I
am 57 years old this month and my journey to better health started over a year
ago. I am an avid amateur golfer and like to compete from time to time. I also
have an addiction to bow hunting, which finds me often on long hikes, carrying
my pack and gear at high altitudes and over rough terrain in the fall. I have
noticed over the last several years that aches and pains were getting more and
more common. I had taken Celebrex, a powerful NSAID, every day for the last 8 years,
which made my pain tolerable. I had also noticed pain in my right hip after
every round or when I would hit balls on the range. I really couldn’t play without pain and numbness, but it was tolerable. One day when seeing patients in my office as a
surgeon, I took a little misstep followed by immediate numbness in my right leg
all the way down to my toes. I immediately scheduled an MRI on myself followed
by an appointment to my orthopedic surgeon. It was discovered that I did not
have a disc issue; I just had arthritis in my facet joint between the lumbar
5th vertebra and the first sacral vertebrae. In other words I was just wearing
out and getting old!
Fortunately a friend of mine, Paul Stankowski, who plays on the PGA tour was
helping us with our tournament and heard my story. I can remember where I was
on the practice range when he grabbed both shoulders and said, “stop messing
around and go see Doc Troy”. He told me he had initially gone to the same
therapists I had gone to, but only found success with Wes and Troy and Chirosport Specialists of Dallas in Addison. He literally called the number for me and watched me
make the appointment.
That
was the beginning of my road to recovery. I discovered Active Release Therapy
(ART) and was transferred
over to Damon and his team of trainers at Synergy Athletic Performance. I worked with Damon
initially, and then was able to get into the semi-private group program, which
was much more cost effective for me personally. I get two coached sessions per
week and work out on my own when I can. They have been very
flexible with my surgical schedule, which was the only way I could actually do
it. The one thing I did right is that I just continued to work the program. I
will say that for 4 to 5 months I would have my ups and down and doubts, but Doc Troy and
the Synergy team kept telling me to be patient as it took time to gain the
flexibility and strength needed to recover. Although I am a control freak and
impatient from birth, I stayed the course and kept my discipline.
Starting
in January, I added a healthy diet to my regimen. I started My Fit Foods. As a
physician this made great sense with the low glycemic index, no preservatives,
and no artificial sweeteners. I can’t tell you how I feared this part, as I am
an old Garland boy who ate terribly...comfort food was my life. However I
decided that I needed to give my health the full court press before I gave up
my passions.
I
am ecstatic to say that the last 3 months my recovery has been amazing. A
healthy diet has not only allowed me to lose weight but to add muscle mass,
feeling stronger every week. I have lost 38 pounds since January 1, 2012. My
core and glute strength has finally reached a point that I feel incredibly
stable. My performance evaluations have progressed at every step. My range of motion is
improved dramatically in all joints including my Thoracic spine, which has
greatly improved my swing. My golf pro has put me on the video monitor and
remarked how this was the most stable he had ever seen me.
I
am back to playing golf regularly, working out with Carly at Synergy 2 times
per week and feel better than I have in 10 years! I still am 57 years
old and have my aches and pains but I have taken Celebrex only 5 or 6 times
since January! I don’t know how long it will be until my body plays out. None
of us know that. However I can tell you that I am totally committed to staying
with this program as long as the good Lord allows me to. It just makes sense to
keep the joints supple with ART. I want to remain as flexible and strong as I
can for as long as I can to optimize my quality of life.
I
could not be more pleased with the individualized treatment and training I have
received from Chirosport Specialists of Dallas and Synergy Athletic Performance.
That may sound like a commercial, but I am not getting paid a dime to say it. I
just write this so that other old “boys and girls” like me might have hope and
be encouraged to stay the course. You will only get out of it, what you put
into it yourself. Thanks
to all for taking such good care of me this past year. The change has been
dramatic. The only negative is the expense of an entirely new wardrobe!
Jay
Burns MD
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