Dear Marshall Spinal Care Team,

It is with incredible gratitude and praise that we share this testimony, marking the end of a long and difficult journey for our thirteen year old daughter. God is truly miraculous, and this is her story.

On May 24, 2008, Abby was playing in a competitive basketball game when she went up for a rebound and came down with what appeared to be a common injury, a slight ACL tear and a bruised tibia. We assumed that after some physical therapy, she would heal and return to normal activity.

Instead, four weeks later, her pain and swelling continued to worsen. A repeat MRI showed that the original injury had healed, yet Abby was in far more pain than before. Her orthopedic surgeon suspected Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a disorder of the sympathetic nervous system that causes severe, chronic pain. The diagnosis was later confirmed by multiple physicians.

We were devastated. Everything we read told us that there was no cure for RSD, only symptom management and the hope that it might go into remission someday.

Abby began an aggressive treatment plan that included multiple medications such as Lyrica, Darvocet, and anti inflammatories, along with spinal injections, acupuncture, and topical treatments. Some things provided temporary relief, but nothing lasted. The treatments themselves were often painful and exhausting.

Our once energetic daughter was facing a life defined by pain. She could no longer play basketball or even take a short walk with our family. Despite her strong faith and positive attitude, the pain was constant. As her medication doses increased in an attempt to manage symptoms, she became increasingly fatigued and disconnected, often falling asleep during meals or at school.

By early October, we were out of options. Another MRI was being considered, and the next recommended step was an invasive spinal cord stimulator. Abby’s pain was constant, affecting her knee, hip, lower back, and ankle, typically registering a six to seven on the pain scale.

Around this time, a close friend told us about Brainstem Care and recommended Marshall Spinal Care. We decided to make an appointment, feeling that we had nothing left to lose.

From our first phone call, the staff was kind and reassuring. Abby was evaluated on October 25, and later that same afternoon, she received her first Brainstem Care treatment. The procedure itself took only seconds, followed by a short rest period.

When Abby stood up and walked out of the office, she was pain free.

It was the first time in months that she had experienced relief.

We learned that an earlier childhood fall may have contributed to an imbalance in Abby’s nervous system, one that her body had compensated for over time. The knee injury pushed her system into overload. By addressing the misalignment affecting the brainstem, her nervous system was finally able to settle and function normally again.

Abby did have RSD. What we discovered was the key to helping her nervous system calm and heal.

Today, Abby has held her corrections, continues to progress in her healing, and is nearly medication free. We are slowly weaning her off Lyrica and are hopeful she will soon be completely off all medication.

If Abby’s story helps even one person, she would say it was all worth it.

With full glory to God and deeply thankful hearts, we can finally say we are pain free.

Kevin, Alisa, and Abby
Tulsa, Oklahoma