After years of debilitating back pain forced him to give up his active lifestyle, Tyler Stratman of Clinton, Illinois, finally found relief through a breakthrough minimally invasive spine surgery now available in Central Illinois. Stratman’s condition, a severe herniated disc, left him unable to run or even walk comfortably. Following a procedure performed by Dr. Sohail Syed at OSF HealthCare, Stratman experienced instant pain relief and rapid recovery—returning home just hours after surgery. The new endoscopic approach uses advanced cameras and tiny incisions, minimizing damage and shortening recovery time, offering new hope for those suffering from chronic spinal pain.
Stratman, an avid runner in Chicago, saw his daily routine dramatically disrupted by persistent back pain that began over two years ago. What started as minor discomfort soon escalated, forcing him to abandon running entirely. The pain became so severe that even simple activities, like walking to the coffee shop, resulted in muscle spasms and frequent stops for stretches. At just 33, Stratman felt a significant loss in his quality of life. Doctors finally diagnosed a severe herniated disc after an MRI. The pain often left him unable to sleep, relying on late-night treadmill walks for brief relief.
“Even walking down the street to get Starbucks, my whole entire body would just kind of charley horse. I would have to stop in between blocks and kind of do hamstring stretches and things like that. And you know I was only 33 years old. And so, it was a huge, huge part of my life taken away.”.
“I don’t think I slept for probably four to five days,” Stratman explains. “I would have to go out in the middle of the night. We have a treadmill and I would have to go out at like three or four in the morning to walk just to relieve something – just so I wouldn’t feel pain.”
Patients suffering from persistent spine pain now have a promising treatment option at OSF HealthCare’s Illinois Neurological Institute Spine Institute. The hospital has introduced minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery, a technique set in motion by Dr. Sohail Syed in June 2024. Using a tiny camera and specialized instruments, surgeons can now address spinal conditions with less tissue disruption. This innovative approach generally avoids large incisions and minimizes the removal of bone or nerve manipulation. Since its launch, Dr. Syed has already completed 50 procedures, positioning OSF as a leading provider with nearly 1,000 spine surgeries performed each year.
A cutting-edge approach is transforming the way spinal surgery is performed, with endoscopic techniques allowing physicians to access herniated discs with minimal disruption to the body. For patient Stratman, years of debilitating pain led him to consider this less invasive method, which eliminates the need to remove bone or muscle tissue. According to Dr. Syed, Stratman’s unique case—combined with his proactive attitude—made him an ideal candidate. The procedure, conducted through a small incision while Stratman was partially awake, resulted in rapid relief. This medical advancement demonstrates significant progress in patient recovery and overall outcomes.
“Rather than going through all that, you can sneak underneath the nerve. And the endoscopic camera has an angle on it so it lets you look around the corner and work in the natural hole that exists in the spine without removing any bone or tissue and go right to the disc, remove the disc that’s pushing on the nerve or the bone spur and be in and out just using a one to two centimeter incision.”
“He was a great candidate for endoscopic spine surgery because of the type of disc herniation he had, the location, his age and his attitude,” Dr. Syed emphasizes, “He was really willing to do the work required after to get the best benefit from the surgery.”
A newly available, less invasive spine surgery is offering relief to patients like Stratman, who describes an immediate lifting of long-standing pain following his procedure at OSF HealthCare. Back home just seven hours after surgery, he now enjoys improved mobility and quality of life. Dr. Syed, who operated, cautions that recovery can take months, particularly for older adults, as nerves and muscles need time to heal. Stratman has adapted his activities, opting for strength training over running while emphasizing persistence and trust in one’s care team. The procedure remains an option for those seeking local, innovative treatment.
“It was an instant relief. The kind of like nugget charley horse I just felt like I had in my back for those years – it was just gone. I didn’t feel it anymore,” he explains.
“While the nerve is being hurt, so is the muscle, so is the skin and for all of that to recover, it can take time – especially for older patients. So, if you wake up feeling great, that’s awesome. But if you don’t, give it at least three months.”
“I’m better than I’ve ever been. I feel stronger than I ever have. My mobility is better than it ever has been. I feel more flexible and [I’m] sleeping fantastic.”
For additional details on these innovative treatments and how they may benefit you or a loved one, information is now available through OSF HealthCare’s online resources.