The Bus gets his life back
Learn how the XLIF procedure and less invasive surgery helped Jerome Bettis.
“I want to share my story and encourage considering patients to take the leap and get their life back.” – Jerome Bettis
Living with back pain
Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, Super Bowl Champion and NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer, is considered one of the best NFL running backs of all-time, known for his mental toughness and relentless playing style. When Jerome started experiencing back pain, he noted that in the early stages he felt as if he could push through any amount of pain, leveraging his play through the pain mentality; but, Jerome eventually found that as the pain progressed, it was more than just a regular, every day ache.
Approximately one year after his symptoms began, Jerome noticed that he could no longer enjoy normal activities that were foundational to his life. Jerome’s pain prevented him from teaching his kids how to play basketball and playing golf, and it even began to affect his ability to walk long distances and stand up straight.
Living with back pain
Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, Super Bowl Champion and NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer, is considered one of the best NFL running backs of all-time, known for his mental toughness and relentless playing style. When Jerome started experiencing back pain, he noted that in the early stages he felt as if he could push through any amount of pain, leveraging his play through the pain mentality; but, Jerome eventually found that as the pain progressed, it was more than just a regular, every day ache.
Approximately one year after his symptoms began, Jerome noticed that he could no longer enjoy normal activities that were foundational to his life. Jerome’s pain prevented him from teaching his kids how to play basketball and playing golf, and it even began to affect his ability to walk long distances and stand up straight.
"I knew that this pain couldn't go on because the daily things that as a father, you're supposed to do, I wasn't able to."
– Jerome Bettis, XLIF patient
"I knew that this pain couldn't go on because the daily things that as a father, you're supposed to do, I wasn't able to."
– Jerome Bettis, XLIF patient
The XLIF procedure
With his postoperative goals in mind, Jerome knew he needed to find the right surgeon to perform the best procedure. He began his journey to get his life back by conducting research on posterior and lateral surgeries, and consulting with several surgeons. Eventually, Jerome was introduced to Dr. Juan Uribe, currently the Chief of Spinal Disorders with Barrow Neurological Institute,and the XLIF procedure.
The choice to move forward with back surgery was a big decision, but Jerome was put at ease to hear from his surgeon that the less invasive XLIF procedure could reduce recovery time when compared with traditional posterior surgery. Jerome elected to move forward with the surgery, and following the procedure, he was able to play a full round of golf roughly three months’ post-op after being cleared by Dr. Uribe. Since then, the XLIF procedure has enabled Jerome to live the active lifestyle he envisioned when entering retirement—playing golf two to three times per week!
"After experiencing the ease of surgery and quick recovery with NuVasive’s minimally invasive surgery, I want to share my story and encourage considering patients to take the leap and get their life back.”
– Jerome Bettis, XLIF patient
"After experiencing the ease of surgery and quick recovery with NuVasive’s minimally invasive surgery, I want to share my story and encourage considering patients to take the leap and get their life back.”
– Jerome Bettis, XLIF patient
Do you suffer from back pain?
If you are experiencing back pain and in need of a consultation, use the provided map to find a NuVasive surgeon near you!
Please note that NuVasive provides this listing as a service. We have no vested interest in any specific physicians, nor do we provide any recommendation, assurance, or guarantee with respect to their service.
Jerome Bettis is a paid spokesmen of NuVasive, Inc. The material and information provided on this page is for your general education only. As with any medical condition and treatment, individual experiences will vary. The information presented in this video is for informational purposes only and does not replace the relationship and/or conversations that you have with your healthcare professional. We are not medical practitioners and do not practice medicine or provide medical services or advice as a part of this video. You should always consult your healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. 9512276 A