Neuro Musculo Skeletal Testimonials
Alicia Swisher - Therapeutic Botox
In 2006, 22-year-old Alicia Swisher was working fulltime, going to school and dealing with debilitating migraine headaches at least three to five days of every week. “The severe pain came with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound and it was nearly impossible to function,” Alicia said. Read more »
Tammy Maxon - Achilles Tendon Surgery
Damage to the Achilles tendon, which is the tissue that connects the heel to the muscles of the lower leg, can be extremely painful. Such an injury was especially devastating for 49-year-old Tammy Maxon, because working in the restaurant business requires her to stand for long hours. Thanks to successful surgery by Tudor Tien, MD, Tammy is back on her feet and enjoying her life again. Read more »
Linda Zysk - Total Knee Replacement
Almost five years ago, Linda Zysk was running up the stairs at her home and fell. She could tell right away that something was wrong with her left knee. Linda made an appointment with orthopaedic surgeon Allan Tompkins, MD, because he had recently performed a total hip replacement on her husband. Read more »
Susie VanArsdalen - Osteoporosis Center
Susie VanArsdalen has always been healthy and active. At the age of 40, she was surprised to learn that she had the beginnings of osteoporosis, a condition that weakens the bones and makes them more prone to fracture. Last year, when Susie turned 47, her family doctor referred her to the new Allegiance Osteoporosis Center, located across from the hospital. “From the moment I walked in, everyone was so welcoming to me. It’s a busy place, but they treated me like I was their first and only patient,” she recalled. Read more »
Phyllis Conley - Osteoporosis Center
Phyllis Conley is 85 and has osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more prone to fracture. In fact, she broke both of her wrists in a two-year period. Like most people in her age group, Phyllis feared breaking a hip and losing her quality of life as a result.
Phyllis’s family doctor referred her to the Allegiance Osteoporosis Center, located in the specialty center across from the hospital. There she received a bone-density scan and a complete evaluation. Her care team determined that the best course of treatment for Phyllis is a once-a-year intravenous treatment to reverse bone loss.
“We go through a continuous process of breakdown of old bone and regrowth of new bone,” said nurse practitioner Leslie Thompson. “As we get older, bone loss occurs faster than the regrowth, which can lead to osteoporosis.” Thompson further explained that the IV treatment, “slows the bone loss and allows the regrowth to catch up, therefore encouraging bone strength.”
Phyllis said she worried that “the process would be long and complicated,” and she was pleasantly surprised to learn it takes only about 20 minutes. “It was really easy and quick,” she said. “The needle is very thin and the process is painless.”
Just as important to Phyllis was that “Everyone I encountered at Allegiance was so nice, from the receptionist on down. That is really important when you are unsure and anxious.”
While some people experience temporary flu like reaction after the treatment, Phyllis said she felt fine. “I was so surprised that the nurse practitioner took the time to call me the next day, on her day off, to see how I was doing.”
Phyllis goes to exercise classes regularly to build strength, she does balance exercises at home, and she worries less about breaking a bone. “it’s great to know my bones are getting stronger,” she said. “This has been a good experience, and I would recommend it to others who have osteoporosis.”
David Bowles - Spinal Cord Stimulation & Implantable Pulse Generator
“I trust Dr. Kotecha fully with my life,” said Florida resident David Bowles. “In fact, I flew 1,200 miles so he could perform my surgery.” Since 2003, neurosurgeon Nilesh Kotecha, MD, has virtually rebuilt David’s neck and spine—most recently with spinal cord stimulation implants. “I believe I would be paraplegic if it weren’t for him,” David said.
David, who 54 and originally from Michigan, has suffered from severe chronic pain for most of his adult life. In his youth, David was a bull rider and enjoyed motorcycle racing, competitive skiing, and other “daredevil” sports. Later, he became a registered nurse, but an injury while working with a combative mental health patient caused David his first of three mini-strokes—resulting in nerve damage, pain and numbness.
This, in combination with rheumatoid arthritis and multiple herniated discs, substantially affected David’s quality of life. Through a series of spine surgeries, he maintained the ability to move and walk, and he had limited control of his hands and fingers. But his pain and weakness remained, and he chose not to use pain medication. David moved to Florida to take advantage of the warm weather, but kept in contact with Dr. Kotecha.
In 2009, Dr. Kotecha told David about Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), a therapy that has been used for more than 40 years to help people control chronic pain through electrical impulses. An implantable pulse generator (IPG) is inserted under the skin, typically through outpatient surgery. Attached to the IPG are insulated wires that deliver electrical
impulse therapy along the spinal cord. Following surgery, the IPG is programmed, and the patient can control the intensity of the therapy, or turn it off, using a small wireless remote. “Pain is an electrical signal that travels along the spinal cord to the brain,” Dr. Kotecha explained.
“In SCS, electrical impulses are sent to specific locations on the spinal cord, masking the pain signals and replacing them with a smooth, tingling sensation called paresthesia. SCS can provide long-lasting pain relief. For David Bowles, it will also improve his neurological functions.”
At his first post-surgical visit to Dr. Kotecha, David received a good report. “I am really looking forward to going back to the Florida sunshine and living my life,” David said. “A simple thing like going from the outdoor heat into an air conditioned store used to cause me excruciating pain, because my nervous system couldn’t make the adjustment. Now I’ll be able to enjoy simple pleasures like shopping and swimming in my pool. I thank God and this phenomenal surgeon for giving that back to me.”
Praises for Patient-Centered Physical Therapy
In December 2011 Nancy Vannest was enjoying a ski trip in California
when she injured her leg. As a result, Nancy began to feel discomfort in her
back and knew something wasn’t right. She decided to seek the advice of
Allegiance Physiatrist Michelle Brewer, DO.
After diagnosing Nancy as having a herniated disc, Dr. Brewer explained
three options for treatment, sharing the benefits and potential risks of each
one.
“Dr. Brewer was stellar,” Nancy said. “She’s knowledgeable and has a
great bedside manner. We’re so lucky to have her at Allegiance.”
Nancy considered Dr. Brewer’s recommendations and opted for the most
conservative approach—physical therapy. An appointment was made for her to see
a physical therapist at Allegiance Physical Rehabilitation.
“My therapist stayed with me every minute of my therapy to make sure my
posture was correct,” Nancy said. “She took time to explain everything, like
the importance of developing a strong core to protect my back, so that I would
know how to reinforce my therapy at home. She also carefully monitored my
comfort level with each new exercise, and made therapy a pleasant experience.”
Thanks to two months of physical rehabilitation Nancy was able to avoid
surgery. “My back is manageable now, and with my therapist’s help, I know what
to do if I experience any discomfort. She educated me and made me feel like a
partner in my own recovery process.”