Nate Quarry - The Ultimate Fight by The Better Way Back

THE ULTIMATE

FIGHT

THE BACK PAIN THAT ENDED MY CAREER AND THE SURGERY THAT ALLOWED ME TO MAKE A COMEBACK

With MMA FIGHTER and XLIF速 patient

Nate Quarry

Nate Quarry Retired MMA Fighter XLIF速 Patient Ambassador The Better Way Back速

THE ULTIMATE FIGHT

“Fortitudine vincimus: BY ENDURANCE, WE CONQUER. ”

It’s the tattoo on my left arm. And they’re also the words I live by.

By Nate Quarry

I was an Ultimate Fighter. The Octagon™ was my office. But although I made my living fighting, I’m really a big softie. I’m a single father. The joy of my life is an incredibly intelligent, blue-eyed little girl who puts a smile on my face every day. “I love you, Daddy,” Ciera

“The joy of my life is an incredibly intelligent, blue-eyed little girl who puts a smile on my face every day.”

four. But it was a constant, grinding ache that would make me tired, irritable, and just plain miserable. If I didn’t keep taking my pain medications, I’d feel even worse. Each morning when I woke up, my

often yells to me when she watches me

back would be so stiff and so inflamed, I would get

spar in the gym, training for a fight. Those words

up like Frankenstein’s monster. I’d raise myself slowly

keep me going. “I love you, too,” I always answer.

out of bed and shuffle to the bathroom to wash up. I couldn’t even bend over to splash water on my face,

As you’d expect, pain is a reality in my sport—from

so I’d support myself with one hand on the sink, lower

training to competition. And I’ve experienced a lot of

myself, and then scoop water with the other hand.

it. I’ve had stitches, sprained wrists and ankles, broken noses, concussions, and even my right pectoral muscle

The pain escalated to a point where I couldn’t even pick

torn during a “friendly” practice. On a one to 10 scale

up my daughter. I remember telling Ciera, “I’m sorry,

of pain, that last injury was definitely a 10. By contrast,

sweetheart. I can’t lift you right now, but I’m going to

the pain that developed in my back was only about a

get this fixed. Give me a month or two, and everything Visit www.tbwb.org/join

will be fine again.” She’d look at me with those trusting eyes and say, “OK, Daddy—I’ll wait.”

“Suddenly, the ache in my heart was worse than the pain in my back.”

On top of the constant discomfort, I also had very little energy. I was reduced to watching her play instead of being able to chase her around. Suddenly, the ache in my heart was worse than the pain in my back. I knew my life had to change. I couldn’t go on like this any longer. So I made an appointment with a surgeon.

TAKING ACTION The doctor stepped into the exam room and said, “Nate, please let me see you walk toward the wall.” So I slid off the examination table as best as I could and hobbled across the room. The doctor shook his head and frowned. He then opened my file, studied several of my x-rays, and

“

THE PAIN ESCALATED TO A POINT WHERE I COULDN’T EVEN PICK UP MY DAUGHTER.”

jotted some notes. “Here’s the deal,” he said, finally looking up. “You already know that you have advanced degenerative disc disease, so you basically have two options. First, you could do nothing and over the course of the next 20 or 30 years, your vertebrae will slowly grow together on their own and fuse, but likely out of alignment. It will be quite a painful process, keep you from doing many of the things you like to do, and certainly keep you from ever fighting again.”

Visit www.tbwb.org/join

“

I KNEW MY LIFE HAD TO CHANGE. I COULDN’T GO ON LIKE THIS ANY LONGER.”

