Degenerative Disc Disease Testimonials
- Harrell Glenn Alexander
- Audelia Beatty
- Tara Best
- Marney Edwards
- David Erkin
- Christine Goff
- Darla Leonard
- Laura Maddox
- Mary Morse
- Kyle Spooner
- Lisa Walker
- Rachel Zimmer
Harrell Glenn Alexander
When Harrell Glenn Alexander started having back pain at the age of 33, he thought it was just a product of getting older. He spent the next two years treating the pain with steroid injections, massages and physical therapy. Yet Harrell continued to experience days and nights when he could not function as a result of his pain. By the time he started living on pain pills, couldn’t tie his shoes and had trouble getting his legs into bed, Harrell decided to put his wife’s research to use and called Texas Back Institute.
Harrell was to the point where he “was willing to do anything” when he met Dr. Guyer in September 2000. Suffering from degenerative disc disease, Harrell had his first surgery, the Charité artificial disc replacement. Eight years later, another disc in Harrell’s back was failing, so in January 2008, Dr. Guyer performed the second surgery to fix his L4 disc. After a “relatively easy” recovery process for both surgeries, Harrell is a changed man. Even his wife noticed the difference - the pained look on his face was gone. Everyday chores like brushing his teeth and tying his shoes were now simple tasks.
At 33 years old, Harrell had “no life whatsoever,” yet on August 24, 2008, only seven months after his second surgery, he participated in the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred, a 100-mile bike ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. He finished the race in seven hours, 51 minutes.
He couldn’t even ride bikes before his surgeries, but in 2008, Harrell biked more than 1,500 miles in 2008 thanks to Dr. Guyer and the team at Texas Back Institute. And not only is Harrell riding bikes, he is also riding horses, something he never could have done of 10 years ago.
Harrell recommends Dr. Guyer and Texas Back Institute because they consider the least invasive treatments first, and they “listen, hear concerns and explain everything that goes on.” But more important, he says, “They changed my life and our lives.”
Audelia Beatty
For months, Audelia Beatty was living with back pain so intense that it kept her up at night. Her doctors treated her with injections and physical therapy, but that only temporarily relieved Audelia’s misery.
Despite four doctors’ efforts, Audelia’s condition worsened to the point where she had to resort to draping herself over her bed to sleep. That’s when enough was enough, and she made an appointment at the Texas Back Institute with Dr. Rey Bosita. Diagnosed with sciatic nerve compression and degenerative disc disease, Audelia knew as did Dr. Bosita—that surgery was her only option for a full recovery.
After a successful surgery, Audelia was home recovering the next day, rarely taking pain medication. For her, being able to walk again without pain, and having the ability to take part in everyday activities, has been life-changing. “The Texas Back Institute team was wonderful. Everyone treated me as an individual, not as a patient,” Audelia says. “My advice for anyone with back pain – do injections first. But if that doesn’t work and your life is as bad as mine was, have surgery at Texas Back Institute.” Now, Audelia has her life back and is able to sleep in a regular, horizontal position.
Tara Best
Ever since Tara Best could remember, she’d always had general back pain. But as Tara grew toward adulthood, it was discovered that her pain was caused by scoliosis. Since the curvature in her spine was slight, her doctors decided to only monitor her condition and didn't take immediate action. When Tara reached her mid-20s, her pain worsened, and she learned that two discs in her back had degenerated.
Knowing she needed immediate help, and based on her mother’s good experience at Texas Back Institute (TBI), Tara began seeing Dr. Barton Sachs. Because TBI is a conservative spine clinic, Dr. Sachs considered alternatives other than surgery to ease her pain. Tara underwent physical therapy and received three rounds of cortisone injections, but this treatment regimen did not help her condition.
Tara’s 12-hour shifts as a hospital nurse were taking a greater and greater toll on her physically. In addition, after her initial treatments at TBI, Tara got married and looked forward to someday having children. Dr. Sachs advised her that she could have a baby, but probably would have to be bedridden for much of her pregnancy. Tara also knew the pain in her back would make it difficult to deal with the physical demands of motherhood. After speaking further with Dr. Sachs and her husband, she knew surgery was the best way to establish a better quality of life.
In December 2005, Tara had surgery and was surprised by the immediate pain relief. She had been deeply afraid that the surgery would be ineffective or, worse, cause more damage – but Tara healed so quickly that she went home after only five days in the hospital. She recovered at home for eight weeks and engaged in physical therapy to strengthen her back.
