“I Can Stand as Straight as I Ever Have” How East Jefferson General Hospital Helped Toreian Reclaim Her Strength

Every person’s journey with scoliosis is different. For Toreian Manson, 26, the path has been long and challenging. One year after undergoing her most complex spinal surgery at East Jefferson General Hospital, she is moving forward with hope—and standing just a little straighter. 

Toreian was born with scoliosis. Around age 10, while in the fifth grade, she began falling frequently and leaning to one side. A school screening led to her diagnosis and her first corrective spinal surgery.  

Over the next decade, her spine would endure two additional surgeries: 
 

• At age 13, a hard fall broke a surgical screw, requiring a second operation. 

• At age 15, while in high school, she was trampled in a crowd, leading to another spinal surgery in 2017. 

Amid repeated surgeries, Toreian navigated life with constant pain, physical limitations and emotional fatigue. “They used to call me ‘broke back’ and ‘train track,’” she said. “I grew up being OK with not being included in things. I couldn’t have a regular childhood. I couldn’t participate in sports. I was already struggling physically.” 

The emotional toll was just as heavy. Toreian is a twin, and watching her sister live without the same physical challenges sometimes deepened her sense of isolation. “It was hard because she got to do everything I couldn’t do,” she said. “I was a little envious—but not of her. I just envy anyone who has a straight back. It wasn’t a bad kind of envy. I just wanted to feel normal too.” 

She remembers feeling like her condition affected her entire family. “At some point, everyone had to do something for me,” she said. “Sometimes it felt like my twin was mad that I was getting attention, but it wasn’t the attention I wanted. It was because I was sick and stuck.” 

As the years went on, the constant pain began to wear on her mental health. “Once the pain became too much, it didn’t make sense to do anything or even try,” Toreian shared. “I dealt with a lot of depression around it too. I didn’t even want to complain about it because I thought everyone else was tired of me talking about my pain. Even I was tired of talking about my pain.” 

In December 2023, a car accident further damaged her spine, breaking more screws and causing intense pain. She was on her way to work early that morning, stopped in rush hour traffic, when another vehicle slammed into the back of her car at full speed, pushing her into the car in front of her.  

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said. “The impact was so hard that it broke more of the hardware in my back, and from that moment, I knew something wasn’t right.” 

The crash left her in constant pain and limited her ability to walk or sit comfortably. “I could barely move without feeling it everywhere,” Toreian recalled. “It was like the pain was living in my body.”  

A Referral That Changed Everything 
Her previous surgeon in Houston reviewed her scans and recognized that her condition would require a more advanced level of reconstruction. She was referred to Sassan Keshavarzi, MD, a neurosurgeon, for evaluation at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana. 
 

“When I first met Dr. Keshavarzi, he was really straight to the point, and I appreciated that,” she recalled. “His nurse, Molly, told me honestly and truthfully that he was one of the best. Her confidence in him—and the family-oriented atmosphere they created—is what sold me. I felt like I finally had a doctor who was truly trying to help me.” 
 

After an extensive evaluation, including assessments of her pelvis and bladder function, the team scheduled her fourth surgery for October 8, 2024. 

Two-Part Surgery and a Challenging Road to Recovery 

Toreian’s surgery was performed in two stages. The first surgery lasted about 8–10 hours, and the second procedure was of similar length. 

The complexity of the procedure was heightened by the fact that Toreian’s three prior spinal surgeries had been performed by three different surgical teams. As a result, she had multiple broken screws from different manufacturers—some of which were no longer available—as well as extensive scar tissue from her previous operations. In addition, nerves had become wrapped around some of the existing cages and screws, requiring meticulous dissection to safely free the nerves. 

By carefully addressing these issues and decompressing the affected nerves, the surgical team was able to significantly improve Toreian’s leg strength and overall neurological function. 

Recovery was grueling. Toreian could not dress herself or even put on socks. As nerve function began to return, her left leg became painful, but at the same time, her previously weak ankle grew stronger and she experienced a substantial increase in overall strength. “I think I only really cried because my leg was hurting so bad,” she said. “When they woke my nerves, there would be sharp pain throughout my whole body.” 

She also discovered she was allergic to morphine, which complicated pain management. Over nearly a month in the hospital, her condition slowly improved, though mobility and independence returned only gradually. Support from her mother, nurses, friends who visited with her PlayStation, and her own determination helped carry her through recovery. 

Today: Strength, Pain, and Promise 

Now, one year later, Toreian is still healing. “I can stand up substantially straighter than I ever have in my life,” she said. She continues to experience some discomfort, particularly in her pelvis, and occasionally has disrupted sleep due to pain. Even so, she is walking, attending physical therapy, and doing far more than she was able to before. 

She has also returned to her passions: being a hair stylist, working with children with autism, and resuming her studies in psychology. “I eventually want to travel, walk the mall, go to the zoo, and not be the one who holds everybody back,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the freedom to move my legs more.” 

Most recently, Toreian required another revision surgery. About a month ago, Dr. Keshavarzi performed the procedure, using more advanced hardware designed to provide stronger support and promote bone healing. This surgery took significantly less time—approximately five hours—and Toreian was able to leave the hospital quickly and continues to heal at a rapid pace. 

“The important thing is that we continue to follow our patients closely and address any issues that arise,” Dr. Keshavarzi said. “These are complex cases, and long-term care is essential to achieving the best possible outcome.” 

Toreian offers special thanks to the medical team for giving her something positive to look forward to. “I think Dr. Keshavarzi is a great surgeon. He studied my case for weeks to make sure I had all the information and knew what to expect. He really takes the time to study his cases. And I was really grateful for the nurses for putting up with me. I know I was a hassle.” 

Advanced Neurological Spine Care at East Jefferson General Hospital 

East Jefferson General Hospital provides advanced neurosurgical spine care for patients with complex spinal conditions, including severe scoliosis and spinal deformities. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, scoliosis affects an estimated 6 to 9 million people in the United States, many of whom require ongoing monitoring or surgical intervention to preserve mobility and prevent progression of spinal curvature. 

Neurosurgical spine specialists at East Jefferson offer advanced imaging, complex spinal reconstruction techniques and comprehensive rehabilitation support. Patients with prior surgeries, hardware complications or nerve involvement require highly individualized surgical planning and long-term follow-up. Dr. Keshavarzi and the neurosurgical spine team specialize in managing these complex cases—continuing care even after surgery to address complications and support healing as recovery evolves. 

To learn more about Neurological Spine Care at East Jefferson General Hospital or to schedule an appointment, visit Brain and Spine Care Metairie, LA | East Jefferson Neurology