“I’m a 60-year-old male who has lived a very active life. Some of my favorite activities include football, basketball, baseball, softball, motocross, trail riding, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, and skiing.. I’ve also been a member of Gold’s Gym in Venice since 1983, and I typically work out 10–12 times per week.

Over the years, I’ve had my share of sports injuries. About 4–5 years ago, I started experiencing lower back discomfort. That led me down the path of acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and Bikram yoga. While these helped somewhat, the pain gradually became more restrictive. Eventually, I had to stop participating in many of the activities I love. In the summer of 2024, I canceled a backpacking trip, and I could no longer perform many leg exercises at the gym, especially squat variations.

In January 2025, I attended an advanced ski camp but had to leave early due to severe lower back discomfort and nerve pain radiating down my legs. The following month, I had an MRI and consulted with a neurosurgeon at UCLA. He explained that the discs in my lower back had significantly degenerated, causing my vertebrae to compress the nerves. His recommendation was a fusion of L4, L5, and S1—a common solution for this condition.

Around that time, a close friend of mine—someone I’ve ridden mountain bikes with for years—had the same fusion procedure performed by that surgeon. Although he’s in great shape, his recovery was difficult, and the surgery significantly limited his mobility. That experience made me pause.

I then spent the next six months researching extensively while continuing acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. I consulted four additional surgeons (five total), all highly reputable doctors, and received five different surgical recommendations.

A friend’s wife referred me to Dr. Joel Beckett, and from the start, his approach stood out. Our first appointment lasted about 25 minutes—far longer than any other consultation. He clearly explained the degeneration in my spine and the source of my pain. After ordering additional imaging, we met again, and he recommended a three-level disc replacement. He explained that while fusion would work, disc replacement would better suit my lifestyle and allow me to maintain a higher level of activity.

I left that appointment and spent hours researching disc replacement—studies, videos, testimonials, and reviews. Everything I found confirmed that this was the best option for me. I felt like I only had one chance to get this right, so I wanted complete confidence in both the procedure and the surgeon. Ultimately, I chose Dr. Beckett.

It was one of the best medical decisions I’ve ever made.

My surgery was scheduled for October 9, 2025. On the day of the procedure, Dr. Beckett spent time with me and reassured me—I think he could tell I was a bit nervous. He wasn’t. In fact, he confidently told me the surgery would be a success. Dr. Beckett, his PA Brian Soto, and the entire medical team were outstanding.
The surgery went well, I decided to wait six months before writing this review to fully assess the results.

Now, at the six-month mark, here’s where I stand:
From the very beginning, the nerve pain was completely gone—not even 1% of what I had before. I followed my physical therapy program carefully and returned to the gym in January with limited activity. By late February 2026, I was back skiing—cautiously at first, but with confidence after a couple of days.

Today, I’m back in the gym at close to full capacity. I’m not lifting like I did in my thirties, but last week I squatted for the first time in 2.5 years—225 pounds for 12 reps—and it felt great. I’m progressing carefully.

I feel great. The pain is gone. There’s occasional mild discomfort, but it continues to improve and feels like part of the normal healing process. I can now bend over and place both palms flat on the floor—something that likely wouldn’t be possible with a fusion.

If you’re dealing with lower back pain, I strongly recommend making an appointment with Dr. Joel Beckett.