Wanda Ashby can’t imagine her life without movement. Whether she’s going to the gym, dancing in Zumba classes, doing strength training or swimming in her pool, the 72-year-old York resident loves to keep her body moving because she knows it’s good for her health.
But all of that changed in summer 2024 when Wanda climbed out of her pool and noticed a pain from both of her hips radiating down the back of her legs. Thinking nothing of it at first, she carried on with her usual activities, but the pain progressively got worse.
Wanda tried everything from physical therapy and chiropractic to over-the-counter pain medications, but nothing seemed to help. She continued her activities, but friends noted the discomfort on her face as she pushed through the pain. Wanda’s doctors recommended she consult a spine surgeon, and after some research, she sought care with Bryan Bolinger, D.O., UPMC Spine Care.
Over the course of seven months, Wanda met with nurse practitioner Yanxia Wang, who prescribed therapy and ordered spinal imaging. Wanda was then diagnosed with spinal stenosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis. Roughly one in 10 U.S. adults suffers from spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the gaps between the vertebrae that can put pressure on nerves and cause pain. Lumbar spondylolisthesis, which is more common in women than in men, happens when a vertebra in the lower spine slips forward over the one below it, causing pain, compression and instability.
When she eventually met with Dr. Bolinger, he offered Wanda two choices – continue managing her symptoms with pain medications, or undergo spine surgery, which he felt confident could help alleviate her symptoms.
“Dr. Bolinger was both a surgeon and a best friend,” Wanda recalled. “His bedside manner, detailed explanations and encouragement gave the boost I needed to move forward with the surgery.”
Wanda Zumbas again.
After nearly a year and a half of worsening pain, Wanda had spine surgery in November 2025 – and she noticed relief within hours of waking up in recovery. She remembers when Dr. Bolinger’s surgical assistant Kurstyn Derr, PA-C, and another staff member at UPMC West Shore got her out of bed for a walk. When she took those first steps, she noticed a life-changing difference.
“It was miraculous how immediate the relief was,” Wanda said. “I could tell the difference between the post-surgical discomfort and the pain I’d been used to feeling all those months and it was like that pain down the back of my legs was gone.”
Wanda’s recovery journey has included a back brace, physical therapy and lifestyle modifications. She carefully adhered to Dr. Bolinger’s ‘no BLTs’ rule: no bending, lifting or twisting.
After months of waiting, Wanda made her triumphant return to the gym for Zumba classes and weightlifting. She even traveled with her husband to the mountains of North Carolina and enjoyed beautiful hikes this spring — something she wasn’t sure was ever going to be possible for her again.
“Before my spine surgery, walking to my grandson’s baseball games or sightseeing while traveling was painful and made those experiences less enjoyable,” Wanda said. “Spine surgery took away all my pain and I’m looking forward to making pain-free memories with my family and friends again.”
Wanda shares her spine surgery journey in this story by WPMT-TV (York).
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