Southcoast Health Brain & Spine Puts Westport Mom Back on Her Feet

Monica Matos had experienced soreness and stiffness in her lower back “off and on” since she was pregnant with her daughter. 

“She was a very big baby, and I’m only 4 feet 10 inches,” said Matos, who lives in Westport with her family. 

“Everyone said I was too young to have back issues,” she said, and when it “ached or seized up,” she managed the discomfort with muscle relaxants. Then last summer things changed. She was on her way home from her job at an insurance agency in Fall River when she began experiencing sharp, stabbing pains in her back that radiated down her legs. 

“It took my breath away,” she said. 

She went for a therapeutic massage, but the pain had become so intense that she found that she could not walk or drive. She went to the Emergency Department at Charlton Memorial Hospital and waited in the waiting room. 

“When they finally called me, I couldn’t get up,” she said. “They put me in a wheelchair because I was in such agonizing pain.” 

She was then referred to Southcoast Health Brain & Spine, where she was sent for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to allow doctors to get a better look at the bones and muscles in her lower back. The MRI showed that she had a herniated disk on the L5 vertebrae, and Southcoast Health Neurosurgery physician assistant Aaron Novy sent her to the Southcoast Health Surgery Center in Dartmouth for a cortisone shot in an effort to provide relief. 

“Unfortunately, that didn’t work. There was no relief,” she said. Luckily for Monica she was a candidate for a cutting-edge surgical technique recently brought to Southcoast Health by neurosurgeon Richard Dowd, MD.  

Over the Past 10-15 years there have been breakthroughs in spinal surgeries, one of which being the endoscopic discectomy. The procedure involves working with a small camera to remove areas of nerve compression through extremely small incisions and helps patients make a quicker recovery all without staying overnight in the hospital.  

“Endoscopic surgery has really transformed how we treat certain spinal conditions. Instead of large incision and long recoveries, we can now perform targeted, ultra minimally invasive procedures that take place in under an hour without general anesthesia. For many patients, it offers lasting relief without the need for spinal fusion, bridging the gap between pain management and more invasive surgeries,” Dr. Dowd remarked.  

Based out of Tobey Hospital in Wareham, MA the endoscopic team consists of Richard Dowd, MD, Jessica Keough, NP, Erin Noonan, NP, Aaron Novy, PA, and Matthew Viglianti, PA. Southcoast Health has been providing endoscopic spine surgeries since October of 2024 and have performed over 20 procedures to date, Monica’s being one of them. 

“Dr. Dowd explained all the issues and answered all my questions,” Monica said, noting Dr. Dowd and the team made her feel confident and at ease going into the procedure. 

Monica’s surgery went well — Dr. Dowd removed a part of the disk at the L5 vertebrae, and she was able to return home the same day. Monica noted that she was already feeling some relief, as she was able to walk herself to the car and sit on the way home.  

“The whole staff was wonderful, so caring,” she said. “As I was recovering, the staff at Southcoast Health Brain & Spine were very responsive and helpful. When I called with a question, they would call me back the same day or the next morning. When I went to my follow-up exam, I could do anything and everything I wanted.”  

Monica was able to return to work just three weeks after the procedure and required no follow-up physical therapy.  

“I’m happy to be back to normalcy. Just walking and sitting, you don’t realize how much you take those things for granted until you can’t do them,” she said. 

“Stories like Monica’s are exactly why we do what we do,” said Dr. Dowd. “If you’re struggling with back or neck pain and wondering if there’s a better option, schedule an appointment to see us. Whether it’s with me or one of our experienced PAs or NPs, we’ll take the time to understand your symptoms, and talk through whether this ultra minimally invasive procedure could be right for you. In many cases, it can mean avoiding major surgery and getting back to your life faster. It all starts with a conversation.”  

For more information on Southcoast Health Brain & Spine Center, visit Servicios cerebrales y de columna vertebral de Southcoast Health.