"I've done a dozen Ironman's," said Finanger. "The Ironman in Kona is one that is memorable, plus my wife and I got married after we both raced there one year."
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In 2015, Finanger found himself at a crossroad. His back went out after picking up his daughter and an MRI revealed a disc extrusion with large herniation's.
"I had lost strength on my tippy-toes. At that point I just wanted control over my own body where I can do normal things, like pick up my daughter," he said.
Finanger went and met with Dr. Geoffrey Zubay, a UTHealth Neurosurgeon with Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates in The Woodlands.
He was on his way to surgery and recovery.
"Lars had a minimally invasive microdiscectomy," said Dr. Zubay. "The trick is with an athlete, like Lars, is we have to be very careful to preserve the anatomical integrity of the joint."
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Lars is back this weekend, participating in the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas.
Dr. Zubay is also racing this weekend.
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