After years of chronic pain stripped away his active lifestyle, 36-year-old Tyler Stratman of Clinton, Illinois, says he has finally reclaimed his life thanks to a specialized spine procedure now available in Central Illinois.

Stratman, who once ran several miles a day while living in Chicago, says his life changed dramatically when persistent back pain began about two and a half years ago. What started as discomfort escalated into debilitating immobility.

Active lifestyle disrupted by chronic back pain

The pain prompted Stratman to completely stop his habit of running four to five miles a day.

“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.”

An MRI eventually revealed a severe herniated disc in his lower spine. At its peak, Stratman describes unbearable pain and sleepless nights.

 “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.” 

Minimally invasive spine surgery offers new option in Central Illinois

After exhausting non-surgical options including physical therapy, steroid injections and chiropractic care, Stratman was referred to neurosurgeon Sohail Syed, MD, who specializes in minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery.

Spine surgeons at OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute (OSF INI) Spine Institute perform approximately 1,000 spine surgeries each year, more than any other hospital system in the area and is the second largest program in Illinois. OSF HealthCare began using new minimally invasive spine surgery technology in June 2024, expanding treatment options for patients with certain spinal conditions. Since then, fellowship-trained spine surgeon Dr. Syed has performed 50 non-invasive spine surgeries using this advanced approach.

The endoscopic approach uses a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through a narrow pathway, avoiding the need for large incisions or significant tissue disruption.

Dr. Syed notes that in traditional spine surgery, surgeons often must remove bone and move a nerve aside to reach the problem area – steps the endoscopic technique can often minimize or avoid.

Endoscopic spine surgery reduces damage and recovery time

“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.” 

Dr. Syed emphasizes that surgery is typically a last resort after conservative treatments fail but says Stratman was an ideal candidate due to both his condition and mindset.

“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.” 

For the surgery he underwent at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Illinois, Stratman ultimately chose the less invasive option that allowed surgeons to access his spine through a natural pathway while he remained partially awake. Though initially daunting, he says the decision became clear after years of suffering.

It offered him hope and following a two-and-a-half-hour procedure, the results were almost immediate.

Finding immediate relief

“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. 

Stratman was also relieved he didn’t have to travel to St. Louis or Chicago for the innovative surgical approach. He was back home the same day – seven hours after his surgery.

Dr. Syed notes that while some people experience immediate improvement, recovery timelines can vary depending on the severity and duration of nerve compression.

Surgery removes whatever’s causing an injury, but Dr. Syed reminds people the procedure doesn’t repair injury.

The body has to heal on its own, and that can take time. For some older patients, Dr. Syed cautions it could mean a few months before they feel significantly better.

“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.” 

Now several months post-surgery, Stratman says he feels stronger and more mobile than ever.

“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.” 

Stratman is not ready to start running again. Instead, he has adapted his routine with other forms of exercise, such as strength training and fast walking. He remains focused on long-term health.

For others facing similar decisions, both Stratman and Dr. Syed stress the importance of persistence, trust and informed care.

And for Dr. Syed, the ultimate goal is simple: meaningful improvement in patients’ lives.  You can learn more here about non-invasive spine surgery available through OSF HealthCare.

Tyle Stratman who underwent non-invasive spine surgery

Dr. Sohail Syed, neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery

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Jason Bill, MD, an interventional gastroenterologist with OSF HealthCare, offers an endoscopic bariatric procedure called endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty that helps patients jump-start long-term weight loss without surgery.

This procedure is part of the OSF bariatric program, in collaboration with OSF Mission Partners at the RiverPlex Weight Management Clinic in downtown Peoria, providing patients with both medical treatment and long-term lifestyle support.

A middle-ground weight loss option

Endoscopic bariatric procedures are non-surgical and minimally invasive, making them an attractive option for patients who want more than medication but are not ready for, or do not qualify for, traditional bariatric surgery.

Dr. Bill describes the procedure as a long-term weight loss option, designed to help patients build sustainable habits rather than relying on short-term fixes.

How the procedure works

While the procedure is non-surgical, it is still performed under general anesthesia. Patients are treated in an outpatient setting and typically go home one to two hours after their procedure.

“It’s similar to any diagnostic camera test that GI doctors do every day,” Dr. Bill says. “We take a flexible tube, go down the mouth and into the stomach. Using a suturing device, we place six to eight sutures and tighten them to shrink the stomach by about 70%.”