Six months later, Tara found out she was pregnant. She was thrilled that she could enjoy a trouble-free pregnancy without worrying about the physical requirements of motherhood. She was very pleased with Dr. Sachs and the staff at TBI, and has even recommended the surgery and the clinic to other people she has met in her physical therapy classes.
“I’m so happy I underwent the surgery and worked with TBI,” she said. “It was the best decision I have ever made.”
Marney Edwards
After suffering from back pain for 10 years, Marney Edwards cold-called the receptionist at Texas Back Institute in hopes of finding some answers. Previously, Marney visited four to five back specialists, underwent two back surgeries, and endured physical and chiropractic therapy, acupuncture and injections to control his pain. Despite all the treatments, he still had trouble playing with his young children and even brushing his teeth. As soon as Marney read about Texas Back Institute on the Internet and heard high praise for the Institute from a doctor in Austin, Texas, he knew it was time to make the call.
While he was “scared to death” about treating his degenerative disc disease and collapsing disc with another surgery, Marney realized that it would be the best option for his health after meeting with Dr. Blumenthal at Texas Back Institute. Unlike Marney’s previous doctors, Dr. Blumenthal told Marney that fusing would not be the next step if the surgery were unsuccessful.
In December 2008, Marney underwent the operation to repair his collapsing disc. He was walking around the nurse’s station on the same day of his procedure with only some pain, and Marney now feels so fantastic that he wishes he had undergone the surgery five years earlier.
Marney says that Dr. Blumenthal and the other skilled professionals finally made sense of the rumors and misinformation about back pain, gave him the true story, and made his surgical experience the “easiest” and most “well done” he’s seen. Texas Back Institute gave Marney the “dramatic change” that has allowed him to play with his children, take up golf again and travel.
David Erkin
For seven years, David Erkin lived with back pain that disabled his life. Simple tasks that used to require almost no effort were now obstacles for David. Just bending over to lift an object became a struggle for him. David knew something needed to be done when he went from living a very active lifestyle to only being able to stand for 5-10 minutes at a time. Finally, in 1998, David traveled from McAlester, Oklahoma, to visit the Texas Back Institute.
David was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease at the age of 29 and immediately began physical therapy along with anti-inflammatory and steroid shots. Nothing eased his pain. After exploring every other alternative, David decided it was time to consider surgery.
On January 31, 2006, Dr. Blumenthal performed a Charité artificial disk replacement on David. “I was scared to have surgery and make things worse, or even become permanently disabled,” he said. His surgery was a success, and in 24 hours he was on his way back to Oklahoma.
It has been two years since David had his surgery, and he continues to grow stronger each day that passes. Incredibly, some days he forgets he ever had surgery, or even back problems for that matter. “My recovery was nothing short of a miracle, to me at least. After living essentially disabled for so many years, Dr. Blumenthal gave me my life back!” he said. “I now live completely unrestricted with a very active lifestyle — 100% pain-free.”
David has no reservations in recommending Dr. Blumenthal, Texas Back Institute or the Charité disk. As he says, “I’m living proof that it works.”
Christine Goff
In February 1996, a drunk driver hit Christine Goff while she was eight weeks pregnant. Thirty-nine-year-old Christine was traveling on Interstate 35 when the driver T-boned her at a high speed, causing her Jeep to rotate 360 degrees. While she was fortunate to survive the crash, Christine suffered from a severe lower back injury.
Before coming to Texas Back Institute, Christine had to undergo two discectomy procedures and multiple injections. Despite the procedures, she continued to have back pain. Wanting to discover alternative treatments for her injury, Christine visited Texas Back Institute. After careful diagnosis, Christine underwent surgery for a Charité artificial disc replacement. Unlike her previous treatments, Christine began to feel more like herself within four weeks.
Today, Christine is still pain-free and says she feels as though her life is finally back to normal. She can now do everyday activities, such as regular exercise, that she could not do for the past 10 years because of her back pain.
Christine says the Texas Back Institute was “a life-changing experience. I would tell everyone about Texas Back Institute – because, thanks to them, I finally have no more pain.”
Darla Leonard
Since high school, Darla Leonard could remember suffering from back pain. But after a few days of rest supplemented by medication, she was soon back to normal and able to resume her everyday activities. As she got older, however, it took longer and longer for her to recover from the pain; she realized her affliction was serious. In 1995, Darla was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, a disorder also suffered by her mother and grandmother. As her condition worsened, Darla had to analyze every movement to avoid any lingering back injuries.
