Patient Testimonials

Chris Jackson - Following his Passion to Motocross Gold

Two years ago, Chris Jackson was practicing at an indoor arena motocross track in Portland. He had successfully maneuvered a few laps but went flying into the “rhythm section” - a series of mounds and ruts - on the track. Chris got out of synch in the section, his hand cramped and locked on the throttle and he hit one of the rhythm mounds short. He was thrown 15 feet from his bike, hit the ground hard, landed on another bike and crushed the bones in his right wrist. Before that day, Chris had competed in Motocross for five and a half years. His goal was to compete in a sanctioned 70-mile race at 50 years of age. Now that dream was in jeopardy.

When he came to The Center for treatment, Dr. Verheyden discussed the wisdom or lack of it for a man of 50 to be riding competitive dirt bikes. Chris had to laugh because Dr. Verheyden had come into the clinic straight off the mountain wearing ski gear. They both joked about the dangers of their respective passions.

Chris’ wrist had swelled black and blue and he was in considerable pain. Diagnostic testing revealed multiple severely displaced fractures in the wrist joint and he was taken to surgery that evening. Dr. Verheyden put a long metal plate with pins in Chris’ wrist to stabilize the fractures, a cast on his forearm which was later replaced with a smaller splint and then a supporting brace. The procedure restored the joint surface allowing for expedited range of motion and rehabilitation.

Chris did rehab exercises at home, using the weight of a framing hammer to strengthen his hand or using the resistance of his other hand for stretching. He was motivated by some of his friends and family’s poor health. He had lost a brother early to diabetes, one sister has Parkinson’s Disease, his other sister has rheumatoid arthritis, and many of his friends were limited due to health issues. He felt fortunate to be able to compete at all. According to Chris “I feel blessed to be able to do motocross. And I hope that my story — a 50 year old man who was determined to follow his passion — can inspire kids to follow their dreams.”

His recovery was startling. He played golf — pain free — one week after the cast was removed and was back on his bike one month after surgery. And by the way, earlier this year, Chris did enter the Fall Classic in Bend — a strenuous 70-mile, over three-hour cross country race sanctioned by the AMA. 250 racers competed and Chris took first place in the 50B+ class. Chris is back!

Jill Sweeney's Story

Growing up in Walterville, OR, Jill Sweeney learned to ski when she was five and was often found on the slopes of the local ski resort at Willamette Pass Mountain. Fifteen years later, she moved to Bend and the slopes of Mt. Bachelor to pursue her passion for competitive freestyle and half pipe skiing. Then, January 12, 2005, "it" happened. On a run through the park, she hit a jump perfectly. Flying through the air some 35 feet above the slope, her 360 was flawless. But the landing…well, not so much. When her skis hit the snow, Jill's right binding instantly broke loose and she went down hard. Seconds later she realized she could not pull herself up out of the snow and her boyfriend dragged her off the course to avoid the next wave of skiers. An MRI revealed the damage – the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee had ruptured – a torn ACL. But with the competition season just getting underway, Jill decided that this "inconvenience" would not deter her. "I am not a sideline person," Jill said. So she strapped on a brace and persevered through the season. On the very last day of the 2005 ski season, Jill hobbled off the slopes and into the offices of The Center and the capable hands of Dr. Tim Bollom. According to Jill, "I was impressed that Dr. Bollom came from Colorado, where he already had a reputation for innovative work with athletes. He knew the latest techniques and made me feel very comfortable." After surgery, Jill began a vigorous rehabilitation routine to prepare for the next ski season and regain the full strength of her leg. Just six months after surgery, Jill felt ready. She hiked up Mt. Bachelor and made a run down Thunderbird. She was back. In 2007, she picked up a sponsorship with ROXY, and finished in the top ten in several U. S. freestyle events. Jill continues competing and this season's events include the U.S. Open in Vail, CO. "Thanks to Dr. Bollom and the great staff and facilities at The Center, I can hit the park as hard as ever. I'm working on new tricks and higher jumps. I feel strong, again. This year could be my best."

Aimee Baillargeon - My Story

There are not many subjects I can say I am an expert on, but if I had to choose one now, I would say “pain.”

On the morning of November 16, 2006, I had just dropped my kids off at school and was headed home for a run. I was stopped in traffic waiting for the car in front to turn. In an instant I heard a deafening crash of steel and felt a tremendous jolt from behind. My journey of pain had begun.

