LED Testimonials

October 25, 2003

Dear Dr. Schiffer,

I want to thank you so much for the successful procedure that you had performed one year ago. You had opened a window of alternative opportunities in treating my diagnosis and making the recovery time minimal.

Story:

I started having lower back pain the summer of 2002. I had fallen down the stairs and landed on my tailbone. After a few adjustments from my chiropractor, he had realized that there is a more serious problem. It wasn’t until the fall that I had severe symptoms. One morning, while coaching volleyball my leg started to tighten and it was becoming more and more difficult to make a step forward. I felt pain running from my sciatic nerve down to my calf. I knew immediately that I had to have further testing conducted.

I had left practice and went to the hospital to have an MRI performed. The results stated that I had a bulging disc on my L5-S1. I was given two options at that time from the physician. He mentioned starting with cortisone to help with the discomfort and get the swelling down. He thought that maybe two shots over a few months might help. I did take one injection of cortisone through my spine to help with the discomfort. I did get some relief, but it took about 3 days to run through my body before becoming effective. I was still in pain after the shot and knew that this alone was not going to help. I did not want to commit to cortisone injections every 6 months to a year. Surgery would be the next alternative. This surgery recommended was invasive and required a maximum of a three-month recovery time. During the surgery, the physician was going to have to move tendons and tissue to get to the accurate spot and remove after 65% of my disc. He also stated that I would be spending a few nights in the hospital and then laid up for about 3 months. I teach 5th grade and also coach, I was not going to allow myself to be out of my classroom for that amount of time. I am an active person and did not want to put myself in rest mode for the duration of the recovery time. I also knew that removing that much of my disc and moving tendons and tissue could permanently do more damage than the symptoms I had occurring at that time. I then started looking at other options.

I received a name and phone number from my chiropractor of a young woman in the area that had an alternative procedure performed. She informed me of Dr. Schiffer and his technique for helping many patients to a quick and successful recovery. I then called Dr. Schiffer’s staff and visited with them about the procedure that they would most likely be performing on me. I was given a few other names to contact that had recently undergone the procedure. I called each individual and heard his or her story. They were all under the age of 30 and had recently had the procedure. Their recovery time was quick and the symptoms has lessened, if not totally gone away. Within a month, I was (on) a plane to California to have the LED/TA procedure.

After arriving to Dr. Schiffer’s office, I met with him briefly before watching a video on the LED/TA procedure and getting a physical from one of his assistants. The next day I underwent the procedure. It was an out patient surgery and it took less than one hour to perform. I was partly awake during the procedure. I was impressed with the immediate relief when I left the operating table. I was in recovery for about 30 minutes and then was sent on my way. Dr. Schiffer had prescribed some painkillers and relaxers incase I had too much discomfort. I did feel that I had something done to my body, but in no means did I feel that I needed a drug to help with the recovery. We left the clinic and had lunch and then went shopping for some good tennis shoes. The next day I met with Dr. Schiffer to get his outlook on the surgery and to see how I was feeling. He met with me for about an hour answering any questions or concerns that I had had at that time. Two days after the surgery I was back on the plane headed for home. I took off three days of school, not by choice, and then returned to full teaching days.

I am now coaching once again this fall and teaching full time. I also got back into the gym and started aerobics, spinning, and yoga. I am feeling so good. I once thought that I was going to be limited to the activities that women my age are doing, thanks to Dr. Schiffer my life is as good as it was before the surgery. He has taught me how to take care of my body and life properly so that future incidents don’t occur. His philosophy and procedure is nothing like anything I have known. Before having the “traditional” back surgery performed, please don’t hesitate to contact me and other former patients to get a second opinion. It’s out there, and it is your choice.

Thanks Dr. Schiffer for the opportunity to perform a less invasive procedure, and getting me back to feeling better!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Moos