Meet ARFC member, Betsy Gibson. and read her inspiring story! Several years ago, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Degenerative Joint Disease of the knee and spine. I was controlling the pain with several strong medications and living life in a fog. I decided I no longer wanted to live life this way, so about 7 years ago, I decided to do something about it and join Ames Racquet and Fitness Center. Within the first 2 years, I lost 70 pounds and was feeling like I had my life under control again, but still seemed to have a mysterious pain in my lower back. An MRI determined that one of my discs in my lower back needed a fusion. After having several lower back surgeries and a successful neck fusion in the past, my doctor reassured me I would be good as new in a matter of 4 months. In January 2013, I went in for my fusion. However, this felt nothing like the neck fusion and I woke up in excruciating pain. Due to not being able to get this pain under control, I spent the first month of recovery stuck in a hospital bed. I knew right away that something wasnt right, but the doctors wouldnt listen to me and told me to just wait it out and give it time. In August 2013, the excruciating pain was not only still there, but became increasingly worse and I was rushed to the ER. An MRI determined that the pain was due to a staph infection in my spine and I spent the next several months in and out of the hospital and being nothing but bedridden with pain in between. I thought this cycle would never end, but I was able to find positivity and motivation through Ames Racquet and Fitness Center, and I was bound and determined to get back to my favorite Cardio Dance class! After several months laying in bed, I began rehab at the Story County Medical Center, where I discovered all my hard-earned muscle was completely gone from laying in bed for so long! I just kept telling myself baby-steps is all it takes and I will eventually get back to where I used to be. But going from being at the gym 6 days a week to hardly being able to do walk was not easy. I was able to leave SCMC after 8 days and begin in-home therapy, but was still not seeing a change. After much contemplating, I decided the hardware in my back had to come out, and in February of 2014, I went through yet another major back surgery to have it removed. During recovery, I only had one goal in mind and that was to get back to the gym and live a healthy, normal life again, and with determination and support from my friends and family, HERE I AM!! 3 months after getting my fusion removed, I am staph-free and back at the gym. Looking back at where I was at a year and a half ago, I have come such a long way. Everyday I am getting stronger and my energy is slowly coming back. I am a firm believer that exercise is the best medicine out there, and it feels so wonderful to back! We are glad to have you back Betsy! Best of luck on your road to recovery!
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 13:00:01 +0000
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