There’s never a good time for back pain - and sometimes it shows up at the worst moment possible. For Brian, two flare-ups years apart could have disrupted important moments, but quick treatment from Dr. Kyle Young and the team at Commonwealth kept him moving forward.
It all started about four years ago when Brian was attending a conference in Seattle. While doing some dumbbell squats in the hotel gym, he felt an intense pain in his lower back. Not good, especially when the next few days would be filled with sitting and socializing.
He tried everything he could to feel better so he could enjoy the conference, from over-the-counter medication to ice and heat, but nothing worked.
Back in Louisville and still in pain, he saw an orthopedic surgeon, who discovered he had a herniated disc. Surgery wasn't necessary. Instead, Brian received a referral to see Dr. Kyle Young at Commonwealth Pain & Spine, who gave him some good news.
“He said one epidural in my back would relieve a lot of my pain, and he was right,” says Brian. “Immediately, 85% of the pain in my back was gone. I was able to stand up straight for the first time in a week or two. It was like a miracle.”
Steroid injections can be very effective for patients with herniated discs. “They reduce inflammation around the affected nerves and in most cases provide relief that allows patients to move, exercise, and heal without needing surgery,” says Dr. Young. “And for many patients like Brian, all you need is one injection to feel better.”
A Summer Setback: When Lower Back Pain Strikes Again
It took only one visit for Brian to return to normal, and for years, his back felt fine. But then earlier this year, while he was preparing his pontoon for a summer on the river, he felt a similar pain in his lower back.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Brian and his wife were about to take a trip of a lifetime to Rome to visit their daughter, who was studying in Italy and France. “I didn't know what I was going to do,” says Brian. “We were going to be doing a lot of walking, a lot of sightseeing. I knew, with my back pain, I was going to be miserable.”
Immediately, he called Commonwealth and was able to see Dr. Young within a day. Not only did he give Brian another epidural that, again, relieved most of his pain immediately, he sent him home with medication he could bring with him to Europe. That way, Brian could spend time with his family rather than trying to find medical treatment abroad.
Ciao, Rome. Goodbye, Pain
Brian and his wife logged about 16,500 steps a day while in Rome, taking in the wonders of the ancient city like the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. The medication Dr. Young prescribed not only came in handy, but it also gave Brian a chance to enjoy a special time with his family without having to worry about pain.
“When I called them, they understood the urgency and helped me quickly,” says Brian. “The office staff was just phenomenal. And as someone who’s worked in healthcare, I know how rare that kind of responsiveness can be. Commonwealth was a real lifesaver.”
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