When I first came to see Stefani Wylie at TexStar Physical Therapy, I had been suffering with hip pain for about a year. The pain was in my hip joint, and over time I had quit running, biking, and hiking because of the extensive pain. Even walking was becoming problematic, as was sitting, moving from sitting to standing, and it even hurt sometimes when I was just lying down. My general ability to function was becoming impaired.
I had been to 1 general doctor, 1 rheumatologist, 1 physical therapist and 3 orthopedists. An MRI had revealed nothing but a normal hip. I was on various pain medications much of the time, just to be functional. Three of the various professionals were convinced it was a labral tear (not showing up on the MRI) and that I needed surgery. I did not want surgery, and in a last ditch effort, I sought a third opinion from another orthopedist. He recommended physical therapy with Stefani before I considered surgery.
I feel so incredibly lucky and blessed to have found Stefani. The first session she told me she did not think it was a labral tear, and that we would work together to figure it out. I remember crying with relief and hope that maybe I wouldn’t have to have surgery after all.
It was not easy, however. It took 11 sessions over 3 months….sometimes it got better, but then sometimes it got worse. It was hard work, but when I got discouraged, Stefani did not let me give up. She kept reassuring me that hips were tricky and we would figure it out – to hang in there and keep trying.
No, it was not easy, but it was definitely worth it. She kept giving me different exercises and stretches to do until finally, one day, I had been doing a combination of exercises when my hip cracked so loudly, my husband across the room asked what had broken!
But with that crack, I felt something move in my hip…almost like something got back into place…and the pain was gone. I could hardly believe it! I was able to move with more ease than I had for months, and though muscles were a little sore, the pain was gone.
After a couple of weeks, I was back to running, cycling, and simply being able to move through the day normally…all pain free!
Stefani has a tremendous gift for helping and healing….a miracle worker as far as I’m concerned. I appreciate her vast knowledge and skills, and her ability to use those creatively until she found the solution. I also am grateful for her wonderfully positive attitude, her determination and her unfailing encouragement.
Stefani showed me the way out of pain and back into an active life, without surgery and without drugs. I literally feel like she’s given me my life back. I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude….thank you Stefani! |