Two years ago, Keith Roberts was relocating his office. He began to feel immediate pain in his lower back after lifting a table. The pain became progressively worse from that point. His doctor told him it was just a sprain, but he soon learned more about his diagnosis. After a regimen including rest and anti-inflammatory medications, he didn’t get better. “I’m a fairly active person and I knew there was something more to this,” he said. His first doctor ordered an MRI and the scan revealed a herniated disc. “My wife and I did a lot of research and we decided to try Texas Back Institute,” Keith said. “It was the best thing we’ve ever done.”
Keith made an appointment with Dr. Jessica Shellock and hasn’t looked back since. Texas Back Institute helped him navigate through the sometimes laborious paperwork involved with a worker’s compensation claim. “Without Dr. Shellock’s medical expertise and Tonya’s help with everything, I have no idea where I would be today.” The Tonya he is referring to is Dr. Shellock’s medical assistant, Tonya Edwards. Medical Assistants are imperative to the delivery of healthcare for the providers at Texas Back Institute. They help obtain information about the patient including vital signs, medication, and their medical history. They also assist the patient with future testing and appointments. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to get the surgery that I really needed to get better.”
After failing to respond to conservative treatment and without sustained relief following a microdiscectomy, Keith ultimately underwent a L5-S1 fusion in November 2012 with Dr. Shellock. It was after progressive worsening of his symptoms at this point that I recommended the fusion,” said Dr. Shellock. “He has done fantastic. “
He took three months off of work to recover properly and is now attending outpatient physical therapy sessions at TBI. He went from being very active to no activity and is now making a comeback. In April, he was able to complete his first 6-mile bike ride and this summer, his plans include a 12-mile hike in the Ozarks with his wife. He and his wife are avid photographers and have donated art work for Dr. Shellock’s patient rooms.
“It’s amazing to go from being able to walk less than a half a mile and having so much pain to this,” said Keith. “I missed out on 2 years of my life and I would be missing more if it weren’t for Dr. Shellock.”