Eva Bingham, 23, a nurse and bodybuilder, underwent a 10-hour spinal surgery at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital in September 2025 to correct spondylolisthesis, a condition where vertebrae gradually shift forward, compressing nerves. The surgery involved screws, rods, and spacers to stabilize her spine.
From sciatica suspicion to diagnosis
In March 2023, Bingham woke up with shooting pain down her right leg, which she assumed was sciatica. Despite flare-ups, she continued training and competed in her first bodybuilding contest in May 2023. By summer 2023, the pain became constant, leaving her unable to walk for more than a few minutes without agony. She visited her GP in October 2023 and was referred to a hip specialist in December, who suspected a slipped vertebra. Scans later confirmed spondylolisthesis, a condition where one vertebra slips forward over another.
Desperation and decision for surgery
Worried about lifelong pain and losing mobility, Bingham researched treatments and secured approval for private surgery. She said: "The thought of losing my career and bodybuilding made me so depressed. I thought I was going to be stuck like this forever." After steroid injections failed to provide long-term relief, her symptoms worsened in July 2024, leaving her unable to move after a night shift. She decided to proceed with surgery, saying: "It was either my back got worse and I couldn't do anything with my life, or there was a chance I could live the life I wanted."
Recovery and comeback
The 10-hour operation relieved nerve pressure by removing bone and disc tissue before correcting the spinal deformity. After surgery, Bingham spent a night in intensive care and was discharged five days later. She underwent months of physiotherapy, relearning to balance and walk. She returned to the gym in December 2025 and is now training for a bodybuilding comeback in 2028. She said: "It would mean the world to me. I just can't wait to get back to it and have my spray tan!"
