Beacon neurosurgeon’s swift action restored a Michigan man’s quality of life

For months, Ed McKeough had been living with a nagging soreness in his legs, the kind that felt like he had simply overdone a workout.

But the pain didn’t go away. It got worse.

By the time he and his wife, Sue, arrived in Florida for what was supposed to be a restorative getaway, Ed could barely walk. He couldn’t cross a room without leaning on furniture or Sue for support, and even turning over in bed had become excruciating.

“It really compromised his physical health and emotionally, too,” Sue said. “We both knew something was seriously wrong.”

When something doesn’t add up

An active swimmer, cyclist and regular gym goer, Ed first noticed the discomfort during a routine primary care visit in September. At the time, it didn’t raise immediate concern.

“I told my doctor my legs felt like I’d been working out all the time,” said Ed, who lives with Sue in Hastings, Mich. “And since I actually do work out, we just assumed I was overdoing it.”

But the pain didn’t improve. Instead, it intensified, limiting Ed’s mobility, disrupting his sleep and interfering with everyday life. Physical therapy and medication brought no relief.

Navigating health care when symptoms don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis can be difficult. Delays, false starts and uncertainty left Ed and Sue frustrated, particularly when they needed clear answers the most.

Their son, Brian, who had been watching closely, stepped in. While attending the University of Notre Dame, Brian had become friends with Dr. Neal Patel, neurosurgeon with Beacon Medical Group North Central Neurosurgery.

“He didn’t even tell us at first,” Sue said about Brian. “He just wanted to help his dad.”

Beginning care close to home with an advocate

At Beacon, care starts with connection, treating patients like family and going the extra mile to support them not only physically, but emotionally, with heart.

When Brian reached out, Dr. Patel arranged to see Ed at Beacon Kalamazoo, allowing the family to begin specialty spine care close to home. The first phone call and conversation opened the door to care and even comfort during a time that felt overwhelming.

Initial X-rays appeared reassuring, and Dr. Patel recommended trialing non-surgical options. Shortly afterward, Ed and Sue traveled to Florida, hopeful that rest and warmer weather would help.

Instead, things deteriorated rapidly.

“By the third day, it went downhill fast,” Sue said. “The pain became unbearable.”

Trying to navigate care far from home only added to the stress. Coordinating next steps felt especially challenging when Ed needed help the most.

Dr. Patel spent nearly an hour on the phone with the family, listening, answering questions and encouraging Ed to return home, where he could serve as Ed’s advocate and coordinate care through Beacon in a way that fully met his needs.

Ed flew home and went directly to the hospital for an MRI.

A critical diagnosis and a race against time

The MRI revealed severe nerve compression in Ed’s lower spine at levels L3 through L5, explaining the intense leg pain and loss of mobility he was experiencing.

Dr. Patel reviewed the images immediately and called the family.

“Ed’s symptoms were severe because the nerves in his lower spine were being significantly compressed,” Dr. Patel said. “Once we identified the source on MRI, it was clear surgical intervention was the best path forward. Our goal was to relieve the pressure on the nerves so Ed could get moving again and reclaim his quality of life.”

The plan moved quickly. He told Ed and Sue that if they could get to South Bend that day, he would schedule surgery the next morning.

They packed a small bag and drove straight to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Ed was admitted that evening.

Throughout his journey, Ed received coordinated, personalized care across Beacon’s facilities in Michigan and Indiana. His care that felt advanced, efficient and easier to navigate, with every team aligned around his success.

Clear answers and complete confidence

Dr. Patel met with the couple to walk through the MRI images in detail, explaining that Ed would need an L3–L5 lumbar laminectomy, a procedure that removes bone and thickened tissue to relieve pressure on compressed spinal nerves.

Neal Patel, MD, Neurosurgery

“He showed us exactly where the nerves were being pinched,” Sue said. “He explained what the problem was and exactly how he was going to fix it.”

That clarity made the decision easy.

“I was 100% confident,” Ed said. “I knew exactly what was going on, and I felt really good about moving forward.”

The night before surgery, Dr. Patel stopped by Ed’s room to check in. The conversation was calm and personal, about family, life and the plan for the next morning.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Ed said. “I liked everything about it.”

Immediate relief

The surgery took about three hours.

When Dr. Patel visited Ed in recovery, he asked the question Ed had been waiting to answer.

“How does your leg feel?”

“I moved it and said, ‘My leg is fine,’” Ed said. “There was no pain. I felt great.”

Ed spent one night recovering after surgery. The next day, he was walking the halls and meeting all recovery benchmarks. His nurse, Braden, stood out for attentiveness and support.

“It felt like he was their only patient,” Sue said. “When they came into the room, they gave him 100% of their attention.”

Ed was discharged the following day.

Getting life back

Aside from expected soreness at the incision site, recovery went smoothly. Within weeks, Ed was back in the pool and easing into workouts.

“At seven weeks, he had the all clear,” Sue said. “He resumed everything — just a little slower at first.”

Today, Ed is pain free.

“There’s been no pain in my leg at all,” he said. “It’s 100% gone.”

Having undergone more than 20 surgeries over the years, Ed and Sue say this experience stands apart.

“This rates the highest by far,” Sue said. “Dr. Patel and the entire Beacon team went above and beyond. They were compassionate, thorough and incredibly thoughtful.”

Ed hopes others won’t wait as long as he did.

“If something doesn’t feel right, make the call,” he said. “Starting care at Beacon close to home — and having someone advocate for you and move your care forward quickly — made all the difference.”

Learn more

Beacon neurosurgeons offer traditional as well as minimally invasive surgical treatment options for spinal disorders, back injuries and lower back pain. Read more about neurological care at Beacon and connect with a provider.