Through my childhood experiences with chiropractic, I always knew I wanted to help people when I grew up. After becoming a doctor, I had my own personal journey overcoming unbearable back pain, which solidified my certainty that helping people improve there health was what I was meant to do. While my experience of excruciating pain was a time of hopelessness and depression, I wouldn’t change this experience for the world as it gave me the knowledge, understanding and certainty to help others with chronic pain who feel that all hope is gone.
I was 28 years old, just 1 year into my career as a doctor. I was ready to change the world and save lives, when the pain hit hard. I now realize that my spine had been breaking down for years from riding motorcycles, and at the time, it was a silly little karate kick that was the last straw, causing me agonizing back pain. The next morning, I woke up and my back and legs literally would not work. I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t stand. Once I finally got the willpower to drag myself out of the bed, I fell to the floor and was only able to get off the floor with the help of my girlfriend, literally pulling me up while I just endured the extreme pain. This was just the beginning of my story…
The pain continued to get worse. It got to the point where I couldn’t dress myself, go to the bathroom by myself, and I couldn’t even sit or stand for more than a brief moment. I was completely disabled. What was worse than the pain was the feelings of desperation, depression and hopelessness. I felt that my life was over and would never be the same. I even thought that I should break up with my then girlfriend (now wife), so she could go live her life and not feel like she had to sit at home with me while I lay in the recliner day after day.
Despite the physical pain and emotional turmoil, I knew I had to do everything I possibly could to heal my body and get back to my life as a doctor, husband, and friend. I got chiropractic adjustments, I stretched, I did heat and ice, massage and acupuncture but nothing was working. I decided I had to start taking prescription pain medication so I could make it through the day. The pain killers didn’t touch the pain and the awful drugs left me feeling sick and irritable. I quickly decided this was not the solution. Finally, I decided I had to go back to work and suffer through the pain. I had days where I came home using a walker to get into the house. I was 28 years old, had just starting my career and was ready to start a family but I couldn’t walk more than 5 feet without a walker. I was devastated, depressed, and hopeless. I continued in this manner, struggling through the day and trying everything I could to get better for months. Nothing was touching the pain and I was so afraid. I was afraid I would never have the career I dreamed of. I was afraid I would never be able to have a family. I was afraid I would never be able to do the things I enjoyed again.
After months of pain and depression and continually trying to heal, I decided enough was enough and I went in for back surgery. With all the possible side effects and negative outcomes, surgery was never the route I wanted to go, but having consulted so many professionals and colleagues, I felt I had no other choice. With the surgery scheduled, I was nervous of the outcome, but it gave me a moment of hope… until the surgery was over.
The surgery was unsuccessful. They said I should have been feeling better in a few weeks. I waiting for months to start feeling better, but ever since the surgery, I was in MORE pain than before going under the knife. After multiple MRIs, the surgeon had no insight on what I should do next. After reviewing the MRIs and talking with me, his only words were “huh… you should be golfing by now. Call me if something changes”. After this shocking conversation with a healthcare professional, I knew now more than ever, that I had to take my health into my own hands. I knew there was an answer out there somewhere, and this is when I discovered regenerative medicine!
I learned that regenerative medicine had the potential to heal my spine and eliminate my pain. I wasn’t sure if it would work for me, but I was willing to try anything! I scheduled an appointment right away and I began feeling relief after my very first injection! After three rounds of regenerative medicine, I was back to exercising, snowboarding, biking, and living my life again! It truly felt like a miracle! Regenerative medicine saved my life and my career! I am now married to my beautiful wife, and we have an amazing daughter. I am grateful every day that I am able to carry her and run and play with her. I am able to go to work and help my patients daily and enjoy an active lifestyle outside the office. While this experience with backpain was a very scary time in my life to say the least, I wouldn’t change this story for the world, because without this story, I wouldn’t be here providing this amazing service to my patients.
I know firsthand that there is nothing worse than feeling like your life will never be the same. I know that it’s more than just the pain. It’s the depression and helplessness that cause people to look for a better solution and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share this life changing miracle with my patients and help to get them out of pain and back to living the life they LOVE!