Finally, the doctor said, “The second option is to have surgery. If you choose option two, you might be able to return to your sport.” Didn’t he understand that this is my life he’s talking about? This is my career, my future! I paused for a moment and closed my eyes as the words slowly sunk in. This was it. This was the decision I knew in my heart was coming, and now it was here. I had finally arrived at a place of no return, a place where the biggest decision of my life had to be made. Looking up and taking a long, deep breath, I fixed my eyes on the surgeon and said, “Doc, I don’t have a choice. I can’t live this way anymore. I really want to continue my career and compete again—but I’m out of options. So let’s do it.” This is what my life has come to? I asked myself as I sat in the doctor’s office. I almost couldn’t believe it. What was I getting myself into? I hardly heard the surgeon and his assistant as they talked me through the details of the procedure they had planned. “The operation is going to be great,” they said optimistically. “We just completed a working seminar with a company that is pioneering a new approach to back surgery called XLIF®, which stands for eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion. It’s much less disruptive than traditional spine surgery because there is less cutting of the muscles and tissue surrounding the spine. You should be up and walking in no time.” Obviously, that sounded good. But I’m a “show-me” kind of guy.

“

I HAD FINALLY ARRIVED AT A PLACE OF NO RETURN, A PLACE WHERE THE BIGGEST DECISION OF MY LIFE HAD TO BE MADE.” Visit www.tbwb.org/join

“Doc, I don’t have a choice.

I CAN’T

LIVE THIS WAY ANYMORE. I really want to continue my career and compete again—but I’m out of options.

SO LET’S DO IT.”

COMPLETE

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY SUNDAY

THOUGHTS / CO

MMENTS

Walk to the mailbox Walk to the lamppost Walk to the street corn er Walk half a mile Walk a mile Climb Base Trail Climb Base Trail x2

BACK ON MY FEET The weeks sped by and before I knew it, I was at the hospital with medical staff prepping me for surgery. The nonstop questions and seemingly endless forms that I had to sign quickly faded into a jumbled blur. I was at the point of no return. “You’re in good hands,” a nurse said tenderly, as

NATE’S POST-OP GOALS

she wheeled me down a long hall that led to the operating room. Once the anesthesiologist worked his wonders, everything went to black. A few hours later, I was resting quietly in a hospital bed. The time waiting for my operation had passed quickly, and now even my surgery was finally behind me. The only thing left was my recovery, and I was ready to get started. I expected to spend the first few days “doing time,” allowing my body to heal. But, remarkably, a short 12 hours after surgery I was up and walking all over the hospital. Within just a few days, I was able to climb stairs. I almost couldn’t believe it. In the days and weeks right after my surgery, I set lots of little goals and went after every one with a passion. Each of those steps helped assist and speed up my recovery. As an athlete, I believe that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. For me, the worst thing I could have done was to be sedentary. It was essential that I work my muscles and get the blood flowing again. And that’s exactly what I did.

“

BEFORE SURGERY MY GOALS WERE SIMPLE, TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AGAIN AND TO RETURN TO LIVING MY DREAM AS A PROFESSIONAL MMA FIGHTER.”

My first goal was to walk down the hallway at the hotel where I was staying during my recovery. I made it halfway. Two days later, I made it all the way down the hall. My next goal was even more ambitious: walk down the hall and back—twice. Visit www.tbwb.org/join

“

IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS RIGHT AFTER MY SURGERY, I SET LOTS OF LITTLE GOALS AND WENT AFTER EVERY ONE WITH A PASSION.”

Just two weeks after my XLIF® procedure, I was doing

know the benefits will be rewarding and worth it.

a day-hike up Mount Charleston, near Las Vegas.

I was determined to reach my biggest goal of all:

It was a three-mile outing, and I felt like a man just

returning to The Octagon™. I wasn’t about to let

released from prison, with his whole life ahead of him. The best part of my XLIF procedure and quick recovery? Being able to pick up my daughter again. How lucky was I?

anything get in the way. And before I

“A short 12 hours after surgery I was up and walking all over the hospital.”

knew it, my body was in top condition again. Within 15 months after my operation, I was looking to complete my comeback by returning to The Octagon in Las Vegas. My opponent? An old adversary: Pete “Drago” Sell.

Within three months after having spine surgery, I was back in the gym training again. Can you believe it? I said training!

