What does chronic back pain really cost? For Rachel, a 35-year-old teacher and mother of two from Maryland, the price was 20 years of her life spent watching from the sidelines. Twenty years of declining invitations, making excuses, and slowly shrinking her world to fit around constant pain. Her symptoms began as a teenager and…
If you’ve tried everything for headache relief with no lasting results, you’re not alone. Headaches affect an astonishing 40% of the global population, impacting more than 3 billion people worldwide. Yet despite being the most common form of pain, headaches remain one of the most misunderstood and dismissed health conditions. Dr. Ella Akkerman, a board-certified…
What if the secret to healing faster was already in the air you breathe? In a special on-location episode of the Get Back to Your Life® Podcast, Dr. Christopher Good, Spine Surgeon and President at VSI, reveals one of the latest breakthroughs in spine surgery recovery: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This innovative treatment is now being…
Lizette was an athlete, a mom, and an outdoors lover whose life changed when unpredictable, stabbing back pain made even lifting her baby impossible. For years, she chased relief that never lasted until she found a team that focused on recovery, not just the next procedure. “I felt like when I got to VSI and…
You can find more about Jakki’s story, featured on WebMD.com. May is Women’s Health Month, a time to raise awareness about women’s health issues and celebrate the strength and resilience of women. There isn’t a better example of this strength than the story of a VSI patient named Jakki, and how she overcame her Bertolotti…
Bertolotti syndrome is a significantly under-recognized spine condition that can lead to debilitating lower back and leg symptoms. Despite its impact, it is frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed entirely. In this powerful episode of the Get Back to Your Life® podcast, spine surgeon and Bertolotti syndrome expert Dr. Colin Haines and his patient Janel share an…
It’s never easy when you experience pain, but there’s no question it’s more difficult than ever when doctors can’t figure out the cause, like with Bertolotti’s Syndrome. When that happens, you need a doctor detective – one who is willing to take the time to help you figure out what’s going on and most importantly…
If you think migraines are just headaches, think again. In this episode of the Get Back to Your Life® podcast, neurologist Dr. Ella Akkerman breaks down the debilitating nature of migraines and why it’s time we take them seriously. “Migraines are not just bad headaches. They’re disabling, life-changing. And so do not sit in silence…
In this special Mental Health Awareness Month episode of the VSI Get Back to Your Life® podcast, two VSI physicians share a compelling discussion on the deep connection between emotional well-being and physical pain. Dr. Ella Akkerman, a neurologist at VSI, brings her expertise in the brain and mental health to this conversation while Dr….
Still in pain after spine surgery? You’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not out of options. If your surgical procedure didn’t align with your expectations and deliver the relief you were looking for, or your symptoms have returned, it may have left you feeling frustrated about where to turn next. In the latest episode…
