Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics has two award winning spine specialists in Nashville, TN.
Check out what their patients are saying it's like working with them.
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I used to live an independent lifestyle. I would go fishing, work with jewelry and beads, grocery shop, and drive my own car. I had injuries before that required rods to be placed in my back, however, I was still able to get around just fine.
Towards the end of 2017, my back did not feel right after a trip to the grocery store. A couple days later, I was alone when my legs gave out. I had fallen, unable to get up and no telephone in sight. I pulled myself all the way the bedroom and knocked down a phone from above me. I called for an ambulance and was stretchered out of my apartment.
When I arrived at the hospital, they informed me that I had a growth on my spine. They said I might be able to walk a little longer, but nothing was certain. When I asked if surgery could help me, a spine specialist told me that I would not be able to have surgery. They said there was nothing that could be done further than some rehabilitation.
I began a rehabilitation program. The people that were working with me were not the best. My legs started to fall asleep, and I slid down with nobody able to catch me. This fall left me paralyzed from the waist down.
I did everything I could to get out of that place. I kept asking for second opinions and awaited information that was being sent to the wrong place. It was a frustrating time. That is when my doctor told me he had an associate that may be able to help – Dr. Chris Glattes, a spine specialist in Nashville, TN at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics.
The first time I saw Dr. Glattes, he came in and asked me if I would like to get out of the wheelchair. I told him of course! He was very friendly and optimistic. He believed it was possible I could get out of the wheelchair. He wanted to see if the disc had an infection in it and wanted to get the rods in my back readjusted. I told him I was informed that I would not be able to have surgery, but he saw it as a possibility.
Around New Years, I went in for the biopsy. I had the surgery, after which, he was enthusiastic. For the first time since that fall, I regained some movement in my legs!
A month after surgery, I had a review with Dr. Glattes. He diagnosed me with a disease that made my bones very brittle. He decided that we needed to put in longer rods. It was a big surgery, but it was one that could lead to serious progression in my mobility, if successful. I told him I wanted to do it because I could not live this way anymore.
After that surgery, I worked extremely hard on my physical therapy. Everything started to progress. I had been transferred into a new place for therapy, where I beat every goal they set for me. I was progressing better than anyone they had ever seen in my position. I did so well they felt there was nothing more they could do for me, and I was able to return home for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.
You could not ask for a better group of people than the team I worked with at Elite. I love Dr. Glattes so much. They have taken such great care of me and I am doing my physical therapy here at home now.
I am able to do the things I want to do again like go to the community center, work with jewelry, and go to the grocery store. I can move around, and I am regaining some of that independence I once had. I make my own bed and do my own laundry. Life has gotten a lot better since my first visit to Elite. I am even in the process of being able to drive again soon and learning to walk with my cane instead of a walker.
Thank you to everyone one that has helped me with my situation. I am not happy this happened to me, but I’m happy for all the wonderful people that I’ve met and what I’ve been able to overcome.
Without them, I do not know if I would have made it this far.
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My journey with Elite began after being diagnosed with a bulging disc. It was a painful injury that limited my active lifestyle. I did crossfit, but the back injury prevented me from continuing CF and normal daily activities. Sitting at my desk, picking something up off the floor or lifting a light object were painful.
I began seeing Dr. Colin Crosby in hopes to get back to my old lifestyle. He’s been great throughout my entire time with Elite, and he is very patient while listening to my concerns. I don’t like taking meds, so he has worked with me to offer treatment to ease the pain, but doesn’t rely solely on medication. Thankfully, I only have to use the meds on occasion.
After visiting Dr. Crosby, I started physical therapy at MPower Physical Therapy. I’ve been working alongside Jess and Braxton, who are both great. I tell them how my body reacts to the exercises and they build my program around that. They are awesome about modifying my treatment to best suit my needs.
My life has been impacted in a positive way from my time spent at Elite and MPower I’ve been able to return to most normal activities again and have even gone back to a bootcamp to work out. I’ve achieved some weight loss and I am hoping to regain the full mobility that I had prior to the injury.
The staff at both Elite and MPower have been fantastic! Everybody is very nice and willing to work with me if a scheduling conflict occurs. The care has been incredible. I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Crosby, Dr. Dovan, Jess & Braxton. I’ve already recommended Elite and MPOWER to my friend when she got hurt.
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Christopher Lynch has been a patient of Dr. Chris Glattes and Elite for three years. His journey at Elite began after initially experiencing back pain. He decided to see a spine surgeon for treatment once his symptoms were interfering with his daily activities.
Chris has mild cerebral palsy and was experiencing his back pain simply getting out of bed. He was forced to use a walker forany activity before he came to Elite. Since having surgery with Dr. Glattes, Chris has now switched to a cane and uses a walker only for long distance. Chris states:
“My goal was to be able to use a cane and stand straighter. I am proud to say I have reached these goals and am standing straighter than I ever have! My quality of life has changed dramatically since coming to Elite.”
Dr. Glattes specializes in spine surgery and performed a Cervical Laminectomy and Lumbar Fusion on Chris. A cervical laminectomy is an operation done from the back of the neck to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. A Lumbar Fusion is performed for spinal deformities, herniated discs or spinal weakness and instability.
Dr. Chris Glattes worked closely with Chris to develop a treatment plan to relieve his back pain. Understanding your injury and what your options are is a priority at Elite. Both Dr. Glattes and Nurse Practitioner Corrine Grgas helped Chris and his mother understand their options and prepare for surgery.
“Dr Glattes is wonderful! He explained both the neck and back procedure well to my mother and me. I would also like to give a shout out to Corrine, the Nurse Practitioner, who was also wonderful. Dr Glattes and his entire staff are very helpful and knowledgeable!”
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Before my disc herniation, I was in great shape. I was training for amateur triathlons, running frequently, coaching baseball, etc. When my disc herniated life came to a standstill. I had to work from bed, was in excruciating pain, and I could not continue the physical life I had prior to this episode. When it got to the point of being unable to get out of bed, I knew I had to do something.
My experience with Dr. Crosby was very positive. He had a great bedside manner, was matter-of-fact, and was unphased with my situation. The experiences with his PA's were equally positive. I had little-to-no wait times for appointments, easy coordination with the physical training staff and the day of surgery was fairly smooth.
Since surgery, I have had no pain. Everything from the referral from my Primary Care doctor to meeting the Elite team to conducting physical therapy was very easy.
