We are publishing two new success stories this month to highlight the important role that physical therapy can take in helping rapidly heal chronic pain. Remember, physical therapy is a safe, effective, drug and side-effect-free way to help with your back, neck and extremity pain. Happy reading!
When I came to Maccio, it had been more than two years since my back surgery—and I still hadn’t recovered. I reherniated the same disc I had surgery on and I was in so much pain I could not sit for the length of a movie. My surgeon told me to “Cultivate couch activities” and said I should give up on skiing and hiking—my favorite pastimes. I asked him if physical therapy would help, and he said it was useless. But I couldn’t bear the thought of never hiking again, and it hurt too much to even walk up a paved hill. When my cousin said the McKenzie Method worked for her, I gave Maccio a call...and in less than a month I can move again! I went to movies and actually enjoyed them instead of getting up to stand in back. I started running again. Finally, I went on a 24-hour road trip and faithfully did my stretches at every rest stop—and my back never hurt! Now, I’m slowly increasing core strength and I intend to return to hiking slowly and carefully, but with the confidence of knowing that the McKenzie exercises will immediately be able to resolve any pain I feel. These exercises have given me back my life. - Kathleen
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In August of 2010, I was in a car accident and experienced bad pain in my lower back. I was referred to a neurosurgeon by the emergency room. After X-Rays, MRIs, and CT scans I was sent to physical therapy. By December, I was no better. My primary doctor sent me to a chiropractor. I felt relief from that for a few hours after the appointment but by the evening, my normal back pain returned. I went back to the neurosurgeon in May of 2011 and said the pain was still there and now radiating down my leg, and something needs to be done. I was told that I should try steroid injections. I had a CT scan after the injections didn’t help either and was told I needed a spinal fusion. I saw my primary doctor again and she referred me to a second neurosurgeon who said surgery wouldn’t help. After a weekend of complete confusion, I asked my primary to send me to a third neurosurgeon for one last opinion. He said surgery wouldn’t help me and said I needed physical therapy again. I was skeptical since I had already tried it for five months and it did nothing for me, but I went anyway. I called Maccio Physical Therapy and had an appointment the same week. After two days, the pain in my leg was gone and after three weeks of the McKenzie Method, I am close to having my normal life back with my two-year-old son! I’m so grateful I went for a second and third opinion! Maccio has really helped me to get my quality of life back to what it was last spring! - Kristie
