I am a second-generation fire fighter and I’ve spent 17 ½ years of my life working as a professional fire fighter. I have always worked out regularly and also enjoyed refereeing wrestling. I initially hurt my back in the early 1980s and was in traction for 10 days, then I injured my back refereeing and was in traction for 12 days. In 1999, I hurt my back on the job when stairs collapsed under me in a house fire and I needed rotator cuff surgery. I worked hard at my rehabilitation and was back to work in three months. I was determined to continue working as a fire fighter. However, in 2000 while at work I simply reached over to pick up a ketchup bottle and I had a stabbing pain between my shoulder blades – I couldn’t believe this was happening to me.
In total I had seen seven different doctors regarding my back and I was in constant pain. It came to a point where I had to look at the long-term quality of my life and make a tough decision, and I finally knew that this meant leaving the only profession that I had ever dreamed of and the only way of life I knew. I was at the end of the line and I realized that there were no quick fixes for me and no magic cure that would make this all go away.
I needed a solution-focused program where I could learn how to manage my chronic pain, modify my activities and get a physical therapy routine that was effective for my back - and that is what I found at the UI Spine Center.
When I decided to go on with my life there was no room for feeling sorry for myself, and no room for any excuses. I had to face my back pain and learn how to move on with my life. The spine team taught me that if I wanted to get my life back, I needed to eliminate the words “I can’t do this” from my vocabulary, because they equal defeat.
I tried everything they taught me to do, even if it didn’t make sense at the time. During the psychology part of the program I learned coping skills and pain management skills, and in physical therapy I learned how to take care of my back for the rest of my life. They taught me how to live a quality life around my pain and how to get physically stronger again. I still do my stretching, physical therapy exercise, cardio, weights, and swimming. I’ve learned to listen to my body and use moderation with my activities when I need to. When I left the program I was not forgotten – the spine team is very supportive and I can call back anytime.
When you are ready to take responsibility for the quality of your life and get back to doing the things that matter to you – you need to check this program out.
Remember, there is no magic cure, and you have to learn how to manage your pain to have a good life! This program works when you are ready and worth the effort. As for me, I am now working part-time in the ER as a Paramedic and part-time at a home improvement store. I am also back to golfing, bowling, swimming, weights, biking, and working outside on the farm again.
I have a good life and I want to tell everyone who has chronic back pain that you can have a good life too, when you are willing to learn the skills and do the work to manage your pain so that it doesn’t manage you. |
