Get Back To It

In this episode of the "Get Back To It Podcast" host Rita Roy, spoke with Ava, a remarkable 17-year-old spinal champion and dedicated Girl Scout. Diagnosed with scoliosis at her annual check-up four years ago, Ava's parents sought non-invasive approaches to improve her condition and avoid surgery. Tune in as we explore Ava's challenging journey, including her 3.5-year experience wearing a back brace. Prepare to be inspired as Ava's story unfolds on the path to improved spinal health. 

Ava has created a YouTube series called “Embrace the Brace with Ava” with tips and advice for teens who have Scoliosis. We hope you will check out her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChGKOE2e8DYyj-XKnnqdTHQ?app=desktop

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

In this episode, we are joined by Bobbi Giudicelli who has an incredible story to share. For her whole life, she suffered from back pain and thought it was normal. It wasn't until she started playing tennis in her early 30s that the pain increased and became debilitating. She consulted with a spine specialist and was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Over the next 12 years, she had to undergo surgery three times as the condition progressed up her lumbar spine. 

In addition to the surgeries, Bobbi also made a significant change to her diet. She transitioned to a whole food plant-based and gluten-free diet. She found that the cleaner her diet, the easier her recovery was for each of her surgeries. Now, at 67 years old, she feels better and has more energy than she did in her 40s. She regularly rides horses and plays pickleball for several hours, three to four days a week.

Join us as we explore Bobbi's journey, her experience with spondylolisthesis, and how her diet has played a significant role in her recovery and overall well-being.

Bobbi Giudicelli is the author of: “Freedom From a Toxic Relationship With Food: A Journey That Will Give You Your Life Back" and founder of "Read The Ingredients Superloafs" which are available at www.rtifoods.com and on Amazon.

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

In this episode of the “Get Back To It” podcast, Rita speaks with registered nurse, Suzanne Wurster, who was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was an adolescent. As she grew older, her Scoliosis began to cause her more pain and she began looking for answers in 2017. Her initial doctor suggested physical therapy and SI joint injections.The injections were initially helpful, but their impact quickly faded. Suzanne persisted in seeking more opinions from several other doctors, but none seemed too confident in their suggestions. That was until Suzanne visited a spine specialist, a professional in the field of spine care. This doctor recommended two surgeries, an ALIF (anterior lumbar interbody fusion) and a posterior instrumented fusion. Both surgeries were very successful, and Suzanne is doing very well and living her best life pain free. Her experience taught her not to give up on advocating for yourself and that you need to feel confident with your doctor’s treatment plan. 

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

 It’s not often that we get to hear about an actual expert spine surgeon giving an account of his own journey back to spine health from both a patient and a surgeon’s perspective! This is the remarkable story of one of our own, Dr. Todd Lanman, a spinal neurosurgeon who practices in Beverly Hills, is affiliated with Cedar-Sinai and UCLA medical centers, and who is a member of our prestigious  Medical and Scientific Board. He is also a Spinal Champion. 

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

In this episode of the Get Back To It Podcast , Rita Roy had the pleasure of speaking with Pat Schellhorn, a woman who faced life-altering obstacles and came out on the other side stronger and more determined than ever. Pat suffered from severe scoliosis, which led to immobility and a life filled with pain and discomfort. However, Pat refused to let her condition define her and instead, sought out a solution. Join us as Pat shares her journey of undergoing corrective spine surgery and how it has changed her life for the better. She will inspire you with her resilience, determination, and positive outlook on life. Don't miss this amazing episode with Pat Schellhorn.

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

In this episode, Rita Roy talks with Aaron Baker, a man who has experienced firsthand the transformative power of disc replacement surgery. Beginning in his late twenties, Aaron struggled with back pain caused from degenerative disc disease and low bone density. Thanks to a successful surgery, though, he is now able to enjoy a wide range of physical activities, from hunting to CrossFit. Aaron shares his story with us and provides insight into what it's like to live with degenerative disc disease, the decision-making process behind disc replacement surgery, and the challenges and triumphs of recovery and rehabilitation. We hope you'll join us as Aaron shares his inspiring journey from chronic pain to active living.

Educational programming made possible by a grant from Aesculap through our Corporate Leadership Council.

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

Colin MacGregor is a strength and conditioning coach who, on a cold spring morning in 2005, slipped on some ice on the way to his car. He could never have anticipated that at the young age of 30, he would be in a much worse position than the athletes he was helping, and in desperate need of his own rehabilitation. Fortunately, his industry training helped him create a program that got him back to an active lifestyle in record time. Listen to find out how Colin was able to regain his strength and mobility without surgery. 

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

When Allison's doctor recommended a spinal fusion at age 20, Allison just didn't feel comfortable with the treatment diagnosis. This led to her seeking a second opinion and ultimately had a discectomy, laminectomy, and laminotomy. Allison talks to Dr. Rita Roy about her experience advocating for her health at such a young age in this episode of the "Get Back To It" Podcast.

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

Ray Pugsley is a Spinal Champion who has had multiple spine surgeries over the course of almost 30 years. As a life-long athlete and elite runner, Ray was discouraged and frustrated when a pain in his back grew so bad that he could barely stand up straight.  Fortunately, Ray was able to find the right spine treatments to address his pain and was able to return to running.  You can hear his inspiring story on this episode of the "Get Back To It" Podcast!

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/

🎧 🎧 New Episode! As an athlete, Patrick Collins was used to getting injured, so when he started to experience back pain, he wasn’t afraid to call his friend, a spine surgeon, to find out what to do. You can listen to our “Get Back To It” Podcast to hear how Patrick found healing and recovery from his injury.

Support the show

Get Back to It is presented by the National Spine Health Foundation and shares real stories of Spinal Champions who have overcome spine conditions and found their way back to the lives they love.

Learn more and discover additional Spinal Champion stories at https://spinehealth.org/community-support/get-back-to-it-podcast/