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.”