I have been playing squash for over 30 years. Squash has not only been a means to exercise, but has brought me in contact with a lot of very interesting and dynamic people that I enjoy getting together with. As a result, I’ve played a lot of squash. But, I’ve paid the price — three arthroscopic knee surgeries. After the last surgery, the doctor said I should stop playing squash and take up another form of exercise, because continuing to play squash could result in further injury to my knees that may require more radical surgery to repair.
I continued to play squash.
But, about three years ago I reinjured my right knee. I was in a lot of pain. I couldn’t sleep or drive long distances. I went back to my orthopedic surgeon. He recommended knee replacement surgery to get rid of the pain in my knees. I was not ready to make this decision in his office. He gave me a prescription for painkillers and scheduled me to come back in two weeks to see what I wanted to do. If I had the knee replacement surgery, I would not be able to play squash or any other competitive sport again. I was told I could ride a bike, swim or walk (not run) for exercise after the surgery.
I went back in two weeks, but could not commit to having the knee replacement surgery. I would be making a lifestyle change that seemed, at the time, to be a huge step to take. I was not ready to make this change: limited to riding a bike, swimming or walking to get my daily exercise. I renewed the painkiller prescription and told the doctor I would let him know if I decided to have the surgery.
Needless to say, I put off making a decision as long as I possibly could. But, after another week of intense pain and double doses of pain medication, I finally decided to seek alternative treatment.
Like many others, I had never seen a chiropractor, but my wife insisted that I visit the doctor she had been seeing. So, I made an appointment with Dr. Mark deDubovay at the Advanced Wellness Center. During my initial exam, Dr. Mark told me he had never seen knees in worse condition than mine, but he was confident that a low-level laser treatment would provide the healing needed to get rid of my pain.
I saw Dr. Mark three times a week for low-level, cold laser therapy. The treatment seemed to be stimulating cartilage growth in my knees. Within two months I was no longer suffering from the excruciating bone-on-bone pain in my knee.
Within four months, I was up and once again leading an active life. Nine months after my first visit with Dr. Mark, I was back on the court hitting and dodging 100 mph squash balls.
I recently passed the third anniversary of the day the orthopedic surgeon told me I needed to replace both knees. Now I am in a “maintenance” mode at the Advanced Wellness Center. I play squash two times a week and I see Dr. Mark monthly. What a blessing it has been to have found Dr. Mark and his alternative treatment for my knees! I could have gone through a knee replacement surgery, a painful postoperative recuperation and a traumatic lifestyle change. Instead, my life has been replenished, I am playing the sport I love and I continue to enjoy all those little things I realize would have been lost if I would have had the surgery.
— Greg Stiles
