Phyllis Moore

It was the little things in life, such as walking to the mailbox and getting around her home that Phyllis Moore began to miss when the chronic low back pain she had been suffering from for many years started becoming debilitating severe. At the recommendation of her primary care physician, Phyllis sought the help of Dr .Nancy Vaughan of the Ohio Spine Institute at The Ohio Orthopedic Center of Excellence. Dr. Vaughan is a physiatrist or physical medicine and rehabilitation physician specializing in conservative and alternative treatments for both acute and chronic pain. “I was immediately impressed with Dr. Vaughan’s attitude and very thorough explanation of my options”, says Phyllis.

Weighing options such as injections, Phyllis understood there was a risk of failure, but felt the potential benefits clearly outweighed the risks, her pain was simply too severe to ignore any longer. Phyllis proceeded with a series of three steroid injections into the vertebral space between her 4th and 5th vertebrae, but with very little pain relief as a result. “By the time we got through the third injection, I could feel some relief, but not nearly enough,” Phyllis explains. At that time, Dr. Vaughan decided to turn the focus away from the disc problem, and focus on the spinal arthritis in the joint surrounding the disc that could have been either a source or a contributor to the pain. With Phyllis’ approval, Dr. Vaughan proceeded with a “Lumbar Facet Joint Injection.” This procedure works by placing numbing medicine into the joint itself which can not only help diagnose the joint as a possible source of pain, but additionally, the temporary relief of the numbing medicine may better allow a chiropractor or physical therapist to treat that joint. Also, time release cortisone will help to reduce any inflammation that may exist within the joint(s).

Within 2 to 3 days, Phyllis was back to walking around and feeling overall a lot better. “I am continuing with physical therapy with a pain medication regiment but am finally able to be on my feet walking around and that feels much better,” says Phyllis. “I am absolutely amazed at the facility, the genuine caring and friendliness from the staff, and all the different options for people with orthopedic problems they have in one place.” While Phyllis knows there is a possibility of her pain returning, she explains that her expectations were definitely met and she appreciates how much Dr. Vaughan truly cared for her.