When Elise Howes wrote “Ironman” on the whiteboard in her hospital room at AdventHealth Avista, it became a personal commitment to regain her strength after lumbar fusion surgery. A dedicated endurance athlete, Elise was determined to return to her active lifestyle despite years of back pain.
Her journey with endurance sports began in 2000 after a friend encouraged her to try a triathlon. “A friend talked me into doing a small triathlon in 2000, and the bug bit me,” she said. “I went from being slow at short distances to being slow at long distances. I’m not a natural athlete, but I loved the discipline of training and the rush of crossing the finish line.”
By 2010, Elise began experiencing lower back pain. While spinal injections provided temporary relief, the pain worsened by 2020. “Searing pain down the back of my leg, all the time,” Elise recalled. “Either I live with a lot of pain every day and stop doing the things I love, or I get surgery.”
She decided to undergo lumbar fusion surgery with Dr. Sharad Rajpal at AdventHealth Avista in 2022. Dr. Rajpal explained, “She had spondylolisthesis, where one vertebra slipped forward, compressing her spinal canal and nerves. Our goals were to decompress the nerves and stabilize the spine. With spinal robotics, we’re able to perform surgery with greater precision and smaller incisions, which means faster recovery.”
Elise described her recovery as unexpectedly smooth. “I was up and walking the same day,” she said. “I was shocked at how low the pain was. I used a walker for five days, then it became a spot to hang shirts and pants on. Kind of like a good treadmill, right?!”
She credited her care team for their support: “Jen Tierany showed me my scans and answered every question. Bianca helped me navigate testing. My nurses, Mary and Renee, kept me comfortable, and Golden, my CNA angel, was there in the night with ice and water. Seeing the operating room before surgery was amazing – such a cool, professional setup.”
Elise trusted her physical therapists and gradually resumed activity. “I knew I couldn’t run for a year, so I didn’t. But I could swim, bike, and lift, and I did. I regained everything. It was wild.”
She cited exercise as key to her well-being: “Exercise is my go-to drug,” she said. “It helps me manage stress, sleep well, keep emotions in check – and lets me eat sweets, my absolute downfall!”
Training after surgery came with challenges. “The last blocks before a race are tough – mentally and physically. I don’t bounce back as fast in my 60s as I did in my 40s. But I built in little treats: beautiful places to run, naps, nice dinners, Payday bars with apples on rides (like caramel apples!).”
Crossing the finish line at a half Ironman marked a significant achievement for Elise. “It’s always a relief and a huge sense of accomplishment,” she said. “The race is a big, long catered training event with thousands of people. It’s a total mind game of counting steps, singing, praying, guessing people’s jobs, saving the best gel for the top of the hill. It’s conquering minutes, not miles.”
Dr. Rajpal noted, “We want patients to be better than they were before surgery. Elise’s success reinforces that we’re helping people get their lives back.”
Elise’s outlook on health has changed over time: “I try to enjoy what I have today, life has zero promises. I’ve learned I can put up with a lot. Mental state is huge. Things change – a breeze, a kind word, a downhill stretch. None of it lasts forever.”
She encourages others to focus on their own progress: “Embrace what you CAN do. Comparison is the robber of joy. I’ve never been a podium finisher, but I show up and do my best. That works for life too. Everyone has something going on, and they deserve kudos for showing up.”
Looking ahead, Elise plans to participate in the Denver Century Ride in 2026 and is considering other challenges such as biking across Canada or trying new activities.
AdventHealth Orlando, located in Orlando, Florida, was founded in 1908 and is led by President Terry Shaw. The hospital features a pediatric ward and serves as a training hospital.
