A Massage Therapist Finally Finds Relief At Cornerstone Health After 8 Years of Living With Pain!
What issues were you dealing with and how long were you dealing with them before you found Cornerstone Health?
My name is Sarah Lashley, and I’m a massage therapist, and my work is very physical, and so I had mid back pain and some left shoulder pain, for nearly, 8 years when I sought out Cornerstone about two years ago.
A lot of people think there isn’t a solution to their pain. Did you feel this way before coming to Cornerstone Health?
I had heard really great testimonials about Cornerstone from my own clients, so much so that I was like who is Dr. Fergus? I have to meet this person. Because he had been working with some of my toughest massage clients and helping their pain.
How long have you been coming to Cornerstone Health and what improvements have you seen?
I’ve been here for over 2 years, thanks to their Foundational Fitness program, they helped me get pain free in about 9 months, but I also come for maintenance. I have found that I no longer have my mid back pain at the end of my heavy massage weeks, as well as my shoulder pain has nearly completely disappeared. One of the things I appreciate most about Cornerstone is they give you home rehab exercises that are unlike formal PT, and these exercises take- give you the power to take your own pain away. They really help you understand the source and the location, and the neuromuscular like motor control of your pain so that these exercises then re-educate your muscles in a way that take away the pain. Even though, your pattern of movement might bring it back, then you have a tool to take it away again.
Can you tell us how working with Cornerstone Health has improved your quality of life?
I again, I don’t have pain after working, and I feel stronger than I ever have, and I was a gymnast when I was young so that’s- that says a lot. I’m heading into the fourth decade of life, and I feel stronger than I did in my thirties.
How is Cornerstone Health different from the other clinics you've experienced?
I feel that Cornerstone is different, because Dr. Fergus and Dr. Szyska are the best problem solvers I have ever met. They sit and they listen to you, and they take all of the different aspects of your pain in consideration so that they can truly figure out the source of the pain. Be it neuro, muscular, spinal, soft tissue, or even functional.
How was your experience working with Dr. Ben?
Dr. Fergus and Dr. Sis Szyska also have a heart to help people in pain. One thing that impresses me most is their mission is to eradicate chronic pain in the Chicago land area. They really aim high, and their experience here at the clinic, matches that high aim. They have found an incredible front desk person PQ, who makes you feel known and who keeps track of everything for you. And Dr. Fergus and Dr. Szyska really care about you as a patient, as well as solving the problem.
What would you say to someone that's thinking about coming to Cornerstone Health for treatment?
The number one thing I would say is don’t let your insurance determine your care. Our insurance system is set up to benefit them, not to benefit us as patients. And so most of the clients that I’ve sent here that have had hesitancy it was because their insurance wasn’t fully covered here at Cornerstone. And I am sad, that they didn’t get the best care, because I believe Cornerstone is unique, and one of the best clinics in the country. And people just let their insurance determine their care and I don’t believe that’s a- that doesn’t give you the best treatment for your problems. Their Foundational Fitness program is very unique, it’s designed to help people in pain, get back to fitness without fear. And I find that, that is a very unique offering that Cornerstone has, because a lot of clinics will help your pain and then they send you off into the world to just re-injure yourself. And Cornerstone’s Foundational Fitness program makes sure that you are correctly exercising and staying out of pain. And I find that that is a fantastic addition to their program.
