Lynn was hoping to avoid surgery following a bad fall that landed her in the hospital for 10 days injuring her neck, jaw, and low back. A friend suggested physical therapist Michael Louis. Her first session was in late October. Her second session was on Halloween and when Michael entered the treatment room dressed as the Grim Reaper, Lynn admittedly said she was scared. “That is not exactly what you want to see when you are in pain and not feeling good,” she said.
That inauspicious meeting was over 20 years ago. Today, their partnership has helped Lynn manage her chronic pain, avoid surgery, and address the unwelcome issues that naturally come with aging.
“Michael always greets me with jokes and laughter, but then he gets right to it and is very focused during our therapy sessions,” Lynn said. “Chronic pain is not something you just can’t fix or make it go away. With Michael every session is different. He will do an assessment to see where the issues are just gets going. I don’t have to say where it hurts.”
Using cranial sacral therapy and myofascial release, Michael’s approach is holistic in nature, treating the whole body and specializing in deep tissue treatments to free up the body in order to move.
“I never expected this to be a lifetime commitment,” Lynn added. “At the beginning, I was depressed because I couldn’t do what I used to do. Over time you learn to go with the flow and don’t worry about what you can’t do and embrace what you can do.”
Lynn’s struggle is daily, but not always top of mind. She has taken responsibility for her health, listens to her body, and learned from Michael the tools and exercises needed to mitigate her pain.
“Every morning I start the day with five minutes of stretching before I get out of bed,” she says.
“You have to keep moving throughout the day. Regardless of your issue, a PT can’t just fix a patient. You have to take responsibility for your recovery. I even have a Smart Watch to remind me to move during the day.”
Living her best life with laughter and joy, Lynn continues to see Michael every two or three weeks. Much like a car tune-up, he will address any problem areas and help get her joints unstuck so she can move and have a good quality of life.
“Michael’s ability to assess the problem and his hands-on approach is a gift he has. I have been to many PTs and chiropractors and even had acupressure, but none of them could do what Michael does. I am so thankful to have found him and grateful for the care he has given me over the years.”