Around the time of her diagnosis, Darla consulted with different doctors. They prescribed muscle relaxers and cortisone injections, but that didn’t ease her distress. One doctor recommended a procedure that would clip the nerves around her deteriorating disc. But that would only dull or eliminate the pain, not correct the underlying problem. Darla’s back trouble continued to affect her quality of life and relationships. After giving birth to her daughter in 1998, Darla found that she could not carry her child for fear of contributing to her condition. As her spinal disc continued to degenerate, her back worsened and she began to drag her right foot slightly as she walked. The pain in Darla’s back was so severe, she felt that if she waited any longer she would lose her ability to walk.
Eventually, Darla heard about Texas Back Institute from a friend, and in 2001 began working with Dr. Richard Guyer. He suggested the Charité artificial disc procedure, which was still being evaluated for approval in the United States. Fearing that she may be ineligible for the disc in the United States, Darla considered undergoing the surgery in France or Germany, where the procedure had been performed successfully for more than a decade.
Darla did qualify for the United States clinical trial. In November 2001, she received the artificial disc and was surprised by the immediate effects of a pain-free existence. Three weeks after the surgery, Darla was able to go back to work with the help of a back brace. Five months later, she was free of the brace and able to get back to the quality of life she once knew.
Darla said she would recommend Texas Back Institute’s medical team and staff to all her friends and family. “I’m a kid again, and I live my life to its fullest.” she says. “I’m living a pain-free, happy, energetic life.”
Laura Maddox
Dealing with back pain was nothing new for Laura Maddox. Laura suffered from lower back pain since giving birth to her only child in 1985, and the pain steadily worsened over the years. Eventually, stretching exercises prescribed by her primary care physician were not enough and Laura decided to see Dr. Craig Lankford at Texas Back Institute.
Dr. Lankford diagnosed Laura with disc degeneration. She then started physical therapy, a course of oral steroids and anti-inflammatory medications, and even a round of epidural steroid injections. After exhausting non-surgical options, Laura knew surgery was her only treatment option that could lessen her pain and she scheduled an appointment with Texas Back Institute’s Dr. Rey Bosita.
Laura was concerned she would “still have pain after the surgery” and even worried about not being able to perform her home or work duties. But with a long life ahead of her, Laura was confident Dr. Bosita was her best option to help her get her life back. After her spinal fusion surgery, Laura knew something was different almost immediately: her pain was gone!
“My surgery was very successful,” Laura says. “I didn’t have to take any pain meds after I left the hospital.” Laura was out of work for six weeks and was able to return to full duty as an accountant.
Laura will continue exercising to keep her back strong and pain-free. She is now able to fully enjoy her family, and she looks forward to playing with her future grandchildren—all things she wasn’t sure she would ever do before her spine surgery. Laura is very grateful and recommends Texas Back Institute because everyone was “so helpful and caring.” She suggests, “If your pain is affecting your daily life, it’s time to consider Texas Back Institute.”
Mary Morse
From exploring the jungles of Nicaragua to climbing the Andes Mountains, Mary Morse has seen many places and things throughout her 57 years. She’s always loved to be adventurous, even after she underwent a spinal fusion in 1983 to treat back pain that she had experienced for most of her life. But when that fusion caused a disc in her back to suddenly rupture in 2002, it became increasingly harder and harder for her to maintain an active lifestyle. She reached her breaking point when she couldn’t keep up with her travel partner and aunt, who was in her 80s.
Mary initially chose to avoid surgery and take cortisone shots instead, but four months later there was still no progress in her health. Eventually, she could not even bend over to brush her teeth or catch herself before falling – let alone go on exotic vacations – because her lower back muscles were too weak. Mary knew it was time to take more serious measures to get back to the adventurous lifestyle she once had.
Mary didn’t want another fusion, so she conducted numerous consultations with back specialists to determine alternatives. After many doctors recommended Texas Back Institute, she discussed the Charité artificial disc procedure with orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist Dr. Rey Bosita and decided it was her best option.
Mary underwent surgery in January 2006 and was surprised by the immediate effects in comparison with the fusion procedure she underwent previously, which had taken a year to heal. Just two weeks after the disc replacement, Mary was again able to conduct her everyday activities, and after four weeks, she was living her life to the fullest. As an avid thrill seeker, Mary says she’s happy to experience her quality of life once again and plans to keep going well into the future – free of back pain. Her “normal” activities still include skydiving, kayaking and mountain climbing.