The accident left me with a concussion and whiplash. The damage done to the ligaments and facet joints of my neck was so bad that I was virtually bedridden with pain for the next 16 months. And I’m talking about a chronic, nauseating, debilitating, utterly frustrating pain that settles in your neck, head and eyes then never leaves. When lying down, I could not lift my head. I would get sick and dizzy just turning my neck. Even my scalp hurt!

At the time of my accident, I was a mom, a wife and a successful businesswoman. I was also an avid athlete. Over the years, I was able to compete in any sport I wanted, with almost no limitations. Volleyball, fox hunting, extreme kayaking, bungee jumping, paragliding, swimming, triathlons, downhill skiing, and mountain biking. But now even the simplest of tasks such as cooking dinner for my family and taking care of my home were left undone.

Yes, I sought treatment. Orthopedists, chiropractors, physical therapists, medication. Nothing provided long term releif. I was miserable and frustrated.

Enter my new best friend, Dr. Jonathan Swift of The Center. If you felt pain like I did, you’d want him to be your best friend too. Dr. Swift introduced me to a treatment called a “Rhizotomy” or RSA. An RSA is a procedure that blocks the nerves from the jointssignaling to your brain that you are experiencing pain. Though an RSA is not appropriate for every case, it was right for me. My pain has faded away.

At a point where I began to lose hope for being even half the person I once was, I can now say five months after my procedure that I am on my way to recovery. Luckily for me, and others like me, there is help at The Center.

Rebecca Randle, 27, had suffered from a back problem for years. But a car accident 2 years ago aggravated the pain. After Rebecca started losing some feeling in her skin, her doctor began tests. In July 2004 an MRI showed a thoracic spinal cord tumor, later determined to have been growing for nearly ten years. He immediately referred Rebecca to Dr. Tien, who performed surgery and resected the tumor. Against probability, the surgery was completed without fusing her spine, and with very minimal nerve damage. The complete removal of the tumor has been shown in subsequent tests and bone that was displaced is growing back correctly. Rebecca was impressed with Dr. Tiens bedside manner, and said, He was really good about explaining everything, and he took my concerns to heart. Rebecca expects a full recovery.

Joann Groscop, 50, moved to Bend last year for a job. After her arrival, she began having flu-like symptoms and severe headaches, which her doctor treated for several months until the symptoms became so severe that she could not function. Finally in October 2004, her doctor became concerned about complications from a previous condition and referred her to Dr. Tien. A CT scan immediately showed a brain tumor, and after a very specialized MRI gave them a road map to the exact location of the tumor, Dr. Tien performed surgery, removing the tumor from its precarious position in the center of the brain. Joann attributes Dr. Tien with saving her life, and appreciates the care with which it was done. Dr. Tien was very technical, very knowledgeable, and very precise, she said. He spent time with my family and myself making sure we were as comfortable as the situation allowed. After follow-up MRIs, Joann has been given a clean bill of health.

Justin Yax, 33, a recreational triathlete, endured ankle pain for nearly a year before a bike ride to Mt. Bachelor in August 2003 worsened his condition. He then researched foot and ankle specialists in the area and decided on Dr. Anthony Hinz for his expertise, but also because he was a fellow athlete. Dr. Hinz diagnosed a torn peroneal tendon in Justins ankle in one of the worst cases he had ever seen (specific to the injury). He then performed surgery, fusing the torn tendon to another tendon. After five months of physical therapy, Justin was able to swim, jog, and later ride a stationary bike. In August 2004, his athletic comeback was realized when he competed in the Vineman Half Ironman triathlon in Napa. Today, Justin is fully recovered, and attributes his condition to Dr. Hinz. Without him I would probably be limping along, still. He took the fear out of the surgery, and made me comfortable enough to go ahead with it.

Steve Stenzel, 49, suffered a traumatic cervical spinal cord injury and shattered knee when he fell through a ceiling during a construction project in July 2004. That day at St. Charles Medical Center, Dr. Tien and Dr. Smith were both on call. Dr. Tien immediately performed surgery fusing broken vertebrae from the front of the neck. Steves knee was so swollen that Dr. Smith was forced to wait a week before operating, but then the knee was reconstructed and following physical therapy, was returned to a fully functioning condition. Steve was grateful that Dr. Smith was there that day, saying, She is one of the top-notch doctors for sports related injuries. Two months after the accident, Dr. Tien performed a second surgical procedure, fusing the back of the neck vertebrae. Today, Steve can walk, drive and work in construction again. I owe what I have this day to Dr. Tien, he said, adding, His bedside manner was amazing he answered every question I had before he left every time.