By reducing the stomach’s size, patients feel full sooner, a concept known as early satiety, which helps reduce portion sizes and calorie intake.

Who is a good candidate?

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 50 are generally strong candidates for this procedure. BMI can be calculated when you divide your weight by the square of your height.

“The patients who tend to be most successful are still fairly active and fall in the BMI range of 30 to 40,” Dr. Bill adds. “They’re motivated, they’ve tried diet and exercise, but they just can’t get over that hump. This can be a great starting point.”

What recovery looks like

Recovery is typically smooth and straightforward. Mild abdominal discomfort and nausea are common for the first 72 hours, but symptoms after that are rare.

For the first six weeks, patients follow a restrictive diet, gradually transitioning to a calorie-controlled plan designed to support steady weight loss. This will look different for each individual patient, but talking it over with your OSF care team is a great start.

More Than Just Weight Loss

While patients can expect to lose approximately 15-20% of their total body weight, Dr. Bill emphasizes that the benefits go far beyond the number on the scale.

“We see improvement or reversal of diabetes, a decrease in sleep apnea and significant benefits for liver health,” he says. “For patients with fatty liver disease, we often see reversal as weight comes off.”

“In many cases, these outcomes are even more important than the weight loss itself.”

An option for those who struggle with weight loss medications

This procedure may also be a good alternative for patients who don’t tolerate weight loss medications, such as GLP-1s, very well.

“Weight loss medications have been incredibly helpful for some people,” Dr. Bill says. “But there are still big questions: What’s the endpoint? Do you take them forever? Is weight regained once you stop? We don’t yet have long-term data comparing all these methods.”

Support before and after the procedure

Weight loss doesn’t stop when the procedure is over. Before moving forward, patients meet with the Riverplex team. This includes educational classes, nutrition counseling and follow-up visits after the procedure.

Patients work closely with dietitians and nutritionists to understand what foods to prioritize, how many calories to consume and how to build habits that lead to lasting success.

A focus on long-term health

With obesity continuing to be a major health concern nationwide, Dr. Bill believes it must be treated seriously and proactively. Focusing on a well-balanced diet while living an active lifestyle are key.

For patients looking to make meaningful change this New Year, endoscopic bariatric procedures offer a powerful, supportive path forward; one that combines medical innovation with long-term guidance every step of the way.

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We’re in a time right now that Jason Bill, MD, an interventional gastroenterologist with OSF HealthCare calls an “obesity epidemic.”

Data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) would back up that claim, stating that more than 100 million adults in the U.S. are obese. The prevalence of obesity increased over 11% when comparing statistics gathered from 1999-2000 to statistics from 2017-March 2020. In the earlier timeframe, obesity prevalence was 30.5%. The latest data showed obesity skyrocketed to 41.9%.

Tis the reason for countless “magical” weight loss drugs popping up on commercials, food-prep companies offering specials and zero-calorie drinks lining store shelves. But there’s no real sign of promise yet that America’s obesity problem is slowing down. This leaves many frustrated by the never-ending struggle of trying to eat healthily while working out, and not seeing any progress.

If you’re in that demographic, you’re not alone, and there may be a newer option to consider.

Introducing endoscopic bariatric procedures

In the last six to 12 months, Dr. Bill and his team at OSF HealthCare have started performing endoscopic bariatric procedures, a minimally invasive option to help patients lose weight. 

Dr. Bill says this option is perfect for those who either don’t qualify for bariatric surgery or for those who qualify but just do not want to undergo surgical intervention. His team is able to offer two different procedures:  Endoscopic Sleeve gastroplasty and trans-oral outlet reduction. 

"I think the patients that do the best are patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30-40 motivated and active, but just not getting to where they want to go with their standard diet and exercise,” Dr. Bill says. "We do everything through the mouth with our endoscopes. We take a camera to the stomach and use an endoscopic device that goes on the tip of the endoscope to run sutures and decrease the volume of the stomach. These are restrictive procedures, with the sleeve gastroplasty we are reducing the volume of the stomach by about 70 percent." 

Another option Dr. Bill’s team offers is called outlet reduction.

“It’s been really nice for patients who have had bariatric surgery and now are a few years out, but they start noticing they feel hungry or are gaining weight," Dr. Bill says. "We use that same suturing device and narrow down that prior opening that has stretched out over time." 

