BW Beasley…Back to Racquetball!

BW Beasley came to the Texas Back Institute after suffering from chronic back pain symptoms for years. Ten years earlier, Mr. Beasley had undergone a microdiscectomy with a different physician which only temporarily relieved his pain. He was anxious for a chance to get back to an unrestricted and active lifestyle, as he had been an active golfer and racquetball player before his pain had become too severe. Additionally, he was required to travel for work as a sales manager, and this was becoming increasingly difficult due to his back pain symptoms.

After conservative treatments proved unsuccessful, BW decided to go through with disc replacement surgery with Dr. Jack Zigler at TBI.  Shortly after surgery, the hospital staff had him up walking and into the artificial disc replacement physical therapy program.  BW progressed rapidly and by his 6 month follow-up visit, he was scuba diving and golfing again. Travel was no longer an issue, which made work much more manageable.  At his 12 month follow-up visit, he arrived at TBI with a copy of the Summer 2009 Racquetball magazine that featured an article he had written about playing the perfect game. He had just played in the US Open for Racquetball in his age group—an amazing feat, for someone who was seeking back pain treatment had undergone back surgery less than a year before. He stated that people were amazed to hear that he had an artificial disc and asked many questions about it, his surgeon, and where he had his surgery. “I refer patients to TBI and Dr. Zigler all the time!” he says.

Three years later, he won a national Racquetball tournament for his age group. “I have some trouble with my shoulder and my elbow at times, but not really my back,” he said. He can’t believe that three years have passed and that he continues to do so well after back surgery and feels so good.

“I never thought I’d be able to get my life back,” he says, “but if I can do it, I know others can too.” When asked what BW would tell others worried about undergoing spine surgery, he says, “If you do nothing else, just go see the spine surgeons at Texas Back Institute.  You owe yourself at least that!”