Meet the twins!

[Dr_Pain]

Well, I was finally able to unpack my Ivan(s). You are not seeing double!! I am now the proud owner of TWO Ivan Karstuff.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/image71.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/image70.jpg
Thanks to Nick, Yancy and the rest of the AG family, and thank you Max and Mike for your "John Hancock". The Ivans are UNBELIEVEABLE!!! They came double boxed, and my first impression, when I opened the box and saw them was: "Top Notch quality". These are no cheapo plastic junk, but high quality hand painted ceramic. They have a nice weight to them and will be elegantly displayed at my house (or office... I haven't decided yet)

P.S. The Max signed Ivan was won on the forum contest, and the Mike signed Ivan was won on the Facebook page. It pays to be addicted....LOL!!

[Flatlander]

Congrats Dr.! What is the story behind the Avatar cervical x-ray? Is that you?

[DaveT435]

I don't see any hardware in the x-ray that's a good sign. lol

[Dr_Pain]

I'm a self employed orthopedic physical therapist (actually got my doctorate, which explains the Dr). The nickname was given to me by one of my first ever patient over 17 years ago, and it stuck!!

The avatar is of a close personal friend and in terms of pre-op clinical and radiological presentation, this is THE textbook definition of a "mess". The picture is too small to show but you have EVERYTHING in the book. Schmorl's nodes, DJD, DDD, spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, vertebral end plate herniation, reversal of cervical lordosis etc... One of the biggest success story I had the privilege to witness. Three years and she has yet to get the surgery, which we all thought she needed. She is pain free and experienced a full return to function, with no permanent issues. A true miracle by all accounts!!!!

[thebamboo23]

good story to tell :)

[Dr_Pain]

good story to tell :)

You want a better story?? Here is the most unbelievable first hand account I can share, which has yet to be topped by any other medical account of any of my MD friends so far.

My best friend's son comes to me complaining of thigh pain. After a basic H&P and a trial treatment things were just not adding up. He was sent to one of our local ortho who took some xrays, rushed an MRI (based on what he saw) and deliver the worst news a young 15 year old boy could ever have.... the big "C".

Right away he was sent to M.D. Anderson, one of the premiere cancer center in the nation (in Houston Texas). The xrays and MRI were reviewed, a follow up MRI was taken, the pediatric oncologist finally came to meet with them and reviewed the finding with them, and showed them this slide:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/photo43.JPG

Even to the untrained eye, you can see that something MASSIVE is present. The news was confirmed and it was decided that in order to have a better plan of care they would have to do a core biopsy to identify the type of cancer ( rhabdomyosarcomas being the types of soft tissue cancer that was suspected, although over 50 different type of soft tissue cancer do exist).

In any case, my friend called me and delivered the confirmation from the pediatric oncologist. I was devastated to say the least. I pulled at all the resources I had, made numerous phone calls, and found myself completely powerless. The ONLY way I could turn was up. I prayed like I had never prayed before. I created a FB fan page for Logan, and we recruited as many "prayer warriors" we could. Over the next two weeks we updated the site and blogged about his status. The day of his biopsy finally came. They trekked to Houston, got prepped for the procedure and were informed that because the tumor was so large that they would need to do a 4 core large gauge biopsy (not the needle aspiration. They needed major chunks). 4 days of uncertainty followed...... and then came the news!

They found NOTHING! The biopsy went to the bone, through all layers (skin. sub-cut, fascia, muscle, and periosteum layer), and they found NOTHING! If a misdiagnosis were to have been the case you would have found some space invading "something" (inflammatory cells, blood, fatty infiltrates, calcified tissue etc....) They found NOTHING! Good healthy tissue all the way to the bone with no signs of bleed, no inflammation, no tumor, no infiltrates, no....... NOTHING!

According to my friend the pediatric oncologist was gitty and very emotional on the phone, and speaking faster than a kid in a candy store. They took the biopsy slides and conferred with other cancer specialists, and the only consensus that came out of it was MIRACLE (pure and simple).

One day they were discussing the plan of action (chemo, radiation, surgical excision and possible amputation) and 2 weeks later they are giving him a clean bill of health and told them they did not need to come back, not even for a follow up (which they said the local ortho could take care of).

So, if you were looking for a pretty awesome story..... there it is. I've been in the medical field for over 25 years and have been practicing physical therapy for over 17 and have yet to find a story to top this.

I was blessed to see God's work first hand, and my practice has never been the same since. People say this is a once in a lifetime experience, well........