Minimally invasive means minimal recovery time. Patients go under general anesthesia, undergo the procedure, and then go home the same day. Dr. Bill says side effects are minimal as well. You might have some nausea and stomach discomfort for two to three days. However, the symptoms after the outlet reduction are even less severe, leaving patients energized and ready to get back on their weight loss journey.

How could endoscopic bariatrics and weight loss medicine connect?

"I think they should be used together. I think patients who will do best are those that undergo either surgical or endoscopic weight loss procedures initially.  Then, during their follow up consider starting a medication such as Mounjaro or Wegovy that can result in more robust weight loss,” Dr. Bill says. 

‘Take the lifestyle change head on’

The endoscopic weight loss procedure isn’t a get-out-of-jail free card to return to poor eating habits. It’s also not an excuse to cancel that gym membership or give up on daily exercise.

"The follow up after the procedure is probably as important, if not more important than the procedure itself. The procedure is likely to be successful, because your team is highly skilled, but the rest of the success is built on the patient’s motivation, diet, and exercise since it's a lifestyle change. They have to take that head on otherwise the procedure is not going to work,” Dr. Bill says.

These procedures are generally covered by Medicare and Medicaid. However, it’s hit or miss right now with other commercial payers. Dr. Bill’s team collaborates with the weight loss management team at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria to get patients prepared for a procedure, and you’ll always know ahead of time whether insurance will cover your procedure.

If an endoscopic bariatric procedure sounds like something that would benefit you, you can call OSF Medical Group – Gastroenterology at 309-308-5900.

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The endoscopic spine surgery is the latest minimally invasive surgery offered at OSF, where surgeons use tiny incisions and specialized cameras to visualize and treat a variety of routine and complex spine problems with extreme precision. This is all done while minimizing injury to healthy tissue.

“Part of the beauty of endoscopic spine surgery is that it doesn’t injure any of the natural muscle or bone. It makes recovery much faster and easier for the patient. A lot of patients will come in that morning and be home by noon. The goal is to do same-day surgery and have you back home, playing with your kids, back to work, and back to normal life faster,” says Max Kahn, MD, a spinal and neurosurgeon with OSF HealthCare.

Dr. Kahn and his colleague Sohail Syed, MD, are both fellowship trained in the technique, and have both been performing endoscopic spine surgeries at OSF since April 2024. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) calls the procedure a “safe, effective and efficient alternative for minimally invasive spine surgery.” Eligible patients might be dealing with spinal deformities, herniated discs, spinal stenosis or other spinal issues.

While many people probably have had an achy back at some point, there are two red flags Dr. Kahn looks for when considering endoscopic spine surgery.

“The symptom that catches my attention the most is severe leg pain. After that, it’s severe leg pain with back pain. Back pain alone is challenging because there are a lot of reasons someone can have back pain,” Dr. Kahn says. “You mow the lawn too hard, you shovel too much snow, there are a lot of reasons someone can have back pain. But leg pain or leg pain plus back pain can frequently help us narrow down where exactly on the spine the problem is happening. We can confirm that with MRI, then set you up with an endoscopic surgery.”

Typically, spinal surgeries can come with a long recovery time at an average of 6-12 weeks. Even after that, Dr. Kahn says, you still might not be back to 100%. With the endoscopic spine surgery, Dr. Kahn says recovery time goes down drastically.

“People find that with the smaller surgeries and the smaller incisions, along with minimal blood loss that can be just a drop or two, which is possible with the endoscope, that they’re feeling themselves by two weeks or four weeks maximum. They’re also able to get back to work much faster than they normally would be,” Dr. Kahn says.

Dr. Kahn says he and his team will still work with you on different options first, if they think there are non-surgical treatments that could prove beneficial.

“We do physical therapy or epidural steroid injections to try first. Once a patient knows those therapies aren’t helping, we go to this,” Dr. Kahn says.

Dr. Kahn thinks the future is bright for endoscopic spine surgeries. He says the technology will eventually expand to treat other deadly diseases.

“A very exciting application for this one day will be spinal oncology. Those are colossally huge surgeries that take months to get back to your normal life. That’s on top of things like chemotherapy and radiation, which can make recovery even harder,” Dr. Kahn says. “I think this technology with the minimal incisions and the great view you get of the problem is going to be a fantastic use of this technology for a cancer patient.”

If you believe endoscopic spine surgery is an option for you, contact Dr. Kahn or Dr. Syed at OSF by calling (309) 624-4000.

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