PICTURED: Tiger Woods' former mistress still working at her New York boutique just days before she is due to undergo major brain surgery to fix spine condition that has caused years of pain

  • Rachel Uchitel was allegedly diagnosed with Chiari malformation this year
  • Thought to be having surgery to correct the problem in the next two weeks
  • She was seen carrying benches outside of children's boutique Wyatt Lilly 
  • It is named after her daughter and opened in New York City in 2013
  • Uchitel, 40, was believed to be having an affair with Woods in 2010

By Wills Robinson and Lydia Willgress For Dailymail.com

Published: 22:46 EST, 7 September 2015 | Updated: 00:49 EST, 8 September 2015

She is just days away from a life-changing operation to fix years of back pain.

But Tiger Woods' former mistress seems intent in not letting it get in the way of her business.    

Rachel Uchitel, who was romantically linked to the golf star in 2010 after being photographed entering his room, was seen lifting a bench outside of her children's boutique Wyatt Lilly in New York City during the Labor Day weekend.

The former TV correspondent and night-club hostess is preparing to have her brain lifted off her skull cavity as part of surgery to fix her spine condition, it has been claimed.  

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Tiger Woods' mistress Rachel Uchitel is set to undergo major brain surgery in a last-ditch effort to relieve her intense back pain
She was pictured at her store, Wyatt Lily Boutique in New York City on Saturday

Tiger Woods' mistress Rachel Uchitel is set to undergo major brain surgery in a last-ditch effort to relieve her intense back pain. She was pictured at her store, Wyatt Lily Boutique in New York City on Saturday

She is pictured lugging a bench into the store just a couple of weeks before she is expected to have life-altering surgery that will see her brain lifted off her skull cavity

She is pictured lugging a bench into the store just a couple of weeks before she is expected to have life-altering surgery that will see her brain lifted off her skull cavity

Uchitel was romantically linked to the golf star in 2010 after being photographed entering his room. She has been suffering from back pain for years

Uchitel was romantically linked to the golf star in 2010 after being photographed entering his room. She has been suffering from back pain for years

She was allegedly diagnosed with Chiari, which causes lower parts of the brain to be pushed towards the spinal cord, earlier this year.

It is believed the American nightclub manager will have surgery in two weeks, TMZ reports.

There is a 50 per cent chance the operation, which will see doctors cut a bit from the skull in a bid to change where the brain sits, will help her chronic back pain.

But on Saturday, Uchitel appeared to be working as normal before leaving the Upper West Side store while carrying two bags. 

The 40-year-old (pictured leaving her store) was allegedly diagnosed with Chiari
It causes lower parts of the brain to be pushed towards the spinal cord

The 40-year-old (pictured leaving her store) has been allegedly diagnosed with Chiari, which causes lower parts of the brain to be pushed towards the spinal cord, earlier this year

It is believed the American nightclub manager and store owner will have surgery in two weeks

It is believed the American nightclub manager and store owner will have surgery in two weeks

Uchitel leaving her shop, which is named after her daughter
The surgery will see doctors cut a bit from the skull in a bid to change where the brain sits

There is a 50 per cent chance the operation, which will see doctors cut a bit from the skull in a bid to change where the brain sits, will help her chronic back pain

Ms Uchitel, who carried two bags as she left her store, made headlines in 2010 as one of the golfer's alleged 11 mistresses. At the time, it was widely rumoured that a £6million commercial settlement was reached

Ms Uchitel, who carried two bags as she left her store, made headlines in 2010 as one of the golfer's alleged 11 mistresses. At the time, it was widely rumoured that a £6million commercial settlement was reached

A MALFORMATION THAT FORCES THE BRAIN INTO THE SPINAL CORD 

A Chiari malformation is when the lower parts of the brain have been pushed down towards the spinal cord.   

There are three types, which differ in terms of seriousness and symptoms. 

Typical signs to look out include headaches, neck pain, dizziness, numbness, hearing loss and blurred vision.

Surgery is usually the best form of treatment. Sufferers can opt for decompression surgery - when doctors remove a small piece of bone from the base of the skull - or a spinal laminectomy - the removal of a piece of bone from the top of the spine.

Most people find their symptoms improve after the surgery, but sometimes it can lead to no improvements.  

It is thought around 1 in 1,000 people suffer from the malformation.  

Source: NHS Choices

Ms Uchitel made headlines in 2010 as one of Tiger Woods's alleged 11 mistresses.

At the time, it was widely rumored that a £6million commercial settlement was reached to stop Uchitel speaking about the 'affair'. 

The reality TV personality was engulfed in scandal again in 2011 when it emerged she had a fling with Bones star David Boreanaz while his wife Jaime Bergman was pregnant with their second child. 

Uchitel also appeared in the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab, which depicted her struggle with drug addiction.

She went on to marry Matthew Hahn in 2011. The couple had their first child - Wyatt Lily - in May 2012.

But Hahn filed for divorce in June 2013. It was finalised in January last year.

Uchitel opened her store Wyatt Lilly - named after her daughter - in 2013. It was named Best Kids Birthday Presents in New York Magazine earlier this year.  

A representative for Ms Uchitel has been contacted by MailOnline for comment but has not yet replied.  

Uchitel appeared in the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab, which depicted her struggle with drug addiction

Uchitel appeared in the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab, which depicted her struggle with drug addiction

She went on to marry Matthew Hahn in 2011. The couple had their first child - Wyatt Lily - in May 2012. However the marriage only lasted a year

She went on to marry Matthew Hahn in 2011. The couple had their first child - Wyatt Lily - in May 2012. However the marriage only lasted a year

Tiger Woods' former mistress is preparing to have her brain lifted off her skull cavity as part of surgery to fix her spine condition
Rachel Uchitel (pictured), who was romantically linked to the golf star in 2010 after being photographed entering his room, has been suffering from back pain for years

Uchitel (right in 2009), has become a reality TV star since her relationship with Woods surfaced 

Tiger Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren, pictured, divorced in 2010 after details of his alleged affairs emerged

Tiger Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren, pictured, divorced in 2010 after details of his alleged affairs emerged

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