Derek's Story
Name: Derek H.
Occupation: Communication Specialist, U.S. Army Reserve
Age: 42
A crushing blow
Back in 2006, I was mobilized to go overseas on a Kosovo mission. During our basic training in Indiana, I did something foolish—with all my gear on, I did some pull ups and heard a crack in my neck.
I found out I had some disc damage and two bones were crushed in my neck from the weight, so they sent me back home.
All of a sudden I was no longer a human being. I wasn't a man anymore—my wife was pushing the lawn mower. She was doing everything that I would normally do.
I had surgery on my neck and was sent to my home medical unit where I began my treatments. Because I wanted to stay in the service, my captain suggested that I come to Dartmouth for the Functional Restoration Program. He said they had one of the best facilities.
Starting the program
When you first start off you're doing everything with everybody, but you're getting your own version of it. For me, I worked on my neck. Day to day work was gradual. It hurt, it was a lot of work, a lot of motivation, and there was a lot of sweating. By the second day, I thought, "Oh my god! I want to leave." But, I knew I couldn't quit so I stayed there and just pushed on through.
Life after FRP
Immediately after I finished those first fourteen days in the program, I went on a five-mile bike ride with my wife and some friends. I actually had no pain...no pain.
I have a few people that I email every day and we are our own motivation. We will get on and say, "Hey! I'm using my hand today" or "I rode my horse." [When] some others are having a bad day...they say "I pushed through it—I put my CD in and relaxed." And I say "Hey! I'm motivated!" or "I'm having a bad day. I miss you guys." I wish they were close enough so we could get together and do the workouts and trainings together.
Gaining back strength—in mind and body
Coming back for my four-week check up was really motivating. I forget that I struggled to get [from] where I was, and now they've assured me that I can do it—I was actually above where I was when I left. So now I'm waiting to come back for my one-year follow up. I'll probably show off a little bit more to show that [the Functional Restoration Program] is really working for me...a hundred percent.
I didn't know I could do what I can do now and that's what surprised me the most. At my age and with the injuries I had, I thought I was done. The program itself was explained very well...the team did everything they had to do. There was no deviating; if you missed a step in your physical workout, you [had to] go back and do it. Being able to sit straight up is a big deal. Being able to nod my head, twist it side-to-side—that's a really, really big deal. I wasn't able to do those things when I got here.
I believe anybody else who comes through this program should set a no pain rule. Tell yourself you can do it. If it hurts, keep doing it. One thing I learned from Dr. Hazard was if you're not broken—physically broken—you can still push through it. No matter what pain is there, you can go [through it]. The pain is not really stopping you; it's your mind that tells you that the pain is there, so push through it and you'll succeed.