THE “IMPOSSIBLE” VICTORY

Understand this: any surgery involves pain and no operation is fun. I had some pain and discomfort at

On September 19, 2007, I returned to my sport

my incision site, but it was nothing compared to my

absolutely convinced that I would win again. Sell,

pain level before having the operation. It’s a lot like

on the other hand, claimed that he was going to

exercising. You accept that there will be soreness

“crush the Rock” and derail my comeback.

involved in a workout. But it’s temporary—and you

Unfortunately, most folks believed him.

“Quarry has been through the ringer during his tumultuous mixed martial arts career and still faces an uphill climb,” wrote one sports reporter. “He needs a miracle if he hopes to stay alive tonight,” said another. It had been nearly two years since I’d last stepped into The Octagon™. But that night I was back. I was the underdog for sure, but I was back in the ring in a highly publicized “comeback fight.” With the crowd roaring and cameras flashing, I psyched up for what I’d gone there to do: get my life back. My thoughts turned instantly to the person I fight for and I fixed my mind on the most perfect face I know—Ciera. If I don’t do what I have to do, if I don’t bring to this fight every ounce of heart that I have, I might not be able to provide for my little girl, I told myself. This will be the end of our dreams. If I can’t do this tonight, how will I ever be able to convince her to follow her hopes and become whatever she desires? Seconds later, my opponent and I were announced and the action began. I immediately threw a low-lying kick and Sell countered with a one-two to my head. My head cornerman groaned, “Here we go. This could be a long night!” For what felt like an eternity, we exchanged countless punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbows. He nailed me and I hit him back. We were both winded. When the second round started, I threw a lazy left jab. He countered with a straight right that found its home—my jaw! I crashed to the mat, temporarily stunned. I managed to get up, but later on in the same round, Sell threw a Superman Punch. That’s when a fighter jumps into the air and swings with a hard right hand. He hit me square in the head. But this time, instead of falling to the mat, something switched on inside me. I just stood there...grinning. Is that it? I asked myself. I’ve taken everything he’s thrown at me. If that’s all he has, I’m not going anywhere. And I’m certainly not going down! Visit www.tbwb.org/join

“It had been nearly

TWO YEARS since I’d last stepped into The Octagon™. But that night I was

BACK.”

Sell stared at me with a shocked expression that seemed to say, “What does it take to drop this guy?” Between rounds, I noticed something else about my opponent. During the first round, he had been jumping all over the place, moving constantly. But then he seemed to be slowing down. He wasn’t moving as much anymore. This is my moment, I told myself. I have to finish him—right now! As the bell rang to start the next round, I rushed toward him and connected with an overhand right thrown as hard as I could. It dropped him. Then I landed one more punch for good measure and knocked him out cold! It all happened so fast. The next thing I knew, the referee was jumping in to stop the fight. I won! It’s over! I’ve come back...all the way back!

PAYING IT FORWARD Many people found my return to The Octagon™ after surgery inspiring. I began to receive hundreds of emails and calls from people in pain or with loved ones who were suffering. Naturally, I wanted to help—and The Better Way Back® community gave me that opportunity to really pay it forward. Since 2007, I’ve been a Patient Ambassador for The Better Way Back program. I’m part of a small but growing army of more than 1,000 former patients who had successful XLIF® surgery and are now actively helping other patients considering or recovering from surgery. In my role, I have the opportunity to travel to the offices of surgeons around the country and meet their

Want help planning your own comeback? Contact The Better Way Back to speak to a Patient Ambassador: 1.800.745.7099 info@thebetterwayback.org

patients and their staff. I make sure the surgeons know about the latest technological developments in back surgery—in particular, the minimally disruptive procedure that got me back on my feet.

Every Monday morning, with a cup of coffee freshly brewed, I call surgical practices and ask the staff if they have any patients who might need some support or might benefit from talking with someone who

BY ENDURANCE, WE CONQUER

knows, firsthand, what they’re going through. With the

When I’m on the phone with a patient, I usually ask

go-ahead from the staff, I connect with those patients

about the activities they can’t do anymore because

or direct them to The Better Way Back , where they

of the pain. What is it that they miss the most? The

are paired with someone who shares their interests

answers run the gamut—from simply sleeping through

or participates in similar activities. I tell them about

the night, to gardening, playing with grandchildren,

my journey—from being unable to walk, to my XLIF

hitting a golf ball, or just going for a walk in the woods.

surgery, to my triumph in The Octagon . ™

But mostly I listen. I listen to them as they describe the pain, the depression, and the fear they are experiencing. They often feel completely alone, scared, uncertain about what to do, and even worthless. They feel like burdens to their families. They’ve heard nothing but horror stories

“Over the years, I’ve spent hundreds of hours on the phone with patients. I consider it a great honor to be welcomed into their lives and told their most personal stories.”

