Mary Free Bed Spine Center patient Ann Ward: ‘They truly gave me my life back’
Ann Ward has a posse of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild, and she doesn’t have time for pain. The retired Grattan Township paramedic suffered from near-disabling back pain and came to the Mary Free Bed Spine Center for treatment. In this video, Ann shares how Spine Center specialists helped identify the source of her pain […]
Patient continues rehabilitation journey at home
Trula Schutt came to Mary Free Bed for rehabilitation after back surgery to treat spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes pain. She eventually gained enough strength to walk with a walker, then on her own before graduating from the inpatient program. But Trula still needed a little help, so she transitioned […]
Effective therapies for patients with spinal cord injury
A customized therapy plan is crucial for patients who have sustained a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury. The Spinal Cord Injury Team at Mary Free Bed collaborates to determine the most appropriate rehabilitation methods to promote motor recovery after a spinal cord injury. Mary Free Bed therapist Kristina Simpson, PT, MSPT, recently authored an article, “Promoting Motor […]
Marcus’ message of determination: ‘Whatever you want to be, you can be it’
Congrats are in order for Marcus Fairfield and Liz Lauer! This week, the new parents welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their family. A rollover accident in April left Marcus with a paralyzing spinal cord injury. He graduated this fall from Mary Free Bed after months of intensive inpatient rehabilitation where he focused on maximizing his strength, […]
Man Overcomes Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Restores His Independence
Robert Clark, an avid tennis player, awoke with a severe backache after an exhausting match the day before. His condition deteriorated from there – loss of finger, hand, arm and leg movement until Robert was completely paralyzed. His diagnosis turned out to be Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious disorder that occurs when the body’s immune […]
Robert Clark Defies Odds After Suffering Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Robert Clark’s morning seemed ordinary enough. He went through his normal routine and played tennis. It wasn’t until the backache set in that he thought something might be wrong. He went home and took some ibuprofen, something he rarely resorted to. The next day, his back felt better, but his fingertips tingled and one side […]
Horseback riding accident leaves competitor with spinal cord injury
Dr. Alice Gale has always been active. Last year, if she wasn’t at her dermatology practice, she was outside running, riding her bike or maybe at the gym. For as long as she can remember, she’s ridden horses, and for the past 20 years, she’s jumped horses competitively. Last February, Alice was in Florida for […]
Told he’d never walk again, Bob is back on his feet
For the second time that winter, Bob Dykstra and his friends jumped on their snowmobiles and shot into the woods. Always a fan of snow sports, Bob was eager to tear up the powder. They approached a hill that they’d gone over hundreds of times before. Bob flew over the pinnacle and instead of landing […]
Motivation during therapy: Returning to life without chronic pain
Research shows nearly everyone at some point in their lives will experience back pain that interferes with work, daily activities or recreation. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason people visit their doctor, and Americans spend $50 billion each year on this ailment. Carol Doubblestein experienced chronic back pain for more than […]