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Rachel Zimmer
A life coach and parent consultant, Rachel Zimmer was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease as a result of a head-on collision. Rachel was 27 when she had the accident, and she began suffering from extreme lower back pain and numbness as a result. Every part of Rachel’s life was a struggle, and she can remember gritting her teeth throughout the day because her pain continued to intensify. After her cortisone injections began to fail, Rachel was told she would have to undergo a spinal fusion. It was that news that encouraged her to see Dr. Blumenthal at Texas Back Institute.
“The Texas Back Institute was so thorough – they covered every aspect of how my accident did – and would – affect me,” she said. “They were so caring and supportive.”
In December 1995, Rachel had two Charité artificial discs placed in her back. She was in the hospital for two days, and then stayed an additional five days in a nearby hotel before flying home.
After three months of physical therapy, Rachel has made a complete recovery. “My recovery was amazingly easy, and there was absolutely no back pain,” she said.
Rachel is now back to playing with her kids, holding them and being active. She is even enjoying being able to exercise again. “Living with chronic back pain is miserable, and up until recently, the options haven’t been good,” she said. “Now, with the new technology, I would encourage people not to be afraid, and tell them it can truly get better,” she said.
Rachel has already recommended Texas Back Institute to a friend who is having his surgery with Dr. Blumenthal. She told him, “It was totally worth it.”