[BobbyG]

That's not a story, it's a miracle!! :props:

[ShaunD]

The power of prayer! Humans/doctors have plans. God has a purpose! That is awesome! It's great when man can't take credit and has to give all the glory to God.:)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using AG Online

[57BORNTORUN]

My younger brother was not so lucky at the age of 15 as he lost his battle with the BIG-C.I on the other hand was blessed at a very young age.I was 6 when a speeding motorist hit me head on riding my bicycle.I flew 50 feet and over a telephone pole.My older brother watched in amazement.I blacked out and woke up on my front door step.The motorist was late for work.I hung from the rafters of my hospital room for 3 months unable to move.The Doctors told me I would never walk again.I had a fractured hip.A Dr. fresh out of Med. school asked my Father if he could experiment on me.He took stainless screws and screwed my leg back together.At the age of 9 I had to learn how to walk again.With very little schooling I was able to re-enter school.At the age of 13 I was offered a position with the NY Knicks to be the one and only ball boy at their training camp based on my skills.I ran up and down the court and played hoops with the World Champs.Each one of the players would drive me home every night but my favorite player was Walt "CLYDE"Frasier in a brand new ROLLS. Unfortunately at 15 I was asked to leave my Fathers house and never returned to school.
I am now going to AG to pick up my"IVAN" to be proudly displayed somewhere on my car at various car shows(including but not limited to Detail Fest).I figure I get some polish and congratulate Mike in person on his upcoming nuptial.

[Dr_Pain]

Miracle is the ONLY word that fits Bobby.

As I said Shaun, it has completely transformed my practice. I was one that never did use to take the credit for the hard work my patients put in their rehab but had always been reluctant to share my faith. This is not the case anymore....

[Dr_Pain]

My younger brother was not so lucky at the age of 15 as he lost his battle with the BIG-C.I on the other hand was blessed at a very young age.I was 6 when a speeding motorist hit me head on riding my bicycle.I flew 50 feet and over a telephone pole.My older brother watched in amazement.I blacked out and woke up on my front door step.The motorist was late for work.I hung from the rafters of my hospital room for 3 months unable to move.The Doctors told me I would never walk again.I had a fractured hip.A Dr. fresh out of Med. school asked my Father if he could experiment on me.He took stainless screws and screwed my leg back together.At the age of 9 I had to learn how to walk again.With very little schooling I was able to re-enter school.At the age of 13 I was offered a position with the NY Knicks to be the one and only ball boy at their training camp based on my skills.I ran up and down the court and played hoops with the World Champs.Each one of the players would drive me home every night but my favorite player was Walt "CLYDE"Frasier in a brand new ROLLS. Unfortunately at 15 I was asked to leave my Fathers house and never returned to school.
I am now going to AG to pick up my"IVAN" to be proudly displayed somewhere on my car at various car shows(including but not limited to Detail Fest).I figure I get some polish and congratulate Mike in person on his upcoming nuptial.

Being an ex college basketball player I read this an am sooooo envious, but I don't think I would want to go through the ordeal of being suspended to the ceiling for months, and years of rehab to get to meet the "greats".

Your story does speak volume as to never letting others foretell your future, especially when they eliminate the hope factor (in your case of walking again).

Thanks for sharing. It did bring back a lot of memories of watching those guys play and being inspired. Why can't we have role models like these anymore?

[57BORNTORUN]

Being an ex college basketball player I read this an am sooooo envious, but I don't think I would want to go through the ordeal of being suspended to the ceiling for months, and years of rehab to get to meet the "greats".

Your story does speak volume as to never letting others foretell your future, especially when they eliminate the hope factor (in your case of walking again).

Thanks for sharing. It did bring back a lot of memories of watching those guys play and being inspired. Why can't we have role models like these anymore?
I owe everything that exists in my life and his wonders to the LORD.If I may share a story about Walt Frasier.One night after practice we walk out to his ROLLS and he throws me the keys and says drive the car around for an hour and pick me up at the girls dorm.(They trained at Monmouth collage in NJ).Well I`m thinking I can`t do that........what if I hurt it?So I`m sitting in the drivers seat when 3 guys try to steal the car.I fired that puppy up and spun out of there.I never did tell Walt about that night.Allie Meguire and I would play one-on-one to 11.He would give me 10 points.I never did beat him.I had a hard time understanding Phil Jackson as he seamed so uncoordinated shooting with his left hand.Look at what he accomplished in his career.I would just stand under the basket and throw the ball back to Jerry Lucas 30 feet away, almost never missed.Willis Reed was the one who asked me if I wanted to work for the Knicks.I ran into him at MSG 8 years later and he still remembered me.

[Dr_Pain]

:wow::drool:
I owe everything that exists in my life and his wonders to the LORD.If I may share a story about Walt Frasier.One night after practice we walk out to his ROLLS and he throws me the keys and says drive the car around for an hour and pick me up at the girls dorm.(They trained at Monmouth collage in NJ).Well I`m thinking I can`t do that........what if I hurt it?So I`m sitting in the drivers seat when 3 guys try to steal the car.I fired that puppy up and spun out of there.I never did tell Walt about that night.Allie Meguire and I would play one-on-one to 11.He would give me 10 points.I never did beat him.I had a hard time understanding Phil Jackson as he seamed so uncoordinated shooting with his left hand.Look at what he accomplished in his career.I would just stand under the basket and throw the ball back to Jerry Lucas 30 feet away, almost never missed.Willis Reed was the one who asked me if I wanted to work for the Knicks.I ran into him at MSG 8 years later and he still remembered me.

:wow::drool: unreal!