In 2017 after almost 29 years of suffering with back and leg pain due to a car accident in which I was hit by a drunk driver, I was referred to Dr. Jeffrey D. Coe, by my primary, who is also a heart surgeon and who is another incredible Stanford Doc.
I had no idea this referral would drastically improve my quality of life. I had no reference to what 'normal' or 'pain free' would feel like.
Now, I am a walking testament to the orthopedic surgeon who stands behind his good name, Dr. Jeffrey D. Coe.
For three quarters of my life, my back and legs had increasing and sometimes debilitating, radiating pain, spasms, muscle cramps, decreased feeling and mobility and from the diaphragm down, temporary loss of the use of my legs and my mobility. During a sneeze, I had to double up into the fetal position or sit down so I did not fall down.
For 20+ years, I plowed through huge tubs of ibuprofen and doctors could not figure out why I was hurting. I was young. I had to retrain for work because I could no longer work as a Cosmetologist/stylist.
I was prescribed Tramadol in 2005 and it gave me 6 to 8 hours of relief every day so I could work in the field of O.T. where I could be more active and move around during the day.
My life in my 30's was only work. I had no energy for anything else because the pain sucked the life out of me. My social life suffered because I did not have the energy to put on the happy face to my friends and family and I avoided being around them.
I did repeat physical therapy, I stayed healthy, I researched every anti inflammatory and every alkalizing diet possible, I tried acupuncture, yoga and I had cortisone shots which were only short lived...Nothing was working. No doctor took me seriously because I looked healthy and I refused to give in.
In 2008, I woke up one morning and could not turn over. I had parasthesia from the diaphragm down and could not bear weight on my legs. I was yelled at by the ER doctor who implied that I was med seeking. I had NOT asked for medicine, I had said this to the EMTs who brought me in. I was not in pain that day, I just could not feel my legs. I was in the most incredible shape of my life but I could not stand up. This was humiliating.
Every morning, I had to get up 2 hours earlier to prepare to achieve resemblance of an able bodied person. Daily I hit the wall at 2:00 PM and fought sleep on the drive home from the life being sucked out of me by the pain.
In October of 2017, I was transferring a patient at work and I felt a jolt of lightning go through my spine. I felt as though I was being torn in half. My scream was an inhale. I could not stand up.
In December, it happened again and my boss drove me across the street in a wheelchair for an MRI, loudly joking that I had ruined Christmas this year! (She was saying this in jest. Two therapists now were out, needing surgery, coincidentally both done by Dr. Coe)
Dr. Coe started the 6 month process of diagnostics to ensure he would fuse the more debilitating vertebrae. He had two choices. He was precise and scientific. I knew that if someone was going to be operating on my spine, it HAD to be him.
I tried more injections, more acupuncture in his office and had some pretty reactive results. Still, nothing was relieving my symptoms.
Surgery was scheduled for June 1, 2017 with Fusion with instrumentation ie:" The cage."
Post surgery, ice was the key to my happiness! I finally got to read all 7 Harry Potter books but this got old fast.
I work in Occupational Therapy and it was very difficult for me to be on THAT side of the bed. I am the therapist, not the patient!
Dr. Coe and his PA, Melissa kept a tight eye on me throughout my recovery. They listened to every concern and kept me straight with the medications.
A year and 3 months later, I am ecstatic to report that I have decreased my Tramadol intake from 6 or 8 per day (11 years of this) to now, 2 or sometimes 3 per day.
I take gabapentin which is a lifesaver. Even though I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by a rheumatologist during the same year, I am living the life I never dreamed I could have!
I am up early with a clear head, I can jump right out of bed, go to work and I have plenty of energy left for socializing and working out, hiking, biking, kayaking, walking and playing with my two dogs and just about anything I want to do well into the night. I can sleep through the night which I do not even recall ever doing after age 17.
Anything is now possible because of the skilled hands and precision critical planning by Dr. Jeffrey Coe.
If I needed to do it all again tomorrow, I would.
It is very clear to me that Dr. Coe is an expert and that I was in good hands the whole time.
I gave him a small Toy Genie, the one from Aladdin to put in his pocket or on his desk as a reminder that he grants wishes!! read more
