GETTING ‘BACK’ TO WARRIOR MODE

When Heather Wright first came to visit me, she was in a lot of pain and she had been for years. The Air Force Captain had been a life-long athlete but her back pain was debilitating and she was frustrated.

“I was 22 years old when the pain started. It began as a minor inconvenience, a nagging ache, but over time, it developed into something larger that no conservative treatment could control. I tried everything to treat the two herniated discs. I saw doctors, nurse practitioners, sought out physical therapy, had x-rays and MRI’s. I tried epidurals, bilateral nerve blocks, traction, dry needling, TENS therapy, and a series of other pain management treatments. At one point I was told my core was so strong perhaps something else was wrong, other times, told that I had the back of an 80-year-old. Nothing worked,” Wright explained.

Heather found her way to me 11 years after her pain started. At the age of 33, I diagnosed her with retrolisthesis - backward slippage of the vertebrae - and radiculopathy which is compressed nerves resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, and/or weakness. Retrolisthesis is an instability in the spine and an assault on the discs but with that diagnosis, we could chart the path forward.

Heather and I agreed we would start treating her with the least invasive option which is regenerative medicine - stem cell therapy - using her body’s own tissue to try to heal itself. That worked for about two years and helped lessen the pain. In that time, she was able to compete in our nation’s 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games. She competed in 12 events in 5 different sports (rowing, cycling, field, shooting, and swim-ming) and she brought home 7 medals including Gold in the cycling time trial.

Photo Courtesy: DOD Warrior Games

As a Mentor and Ambassador for the Air Force Wounded Warrior program, Heather wanted to return to the competition again but the pain worsened again and sidelined her in 2020 as the benefits of the stem cell therapy wore off. Even cycling or swimming breast-stroke caused her pain for days. We always knew the regenerative medicine might not be a permanent fix for her condition and that surgery was a possibility. So in 2020, in order to get long-term relief, I performed a minimally invasive lumbar fusion on her.

Recovery did take time. This competitive athlete’s first goal was just walking for three sustained minutes. Then she worked on twisting, kneeling, bending and picking up her dog. She took her recovery very seriously, working diligently with physical therapists and carefully following all of our post-op recommendations. Within 26 days she had transitioned from a walker to a cane and she was on a path to get back in the gym and work her way back to training.

Photo courtesy: Barbara Wright

A little over one year later - she is back in competitive mode. She is looking forward to competing in the Invictus Games in 2023, now as a retired Captain, and this week she’s competing in six events at the Military Adaptive Sports Virtual Challenge. The virtual event for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans is being held in place of the 2021 DOD Warrior Games, which was canceled due to COVID concerns.

At VSI we’re always cheering our patients on - but this week, expect to hear us cheering especially loud for Heather as she returns to competition. She will compete in 6 events at this virtual competition by submitting videos of herself, and when possible taking part in challenges over Facebook Live. Her events include shooting, swimming, cycling, field, wheelchair basketball and Fit games (a series of 11 circuit exercises.)

Photo courtesy: Barbara Wright

“I’m grateful to have found resolution to 13 years of debilitating low back pain,” Heather says. “I’m so grateful for a second chance at an active life, competitive athletics and exploring activities that I can continue the rest of my life. This is all possible thanks to Virginia Spine Institute.”

Dr. Christopher Good is a spine surgeon and President of Virginia Spine Institute (VSI) in Reston, VA. He leads a multidisciplinary team that provides world-class, individualized care and pioneers breakthrough technology to more efficiently facilitate complex spinal procedures. Learn more about VSI here.

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