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Walking Again, Pain-Free: Aaron’s Success Story

March 25, 2025 | Patient Success Stories
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By, Allison R. Weder

“I can’t tell you how many times I was in and out of the ER, getting all these tests done, getting all these scans done trying to find out what was wrong.” – Aaron, Waterford, MI Patient

Aaron Childers had experienced significant pain for a long time. First it was in his shoulder, then down his arm. His fingers would actually go numb. He tried everything to relieve the pain, including several rounds of physical therapy. While he did see some progress, the pain would come back. “Let’s just say, the pain was for there for so long, and I thought it was never going to go away, that it just got really dark. I ended up trying to take my life.” Aaron was found by his son at the bottom on a flight of stairs. Thankfully, Aaron did not succeed in taking his life, and, ironically, the fall seemed to help resolve most of his shoulder pain. But soon, a new pain popped up, this time in his hip and leg. Aaron describes how it felt. “From my left hip, all the way down into my leg was completely numb. I was having a hard time getting around and I ended up breaking out the crutches. I literally couldn’t walk without assistance.” Aaron learned from his neurologist the new pain had nothing to do with his shoulder, and recommended another round of physical therapy. This time, he chose Advanced Physical Therapy Center, part of the Phoenix Physical Therapy family, in Waterford, Michigan.

Aaron was evaluated by Physical Therapist, Jennifer Welsman, PT, DPT. “We clicked immediately. I’m a goofy dude and she is like a bubbly kind of person too. So, we hit it off and then I was with Jill, next.” Jill Heberling, LPTA is the Clinic Director of the Waterford clinic. “I think one of the reasons why I loved her so much is because she’s an Ohio State fan and I’m a Michigan fan. Automatically we had that negative in common!” Aaron felt at home right away. But his time at Advanced PT was not all joking and laughter. Aaron needed help to get back to living the life he deserves.

Aaron’s main goal was to walk again without assistance. Jen and Jill worked together to craft a unique plan, just for him. It included strengthening, mobility, and range of motion techniques. Aaron describes one of his favorite exercises. “It was called the dead bug, and it’s basically where you stretch your one leg and the opposite arm out. Then, you switch back and forth. It’s almost like a supine bicycle kind of thing.” Aaron also walked on the treadmill and his team used manual therapy techniques and spinal decompression traction to help relieve his pain and numbness. “When they started doing the traction, it was maybe a week, and I already set the crutches aside. I was noticing results like almost right away.”

Aaron continued his therapy three times a week for just over 3 months. “They took me from where I didn’t know if I was going to be able to walk again without assistance, to where I’m walking like a normal human being again. I was the one that actually felt like I was ready to be done. I progressed enough to where I am confident again.” Confident to the point where he can get back to doing the things he loves to do. “I can get out and stomp around in the woods and not fall. I love hunting and to have that taken away, would be tough. I definitely wouldn’t love it. That’s for sure.”

Aaron knows as he ages, he now has a team of healthcare professionals who will be there to assist him. “I’m 46, almost 47. My body is just not what it was. I was hard on it, jumping out of planes in the military; I did a lot of stupid stuff when I was young. Now, I want that doctor I can rely on. (I want) all these people that I’m probably going to be relying on here soon. I want to be able to trust them, and there’s no other therapist on this planet that I trust more than Jill.” Jill looks back on Aaron’s time while in her care, remembering she was confident he would reach his goals. “Aaron was ready to go from the start. He was not sure what could be done but he was willing to try and always put his trust in our team to take care of him. He worked hard every time he came into therapy and his hard work paid off!”

Aaron is grateful he found the help he needed to resolve his pain without surgery and the need for ongoing medication. “I appreciate what they did for me. They changed my life and helped me out of a pretty rough ordeal. They know when to joke and when to be sympathetic and when to be serious. They just have a way with people. Wonderful, wonderful women.”

 

 

 

 

If you’re in emotional distress there are options available to help you. You can contact the 988 Lifeline at any time to connect with a skilled, caring counselor and get support. Confidential support is available 24/7 for everyone in the United States and its territories.

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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