"I think I found the person who can help me."

Those were the words Kellie whispered to her husband at 2 a.m. after nearly 20 years of chronic back pain, four failed surgeries, and doctors who kept telling her there was nothing more they could do.

In this episode, Kellie shares the emotional reality of living with Bertolotti Syndrome, a frequently overlooked spinal condition that robbed her of running, fitness teaching, and too many moments with her kids. We're also joined briefly by her two children, who reflect on what it was like growing up watching their mom push through it all.

This is a story about chronic pain, motherhood, medical gaslighting, and what happens when you refuse to stop searching for answers.

In this episode, Kellie joins us to talk about:

• Living with chronic back pain as a mother

• What pain looks like from a child's perspective

• Bertolotti Syndrome and why it's so often missed

• The link between chronic pain and mental health

• Self-advocacy when doctors say there's nothing left to try

• What it feels like to finally get your life back

From missing moments with her children to questioning whether she would ever run again, Kellie opens up about the reality so many women silently live through while continuing to show up for the people they love most.

If you've ever been told your pain is something you just have to live with, or if you love someone who has, Kellie's story is a powerful reminder that your pain is real, and the right answers may still be out there.

If you've been living with back or neck pain for a while, and now spine surgery is part of the conversation, it can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to decide between disc replacement and spinal fusion.

You may find yourself searching for answers, reading other patients' stories, and wondering what the right decision actually is.

In this episode of Get Back to Your Life®, VSI spine surgeon Dr. Colin Haines and physical therapist, Larry Grine, break down how these decisions are made, what makes someone a candidate for disc replacement vs. fusion, and what patients can expect throughout the recovery process.

You'll learn:

• The key differences between Disc Replacement and Spinal Fusion

• How anatomy, lifestyle, and long-term goals influence surgical decisions

• Specialized methods that lead to smoother recovery and better outcomes

• What to expect after spine surgery, from early movement to returning to daily activities

• How a coordinated surgeon + physical therapy teamwork approach supports long-term success

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, this conversation will help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

"I was told I needed a multi-level fusion. I didn't even know disc replacement existed."

Nick's back pain started in his early 20s. After a discectomy in his mid-20s, he returned to an active life — until years later when severe sciatica came back and began affecting everything from his ability to put on a belt or sit in a chair.

Multiple surgical consultations led to the same recommendation: spinal fusion. But Nick, an active CPA, soon-to-be dad, and lifelong athlete, wasn't willing to accept that as his only option.

In this episode, Nick shares what happened when he pushed for clarity instead of settling for a single answer. Through additional opinions and independent research, he discovered a motion-preserving alternative to fusion, called artificial disc replacement.

That realization ultimately led him to VSI and Spine Surgeon Dr. Ehsan Jazini, where Nick learned he was a candidate for a three-level disc replacement.

Today, he reports zero back pain since surgery and has returned to skiing, running, swimming, weightlifting and living without restrictions.

This conversation explores important questions for anyone facing spine surgery:

• How do you know if you're being told about all your options?
• When should you get a second—or fourth—opinion?
• What is the difference between spinal fusion and artificial disc replacement?
• What does recovery look like after multi-level disc replacement surgery?

If you've been told spinal fusion is your only option, or if you're scheduling your life around your back pain, this episode could change your path forward.

Ready to explore your options? Visit VSIspine.com to schedule a consultation with a spine specialist who can discuss both fusion and disc replacement candidacy.

📺 Watch this full episode on YouTube

💡 Read Nick's story in this blog.

🔔 Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® podcast for more expert advice for taking control of your health.

How do you stay active when pain keeps getting in the way?
If your fitness goals get off track because of pain, you're not alone — and even better, you're not out of options.

Pushing through pain, ignoring warning signs, or waiting to "get better first" often leads to setbacks, frustration, and giving up altogether. Most of us aren't lacking motivation; we're missing a clear plan for what to do before surgery becomes the only option.

In this episode, VSI physiatrist and Director of Regenerative Medicine Dr. Niteesh Bharara and VSI physical therapist Greg Morris deliver a practical, hopeful reality check. Together, they walk through the non-operative path that's often missing from traditional care — what exists between "just wait" and surgery — showing how physical therapy and natural healing work together to address the root cause of pain, support real tissue healing, and help people return to training without the extensive recovery that often comes with surgery.

This episode is for you if:

• You have fitness goals, but pain keeps interrupting your progress

• You've been told to "just wait" or "push through it"

• You want real, non-surgical options to move forward

If pain has left you feeling stuck or unsure of what to do next, this episode shows there is another path forward: one that helps you keep moving, training, and doing the activities you love.

📺 Watch this full episode on YouTube
🔗 Find expert resources at VSISpine.com

🔔 Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® podcast for more expert advice for taking control of your health.

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.

🔗 Find expert resources at VSISpine.com

💡 Read Rachel's story & recovery experience

🔔 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.