KERNERSVILLE N.C. – Norris Greenlee is a retired photographer and veteran. After 50 years of photography and traveling around the world, Greenlee found himself unable to do what he loved because of back pain.
- Norris Greenlee had bone spurs on his spine that constricted his nerves from his back down to his legs.
- Dr. Michaux Kilpatrick at Novant Health in Kernersville showed him a quick procedure that would give him his life back.
- The procedure only takes a few weeks to heal and patients do not have to see the inside of a hospital.
Greenlee was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. He fell in love with photography and with a little help from his roommate; he blossomed into a full blown professional photographer.
After working in the Army’s photography unit, Greenlee eventually opened his own studio in Thomasville.
However, after years of toting around heavy camera equipment, his body began to show signs of wear and tear.
Greenlee began developing bone spurs on his spine, constricting the nerves from his back down to his legs.
Greenlee was left unable to stand up straight.
That was until he met Dr. Michaux Kilpatrick at Novant Health’s Brain and Spine Surgery Center in Kernersville.
She told Greenlee about a procedure that was quick and could relieve his back pain.
Basically, doctors go in and drill away the bone in and around the nerve to open up more room for the nerves.
While this procedure sounds invasive, patients like Greenlee never saw the inside of the hospital and only took a few weeks to heal.
The procedure only took about two hours.
Greenlee looks forward to spending time with his grandkids and continuing to travel the world.