×

Hospitals & Locations

Chances are we’re in your own backyard—or pretty close to it. From Ardmore and Bryn Mawr to West Chester and Wynnewood, find a location that’s convenient for you.


Our Specialties

What services are you looking for? At Main Line Health we have physicians and staff across more than 150 specialties and services. Just start typing to find what you need.


Conditions & Treatments

Get information about more than 750 specific types of illness, injury and disease to help you understand the different kinds of treatment options and find the right doctor or service for your needs.


Patient Services

Schedule doctor, imaging and lab appointments, pay your bill, request copies of medical records, and find out more about support available to patients and families.


Main Line Health Main Line Health

Patient Spotlights

Back to Patient Spotlights

Spine surgery is new beginning for fitness instructor

Patient Spotlight September 13, 2016 By Main Line Health

Marisa Finnell
Marisa Finnell had always been active, until a herniated disk put her on the sidelines in 2008. After exhausting all the noninvasive options, she had her first surgery: a lumbar microdiscectomy at the L5-S1 level.

She recovered and was doing well for nearly four years when, suddenly, the stabbing leg pain was back. After researching her options and with the recommendation of friend, she decided to go to Rothman.

In the spring of 2012, she met with Dr. Jeffrey Rihn at Rothman Institute at Riddle Hospital, where an MRI confirmed she had reherniated the same disc.

“Dr. Rihn was very compassionate when he explained my options. He even told me that he was on call that weekend so if I couldn’t wait for my date, I could go into the ER and he would operate on me then,” says Finnell.

She was able to wait until her scheduled date and Dr. Rihn performed her second surgery, another lumbar microdiscectomy at the the L5-S1 level. She was hopeful this would be it, but only three weeks after surgery—the leg pain was back. When another MRI revealed the same disc had again reherniated, she was ready to be done with it.

“Dr. Rihn agreed with me that a spinal fusion at the L5-S1 level was a good choice for me given the circumstances,” recalls Finnell.

One week later, she received her third spine surgery: a lumbar spinal fusion.

While the surgery was successful, Finnell had accumulated scar tissue that still caused her pain. She consulted with Dr. Jeremy Simon at Rothman about her options. After careful consideration, he performed a procedure in which hyaluronic acid and cortisone were injected into her spine at the site of the scar tissue to try and break it up. It was a success and her pain has gone away completely.

Since then, Finnell has gotten into fitness full-time, becoming a nationally certified group exercise instructor who teaches indoor cycling, boot camp, and weight lifting classes.

“I can honestly say that I’m stronger now than I was in my twenties,” she says. “Thank you to Dr. Rihn and the Rothman Institute at Riddle Hospital for never limiting my recovery potential.”

From evaluation and treatment through recovery and rehabilitation, Main Line Health’s orthopaedic professionals are committed to providing the best possible care.