Bobbie Jo Ramirez would never have done this , or tried this a month ago. But now that she has had spinal fusion reversal surgery, she can do more than she has in 10 years!

I feel great," said Ramirez. A back injury led to the original fusion, where doctors weld two vertebrae together to stabilize the spine. It left her stiff and in pain.

"It was excruciating. I mean just to try and roll yourself out of bed upright was just excruciating pain," said Ramirez.

She had migraines three times a week, and the pain permeated throughout her body, forcing this softball fanatic to quit the game she loved.

"It started at the neck, but it radiates through your shoulders to your arms to your fingertips," remembers Ramirez.

Orthopedic surgeon Kenneth Light says many spinal fusions shouldn't be done.

"There is a common saying in the medical community and that is: 'Never have a spinal fusion," said Dr. Kenneth Light.

He says the surgery severely limits motion, and for some, the pain doesn't go away. Doctor Light became the first in the U.S. to reverse a fusion. He implants an artificial disk.

"Low and behold, we put the implant in. She woke up. She was fine. She felt fine enough to go home the next day, and four weeks later, she is doing exceptionally well," said Light.

"I haven't had a headache since I came out of surgery," said Ramirez.

Critics are unsure if the implant will last, and there is a chance of paralysis if it fails. But Bobbie Jo says reversing her fusion reversed her painful path.

Ramirez said, "I feel like I made a decision that's going to give me life again."