An Athlete's Battle with Back Pain: Patient of the Month 2013
Patient of the Month April 2013
Chris has had some challenging times during therapy, but we have been constantly inspired by his perseverance in the face of incredible pain. We have seen the fierce determination of an athlete as he has battled the physical and mental challenges that recovery brings. He might be the patient, but he has taken the time to support us both personally and professionally. Whether it's an encouraging word, a sponsorship opportuniy or an idea for our website, we are the grateful recipients of his generosity.
In his own words....
What brought you to PT? Two back operations in past year and a half with screws put in L5-S1. I chose IronPT because I wanted to go to a place where I did not feel like I was on an assembly line getting fixed. I was looking for a local place that was small with a strong patient focus.
How have you benefitted from your PT experience? Before my first surgery I exercised 6-7 times a week and until a month ago I thought those days were behind me. Exercising was an important part of my life and being restricted has taken a huge toll on me physically and mentally. To be quite honest, I fell into a depression, and it was not until I started going to Dr. Mayes that I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Before starting PT, I could not touch my toes and had a difficult time getting dressed, but the hardest thing was not being able to play with my four kids and pick them up. I was nervous during my first session with Dr. Mayes, but he quickly made me feel comfortable and pushed me past my mental roadblocks. I am happy to say that I now pick my kids up on a daily basis now, and I actively coach my daughter's soccer team. Before this all happened to me, my life seemed to revolve around being fit, but now my life resolves around being active with my kids and there are no words that I can write that could thank Dr. Mayes, his wife and staff at IronPT.
What would you recommend to someone who has the same injury as you? I would be the poster person for IronPT for recovering from back surgery if I could. Not only does Dr. Mayes help you recover, but he truly cares about making you better.
What activities are you most excited about getting back to? Just playing with my kids is the greatest thing for me to do, but I've started going back to the gym and running again. As a goal, I would like to do a 'tough mudder; event within the next year.