Two years ago, 49-year-old Roberto was on his way back from the US Open in New York with his father. While on the subway platform, he slipped and fell, fracturing his right shoulder bone.

Roberto was already suffering from spinal stenosis in his back at the time of his injury. Taking anti-inflammatories to treat pain were not an option for him due to an existing diverticular disease. When he had taken them previously, they made him so sick that he ended up in the emergency room. “The side effects of the anti-inflammatories were worse than my back pain,” he said.

To help manage his intense back pain and rigidity that developed in his right shoulder, his physician recommended that he see a pain management specialist, who found that Roberto had disc herniations in his upper spine, as well.

Roberto’s pain specialist referred him to physical therapy. “I was motivated by not wanting to take medication and avoiding surgery.”

“From the moment I started he was amazing,” Roberto said of his physical therapist Aleksandr Dekhtyarev, PT, DPT. “He began treating the rigidity in my shoulder, and began pain management exercises for my upper and lower spine.”

Roberto attends physical therapy sessions twice a week, once for his shoulder, and the other for back pain. His treatments included exercise, manual therapy, stretches, electrical stimulation and therapeutic massage. “I did not want to be operated on. I knew with the physical therapy exercises I would improve,” he said.

“Now that I am in physical therapy, the pain in my upper and lower back has radically improved, and I have much less rigidity in my shoulder.” “My physical therapist, who really listens and cares, has enabled me to avoid back surgery and stop using the anti-inflammatories. Instead of using medications, I have my mobility!”

Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy is located inside the Riverwalk Center, 15 S. Main St. Suite 220, Jamestown — 488-2322 — www.chautauquapt.com. We are celebrating 20 years of serving our community and are the only outpatient clinic in the area to offer FREE consultations. We are therapist owned and operated. The Live Well Center is our fitness center located on site. It is open to the public, clean and affordable. Call us to learn more about therapy or the Live Well Center and take charge of your health.