Mommy's Back Hurts (POM 1/14)
Patient of the Month
Meredith battled the physical and mental challenges of chronic pain with an amazing attitude and level of commitment. She would teach all day and then come to therapy ready to be pushed in every way. Even on the hardest days she kept us laughing. Instead of excuses, she made real changes and let go of limitations. This pint size powerhouse even worked up to 5 minutes of planks.
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In her own words...
Injury:
Back Pain/Herniated Disc
Three Words To Describe You:
Dedicated, Energetic, Compassionate
What brought you to PT?
For about 6 months I was suffering from back pain that did not allow me to exercise or even engage in some everyday activities. I was constantly uncomfortable and back pain became my normal. I was taking several medications to help with the pain and was considering having some steroid injections to have some relief.
How have you benefitted from PT?
PT has allowed me to return to the person I once was. I am now pain-free and feel like my old self. Dr. Mayes has inspired me to become as active as I was before the constant pain. He has built my confidence as well as my strength. His positive reinforcement, individualized plan and dedication made me want to get better, get stronger, and achieve my goals. He always pushed me to challenge myself and set higher goals.
What would you recommend to someone who has the same injury
Go see Dr. Mayes! He is so knowledgeable. Not only will he devise an individualized plan for you and help you achieve your goals and get better, he encourages you to reflect on behaviors or habits that may be affecting your ability to feel good. He suggests home exercises but also will give you advice on performing day to day activities with the proper form.
What activities are you most excited about getting back to?
I am back at a gym, taking classes, and beginning to run again. I am excited about just being active and seeing how good I feel when I work out and my muscles are sore. My children are happy that I can do some of the most ordinary tasks again without telling them I can't because "Mommy's back hurts." I didn't ever think that I would be able to get to this point in such a short period of time.