortunately, none of these operations addressed the root cause of his pain, which only continued to worsen.
As his spine deteriorated at an alarming rate, Gary faced the difficult reality that—without a breakthrough solution—he might also have to leave his new job as a district manager for Little League Baseball in Fort Wayne, a role that required him to travel between ballparks and oversee grounds maintenance.
“It was at the point where I was going to be wheelchair-bound if nothing changed,” said Gary.
Fortunately, everything changed when Gary was referred to OrthoIndy and orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. M. Craig McMains.
“Previously, I had been told there was nothing my doctors could do for me,” said Gary. “But Dr. McMains was different. He said, ‘Let’s fix the issue once and for all.’”
Dr. McMains’ straightforward yet empathetic approach stood out from Gary’s previous experiences. Gary felt that he could trust Dr. McMains more than any surgeon he had previously visited. After scheduling a series of follow-up appointments to answer all of his questions, Gary underwent two surgeries in 2024 under the care of Dr. McMains and the OrthoIndy team.
The two surgeries, totaling over 11 hours of work, involved removing all previously implanted titanium rods from his back and restoring the natural curvature of his spine through a complex realignment procedure. This provided an additional correction to his upright posture which had been affected by his earlier procedures.
Now several months into his recovery, Gary shares that he’s experiencing little to no pain. He’s eagerly anticipating the arrival of Spring and baseball season.
“Right now, I’m keeping my activities minimal, but I feel better than ever as I continue to increase my activity level,” said Gary.
He says the greatest reward will be returning to his full-time role managing Little League team fields, caring for the parks and cheering on the young athletes – some of whom may have the potential to make it all the way to the Little League World Series.
As he progresses in his recovery, Gary is deeply grateful for the exceptional care and support he received at OrthoIndy – a place, he says, that gave him his life back.
—
If you have a challenging spine condition and are seeking lasting solutions, we can help. Learn more about scheduling an appointment with our award-winning team here.
