Injured Ironman World Championship contestant gets back in the game

D.M., MD

“About seven weeks ago I was wheel-chaired into your facility by my wife. I could not walk, in fact, I couldn’t even stand. Just prior to coming in, I had a fluke accident and herniated a disc in my back and a piece of the disc broke off and was sitting on the nerve that went to my hip and upper leg. The burning pain was nearly unbearable.

“I’ve never had any real medical problems. In fact, I was doing great physically. I was training hard for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. This included about 18 to 20 hours a week of swimming, biking, running and yoga. The race is in early October and as I was being wheeled in, I was calculating in my head that I would never be ready to race in my current condition.

“Dr. Jere did his evaluation and looked at the MRI and recommended VAX-D. My first week was very tough. I would come home exhausted and have to go to sleep. I still could not walk. Mark, his able VAX-D technician, was always encouraging and helped me get through the treatments. By the middle of the second week I began to feel better. I had periods after the treatment when the pain was gone. I was encouraged. Sometimes after the treatment Dr. Jere would see me and after his laser treatments I would immediately feel better.

“By the end of my third week on VAX-D I could walk and the pain was really better and I gave up my wheel chair. At the end of the fourth week, I could walk and move mostly without pain.

“Now at seven weeks, I am pain free. I have restarted by my triathlon training program and can exercise without pain. In fact yesterday, I rode 80 miles on my bike and felt good the whole time. And today I was able to do 6 miles on the elliptical trainer (I am not running yet) and swam a mile. I am very excited because I am going to be ready to do my race.

“I want to thank each of the staff a Family Life. I think your name signifies your approach to helping people get better. You make them family. I was not just another patient, I was among family. I was cared for, I was helped, and I could see the excitement in your eyes as I got better.

“You guys are the best and I will recommend you always. Warmest appreciation and thanks!”


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