“I can now enjoy my favorite activities well into my 80s; I feel like I’m 20 again.”
Mary has already recommended Dr. Bosita and the staff of Texas Back Institute to all her friends who are experiencing back pain. In fact, Mary is so pleased with her treatment and recovery that she sent Dr. Bosita a collage of photos from her many expeditions, including a trek to the top of Machu Picchu.
Kyle Spooner
Most people don’t expect to deal with chronic back pain in their early 30s, but as a new father, Kyle Spooner found that he couldn’t even bend down to pick up his infant twins. Kyle had injured himself at age 29 while moving a garden fountain at home, and after 18 months of trying physical therapy, cortisone shots and acupuncture, he still had to use pain medication to get through his days. He had already cut back on socializing and weekend golfing, and the birth of his twins made him decide that a life in pain is no way to live.
His father was a former Texas Back Institute (TBI) patient who had a great experience with TBI, so Kyle asked his own doctor for a referral. Kyle was eligible to participate in TBI’s clinical trial of the Charité artificial disc being evaluated for approval in the United States. Kyle discussed the trial with orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Scott Blumenthal, studied the technology (already used successfully in Europe) and decided it was his best option for optimal relief.
Kyle became the first Charité disc patient in the United States, undergoing surgery in March 2000. He felt immediate relief. After only three days in the hospital, he recovered at home and was back at work in two weeks. Best of all, he was able to pick up his six-month-old twins. For the past seven years – during which the Charité disc was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Kyle has been skiing, golfing and experiencing the same quality of life he had before his injury.
Kyle credits Dr. Blumenthal and TBI, and he recommends them to anyone experiencing back pain. “I’m a 100% believer in TBI,” he said. “The surgery has done wonders for me – it was very much a life-changing event.”
Lisa Walker
Up to 80% of people in the United States are affected by back pain at some point in their lives, but what they may not know is that leg pain can be an indication of a serious back problem. Activities such as standing, sitting or lying down become painful for people as a result of their back injury.
For 43-year-old Lisa Walker, leg pain was how she discovered she had a back injury. Her pain began as a severe bilateral pain in her leg, then gradually moved up to her lower back. At that point, Lisa had enough and decided to find out what was causing her discomfort.
Lisa went to Texas Back Institute to meet Dr. Blumenthal in October 2007, and quickly began physical therapy and spinal injections. When those alternatives did not treat Lisa’s pain, her doctor recommended surgery. Lisa had no reservations about having the surgery, because she had complete faith in Texas Back Institute and their staff. Dr. Scott Blumenthal performed an artificial disc replacement and a spinal fusion. Both Lisa’s surgery and her recovery were “smooth sailing,” as she said. She was only in the hospital 24 hours following the surgery, and her recovery was quick.
To Lisa Walker, Texas Back Institute was her “one-stop-shop” for all of her back problems. She attributes her success to Dr. Blumenthal and his supportive staff who helped her every step of the way. Her advice to people hesitant to seek treatment is: “Do it. You’ll wonder why you waited.”
Rachel Zimmer
A life coach and parent consultant, Rachel Zimmer was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease as a result of a head-on collision. Rachel was 27 when she had the accident, and began suffering from extreme lower back pain and numbness as a result. Every part of Rachel’s life was a struggle, and she can remember gritting her teeth throughout the day because her pain continued to intensify. After her cortisone injections began to fail, Rachel was told she would have to undergo a spinal fusion. It was that news that encouraged her to see Dr. Blumenthal at Texas Back Institute.
“The Texas Back Institute was so thorough – they covered every aspect of how my accident did – and would – affect me,” she said. “They were so caring and supportive.”
In December 1995, Rachel had two Charité artificial discs placed in her back. She was in the hospital for two days, and then stayed an additional five days in a nearby hotel before flying home.
After three months of physical therapy, Rachel has made a complete recovery. “My recovery was amazingly easy, and there was absolutely no back pain,” she said.
Rachel is now back to playing with her kids, holding them and being active. She is even enjoying being able to exercise again. “Living with chronic back pain is miserable, and up until recently, the options haven’t been good,” she said. “Now, with the new technology, I would encourage people not to be afraid, and tell them it can truly get better,” she said.
Rachel has already recommended Texas Back Institute to a friend who is having his surgery with Dr. Blumenthal. She told him, “It was totally worth it.”