Living with chronic back pain often means slowly adapting your life around it. Over time, everyday things – sitting comfortably, traveling, sleeping through the night, keeping up with family, start to require planning, compromise, or avoidance altogether. The hardest part isn't usually the pain itself, but the fear that this may simply be how life will always feel.

After nearly 20 years of back pain and multiple procedures, Rachel, a teacher and mom of two, found herself in that exact place. She describes years of temporary fixes "surgeries that helped, until they didn't," trying everything from lumbar fusion to chiropractors to injections, discectomy and physical therapy, yet lasting relief never came.

Eventually she was told disc replacement surgery wasn't an option for her. Instead, she was warned that her future would likely involve spinal fusion after spinal fusion, each one further limiting her mobility and quality of life. She felt trapped between continuing to manage her pain and facing an uncertain future of additional surgery.

Rather than accepting that outcome, Rachel decided to keep asking questions.

In this episode of Get Back to Your Life®, Rachel shares how seeking another opinion led her to two-level disc replacement surgery with Dr. Colin Haines at VSI®, and how that decision changed what daily life looks like for her today. Her story isn't defined by a single milestone; it instead highlights the return of everyday life… the moments that make life feel normal again… better sleep, greater independence, and the ability to fully participate in activities she had slowly stepped away from.

If you're facing chronic back pain, been told your options are limited, or wondering whether disc replacement may still be worth exploring, Rachel's story serves as a hopeful reminder that being told "no" doesn't always mean the story is over, and that asking the right questions can open doors many people don't realize still exist.

Watch this full episode on YouTube

Find expert resources at VSISpine.com

Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® podcast for more real-life patient stories on taking control of your health.

When headaches start shaping your decisions — what you say yes to, where you go, how you plan your day —they're so much more than "just a bad day." They're controlling your life. And you deserve better than living around your pain.

Migraines affect 40% of the global population, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood and dismissed health conditions; many sufferers wait YEARS before seeking help, enduring an invisible illness that disrupts work, sleep, relationships, and daily routines — often without validations or answers. If you've tried everything for relief with no lasting results, this episode is for you.

Recording this episode between Thanksgiving and Christmas isn't a coincidence. The holiday season—with its disrupted routines, travel stress, and dietary changes—creates the perfect storm for headaches and migraines. But these triggers aren't unique to the holidays; they show up during weddings, graduations, vacations, and any major life event. Understanding them now can help you year-round.

In this episode of Get Back to Your Life®, VSI Neurologist and migraine specialist Dr. Ella Akkerman breaks down what's actually happening in your brain during a headache or migraine, why certain types require completely different treatments, and how small daily disruptions can trigger a painful cycle. Drawing on both her clinical expertise and her own experience with migraines, Dr. Akkerman offers clarity, compassion, and a realistic path to relief.

You'll learn:

• The science behind different headache types— tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches—and why identifying yours changes everything

• How hormonal fluctuations (especially during perimenopause and menopause) can amplify migraine patterns

• Why the holiday season creates the "perfect storm" for headaches—and how to protect yourself

• Practical prevention strategies beyond medication, from hydration to stress management

• When it's time to see a neurologist and what treatment options actually work

Whether you're dealing with occasional tension headaches or chronic migraines that disrupt your daily life, this conversation offers validation, answers, and actionable steps toward real relief.

Key takeaway: You don't have to live with headaches in this era of breakthrough treatments. But the longer you wait, the harder they become to treat.

If headaches are interfering with your daily life, expert help is available. Visit VSIspine.com to request an appointment with a neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating complex headache conditions.

Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® for more physician-led guidance on taking control of your health.

To watch this conversation on Youtube, click here.

What if the secret to healing faster was already in the air you breathe?

VSI's state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen chamber delivers 100% oxygen under increased pressure, flooding the body's tissues with oxygen to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, and optimize recovery after spine surgery or orthopedic procedures. Dr. Good explains how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy works, who benefits most, and why it's quickly becoming a cornerstone of comprehensive recovery care.

At VSI, hyperbaric oxygen therapy represents more than a new technology, it reflects a new philosophy of healing. It's part of VSI's Recovery Revolution™, a patient-first model/movement that reimagines what recovery should look like before, during, and after spine surgery. Backed by data from a 50,000-patient study, VSI's recovery model/approach to recovery combines advanced surgical techniques, regenerative therapies, and proactive recovery planning to help patients heal faster, reduce pain, and return to life stronger than ever.

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How oxygen therapy accelerates healing and reduces pain
• Why it's becoming a key tool in spine surgery recovery
• What a hyperbaric session feels like, and who should consider it
• How oxygen therapy fits into VSI's Recovery Revolution™ model for optimal recovery outcomes.

Watch this full episode on VSI's YouTube channel to see Dr. Good discuss this breakthrough therapy alongside the hyperbaric oxygen chamber that's redefining recovery.

Want a closer look? Follow along Dr. Good's own hyperbaric session inside the chamber in this companion video on VSI's YouTube page.

For additional resources & support, visit us at VSISpine.com.