Turning Away from Back Surgery with Determination and Physical Therapy

When BP, a 51-year-old avid skier, fitness enthusiast, and former triathlete, came to Between the Lines Physical Therapy, he was staring down the prospect of back surgery scheduled for just two months later. After enduring a flare-up of radicular symptoms from his L4-5-S1 during family trips to Disney and the Masters, he found himself struggling with right lower extremity weakness, drop foot, and extreme back pain that he would describe as debilitating. Although he had tried stretching and found some temporary relief from epidurals, his symptoms persisted. BP’s goals were clear: strengthen his core before the planned spinal fusion in July 2023, return to exercise, and, hopefully, get back to skiing. The MRI results and special tests confirmed he had a herniated disc, and even his wife—an ER physician and orthopedic surgeon—believed surgery might be his only option for relief and to prevent recurrence.

Determined not to go under the knife without exploring every alternative, BP and his wife found Between the Lines Physical Therapy. Drawn to our sports-focused approach, BP signed up immediately. His initial therapy was simple yet targeted, incorporating soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, electrical stimulation, and fundamental core exercises. As BP progressed, we began to see significant improvements in core activation and a reduction in drop foot symptoms. With these improvements, we advanced his core exercises to challenge him in not only the sagittal plane but also the transverse plane, incorporating rotational movements both with body weight and with added load.

A few weeks into therapy, BP faced his big test—another trip to Disney with his family. He wanted to see if his progress was enough to avoid surgery, which he really didn’t want to go through. He walked extensively during the trip, diligently kept up with his home exercise program, and, to his delight, returned to report that he was virtually pain-free, with no radicular symptoms into his right lower leg. A follow-up appointment with his neurosurgeon confirmed the good news, and the surgeon felt confident enough to cancel the surgery.

With the immediate crisis behind him, BP continued his therapy at Between the Lines, shifting his focus from just being able to work out to wanting to fully enjoy his passions again—golfing and skiing. Our sessions evolved to reflect these new goals. We began integrating more activity-specific exercises, including power, balance, and strength work that simulated the movements of skiing and golfing. BP even accepted the challenge of joining the “1000 lbs club” (lifting a combined total of 1,000 lbs between deadlift, squat, and bench press), and he successfully completed it—no easy feat by any means!

I can confidently say that BP has not only met his goals but exceeded them. I’ve experienced it firsthand—I’ve joined him on the mountains for a day of skiing (or snowboarding, in my case), where he tried to leave me in the dust, and we’ve enjoyed countless rounds of golf together. We also work out every other week and have a tradition of switching off who cooks on the smoker—everything from ribs and bacon to chicken wings and BBQ mac and cheese. It’s always a good time, both in the gym and at the dinner table.

BP still claims he’ll beat me in golf before the year ends—challenge accepted! What I truly admire about him is his unwavering determination; he trusted the process, received the information well, and committed himself fully to his recovery. Now, over a year and several months since our first visit, he continues to push his limits and challenge himself every day. His story is a testament to the incredible power of conservative treatment, proving that with the right approach, physical therapy can do wonders.

Thank you, BP, for allowing me to share your story. Your success is an inspiration, and I’m grateful to be part of your journey.

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