FIVE STARS for Dr. Josey for NOT OPERATING on me. :) Here is why:
Well, a long overdue review, but in 2014, I was DISABLED with excruciating neck/shoulder pain that came in spasms of stabbing pain with on-going numbing extending down my hand. I couldn't dress myself or look over my left shoulder driving and work was starting to be impossible. I was piling on pain-killers but going downhill. I started with the also awesome shoulder doctor in the same practice as Dr. Josey, based on my perception that the pain was in my shoulder and a friend who highly recommended him from her experience years before (non-surgical treatment). That dr took time to manipulate my shoulder and arm and confidently pronounced that my issue wasn't shoulder-related. Now, here I will go into lay-person observation :)...I believe that he was right that it wasn't something he, a shoulder surgeon, was going to be able to fix with his tools. He appropriately referred me to his associate Dr. Josey, a neck specialist. The rest of my journey is below and I credit each of the professionals with me being healthy today, those who told me what it wasn't, in addition to those who finally solved the problem. That is, THANK YOU for not rushing to a surgical option when my problem wasn't surgical. :) :) :)
Dr. Josey and his WONDERFUL PA ID'd two badly herniated discs in my neck but said the pain wasn't related to these (wrong symptoms), so Dr. Josey recommended immediate pain relief through steroidal shots and then PT. Dr. Josey told me that a relative of his had had similar shots 12 years before for similar pain and it had never returned. I left with hope that I might find a solution soon that could be long-lasting.
The rest of my story: the Dr he referred me to for the shots is a chronic pain specialist who re-examined me and my scans and then used a skeletal replica of a neck to explain in more detail why the pain I was experienced didn't seem related at all to my herniated discs. He agreed my pain was real, though, and that I was so much in pain the shots would help me with my daily activities and get going with PT. I will always be grateful for the two surgeons and this pain specialist who validated my pain AND reassured me that they would be happy to see me again IF I needed them but that non-surgery deserved a chance.
Within a month (the shots took 3-4 weeks to take effect), I was in physical therapy (PT). My PT identified general muscle weakness in my upper back and shoulder, typical of many office workers and my general lack of exercise anyway, but most crucially she ID'd that I was most responsive to pressure-point massage, what she called Active Release Therapy (ART). While she didn't offer it herself, another patient told us both about a local chiropractor who offers ART. OMG!!!!! I NEVER thought I'd be interested in a chiropractor, and I still have zero interest in adjustment (yes, tried it once), but the ART technique was SUCH A RELIEF, every time I walked out after a session of ART, then PT immediately following on-site, I felt amazing. The relief lasted longer and longer each time and meanwhile I picked up other strength exercises via a new workout program, only adding exercises that didn't hurt, which were more and more. I still catch myself having to remember to un-hunch over a computer (like now, over this review, haha), sit straight shoulders back during meetings, and lift my phone to my face instead of leaning my head and neck over my phone, but I am HAPPILY CURED still, years later. I tell people about ART all the time AND remind folks that it takes a long time for the body to run down and it took a year from when I first saw the shoulder surgeon through PT, ART, more PT, and general fitness, but it pays off! Everyone of these folks was a necessary part of the journey, but ultimately it was the shots for immediate relief, ART, PT, and strength training which healed me.
Bless Dr. Josey for being such an amazing dr that he could say confidently refer me to a non-surgical option. :) read more