{"id":2022,"date":"2019-06-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-ati-pt-2025.pantheonsite.io\/?p=2022"},"modified":"2024-12-17T17:34:14","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T17:34:14","slug":"don-and-ati-their-road-to-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atipt.com\/don-and-ati-their-road-to-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Don and ATI: Their Road to Success!"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s not much that can keep Don Esbjornson down. Not a degenerative disc disease, a back surgery 12 years ago . . . or a back surgery just last fall.<\/p>\n

This 48-year-old has been active his whole life \u2013 golfing, mountain biking, water skiing, wakeboarding, snowboarding and amateur road-racing just to name a few. So, while he has to slowly give up most of these activities due to his back pain and surgery, he wasn\u2019t going to do it without a fight!<\/p>\n

Don\u2019s GET THERE Story<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don had been dealing with degenerative disc disease, and the pain that accompanies it, for years.\u00a0 While he tried to stay as active as he could, the pain eventually began to take over.\u00a0 \u201c2012 was my worst year,\u201d said Don.\u00a0 \u201cI tried to avoid surgery as long as I could.\u00a0 Physical therapy and shots would help short term, but wouldn\u2019t last.\u00a0 So, with the encouragement of my wife of 20 years, and a referral to a neurosurgeon from a friend, I decided to have surgery again \u2013 a lumbar fusion – on September 30, 2013.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both before and after surgery, Don went for physical therapy at\u00a0ATI\u2019s Bolingbrook South\u00a0<\/a>clinic in Bolingbrook, IL.\u00a0 His therapist, Dawn Williams, has been inspired by Don\u2019s dedication to his rehabilitation.\u00a0 \u201cDon is incredibly motivated and determined. He refuses to allow his metal to impact his life. He continues to stay active and positive, living life to the fullest. Don is an inspiration for all patients requiring any major surgical intervention to improve quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysical Therapy has given me my life back,\u201d says Don.\u00a0 \u201cI was in therapy before surgery, went back three days after surgery, and the progress has been great! The personalized care I received at ATI is the main reason.\u00a0 There is such a value is seeing the same person each visit, and building trust with my therapist.\u00a0 She really cared about me.\u00a0 She kept me on track and kept me coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019s Back on Track \u2013 for Diabetes<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Don isn\u2019t wakeboarding or mountain biking anymore, he is back and better than ever.\u00a0 On Sunday, June 8, 2014 he participated in a 100-mile ride for Tour de Cure in Chicago, IL on team \u201cRiding for Peanuts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participating in this ride, which benefits the\u00a0American Diabetes Association<\/a>, had a dual purpose for Don.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis ride was not only incentive for me to continue my rehabilitation and hit my goal of 100 miles on a bike, it also supported two inspirational people in my life \u2013 my good friend and my nephew. They both live with diabetes and I was proud to raise money for this great cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of Don\u2019s determination and spirit, he not only completed the 100-mile ride, he raised close to $3,000!\u00a0 Thank you Don for allowing ATI Physical Therapy to be part of your successful journey!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s not much that can keep Don Esbjornson down. Not a degenerative disc disease, a back surgery 12 years ago […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-patient-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDon and ATI: Their Road to Success! | ATI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There\u2019s not much that can keep Don Esbjornson down. Not a degenerative disc disease, a back surgery 12 years ago . . . or a back surgery just last fall.This 48-year-old has been active his whole life \u2013 golfing, mountain biking, water skiing, wakeboarding, snowboarding and amateur road-racing just to name a few. 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