Returning to Normalcy: How A Revolutionary Medical Technology is Helping a North Carolina Man and Social Media Star Recover from Two Rounds of Spine Surgery
When Jeremy’s back pain became almost unbearable, he feared he would have to give up his two favorite hobbies that have made him a budding social media star: off-roading outdoor adventures and remote travel with his wife Kim, a personal trainer.
But thanks to a revolutionary spinal fusion bone growth stimulator called ActaStim®-S, Jeremy is excited at the prospect of jumping back into his Jeep Wrangler and traversing rough terrain as host of the YouTube channel “Down South Adventures.”
“After my second spine surgery, I knew my recovery was just as important as having my spinal fusion,” said Jeremy. “When I learned of ActaStim as a tool to help me with the healing process, I was more than happy to use it. It is light, portable and easy to use. I am thankful to my wife, my doctor, the Theragen care team and my bone growth stimulator who have been critical to speed up my recovery as I continue to get back in shape.”
For several years Jeremy, 44, had suffered from spinal stenosis, a condition that caused his spine to deteriorate and resulted in chronic lower back pain. After switching jobs from a personal trainer to a sales representative, Jeremy became more prone to back pain. He spent less time moving and more time in an office chair and behind the wheel of a car.
Following the first spinal fusion, Jeremy was excited and anxious to get back riding offroad. However, he didn’t heal properly, and he required a second surgery.
According to a leading spine organization, the North American Spine Society (NASS), fusion is a surgical technique in which one or more of the vertebrae of the spine are united together
to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, improve stability, and relieve compressed
nerves.
Jeremy underwent a procedure called an interbody fusion where a damaged spinal disc was removed and the spinal segment that was causing the pain was fused, said Dr. Robert Cope, Jeremy’s doctor. This helped recreate some of his natural spinal alignment and put Jeremy on the road to recovery.
“ActaStim-S was a great choice for Jeremy because it acts as an adjunct therapy to help specifically with the bone fusion healing of his spinal procedure,” said Dr. Cope, spine surgeon at Emerge Ortho located in Lenoir, North Carolina. “Today, I anticipate Jeremy will continue to make progress over the next year. We will continue to increase his activity level as he becomes more comfortable with his new normal. After approximately three to four months, we expect Jeremy will be back to doing 80-90 percent of the activities he was enjoying before the procedure.”
ActaStim is the first significant advancement in spinal fusion bone growth stimulator technology in nearly 20 years. It is the only system that combines clinically proven therapy, continuous wearability and actionable, daily patient insights to better support successful healing via its smartphone app, ActaStim Sync.
Jeremy has fully recovered and is in a postoperative rehabilitation program. He is now sleeping in his bed again, walking, going to trade shows for work, and working out at the gym. He looks forward to hiking again, attending more off-road, cross-country Jeep events and camping, which allows him to enjoy the outdoors and wildlife, with his wife of 13 years and their two dogs Loki, and Bella. He is also on a mission to help educate others who may need spine surgery and are unsure of the importance of following your doctor’s recommendations to use ActaStim in the recovery journey.