And after listening, I love asking them if they would also like to become an Ultimate cage fighter. They laugh. But I remind them that is exactly what I was able to do after my surgery. That seems to really sink in. Over the years, I’ve spent hundreds of hours on the phone with patients. I consider it a great honor to be welcomed into their lives and to be told their most

about back surgery and, as they share what

personal stories. When I check back with them weeks

they are going through, many of them burst

later, they share how glad they are that they had

into tears.

moved forward with the surgery. Their pain is gone or fading fast. Their depression is lifting.

Even the toughest people, including firemen and professional athletes, have great difficulty dealing with

There’s one phrase that I’ve heard so many times from

chronic pain. I vividly remember speaking with a man

patients, but it never ceases to touch me: “I have my

who works as a prison guard. Although he deals with

life back!”

dangerous inmates every day, he was never as scared as he was on the day of his surgery. “I’m terrified. Is that OK?” he asked me. I told him I understood completely and that I had also been terrified before my operation. After several minutes of two tough guys talking about their deepest fears, he told me that he was going to go ahead with the procedure. A few weeks later, I spoke with him again and he was doing great. “Best decision of my life,” he shared.

If you or a loved one has chronic back or leg pain, please feel free to contact me at nate@thebetterwayback.org. I would be honored to listen to your story, answer your questions, and, above all, make sure you never forget that there are solutions. And there is hope.

Fortitudine vincimus. Nate Quarry Lucky XLIF® Patient since June 14, 2006

“

I’M PART OF A SMALL BUT GROWING ARMY OF MORE THAN 1,000 FORMER PATIENTS WHO HAD SUCCESSFUL XLIF® SURGERY AND ARE NOW ACTIVELY HELPING OTHER PATIENTS.”

“

I MAKE SURE SURGEONS KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN BACK SURGERY.”

“

THERE’S ONE PHRASE THAT I’VE HEARD SO MANY TIMES FROM PATIENTS, BUT IT NEVER CEASES TO TOUCH ME: I HAVE MY LIFE BACK!”

“

THE BEST PART OF MY XLIF® PROCEDURE AND QUICK RECOVERY? BEING ABLE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AGAIN.”

ASK NATE Nate Quarry fought and won his battle against degenerative disc disease and chronic back pain. He’s available to answer your questions and help you develop your own action plan. Email Nate at nate@thebetterwayback.org or visit

www.tbwb.org/ask.

ABOUT THE BETTER WAY BACK® At The Better Way Back, we understand what it’s like to suffer from chronic back or leg pain. We’re a community that wants to help individuals overcome the fear and uncertainty of spine surgery. We know what it’s like to have your life slowly taken from you and how debilitating back pain can affect your ability to do things, and also rob you of hope. Fortunately, today there are new surgical options that were not available just a few years ago. In the hands of highly trained surgeons, patients are now getting rid of their pain, leaving the hospital sooner, and returning to the things they love much quicker. The Better Way Back connects patients considering surgery with those who have gone through it and are willing to share their experiences. Nate Quarry is one of those grateful patients whose life was given back to him and he wants to make sure everyone knows about the surgical options that are now available. Please visit The Better Way Back at www.TheBetterWayBack.org or call 1.800.745.7099.

The Better Way Back was developed and is funded by NuVasive®, Inc. Nate Quarry is a paid spokesman of NuVasive, Inc. The material and information provided in this book are for your general education only. As with any medical condition and treatment, individual experiences will vary. The information presented in this book is for informational purposes only and does not replace the relationship 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 book. You should always consult your healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

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