Doctors Said He Was Faking Back Pain. Now He Travels and Farms.

Bob Patient had spine doctors telling him to quit faking and see a psychiatrist. But an experimental new disc cage treatment restored his life. At 69 he's traveling and running a small farm.

My story first starts in 1975 when I received an on-the-job injury. Two years later, L4, L5, S1 and S2 discs were giving me pain in the lumbar. I was in Paducah at the time and had surgery there, had a laminectomy. Two years later I was in Memphis and Sam Hunter a world renowned surgeon did surgery on me. But two years later I was back in the same shape again.

I didn’t do any treatments until 1995, they were wanting clip some nerves going down my right leg. But I wouldn’t let them do it. In 1994 I started having a lot of problems, Dr. William Jennings in Parsons, Tennessee recommended I see Dr. David McCord. Dr. Jennings wanted me to get into a university hospital where they did sports injuries. But he couldn’t get me in, so he had heard a lot of good reports about Dr. McCord so he recommended him.

My legs gave me a lot of problems when the discs started deteriorating away. By 1977 it wasn’t only my back it was hips and legs that hurt so bad. The first doctor that treated me wrote me up as a malingerer. The second doctor wanted me to see a psychiatrist. All the while I really had serious problems where I could stay on my feet.

The first doctor that treated me wrote me up as a malingerer. The second doctor wanted me to see a psychiatrist.

When I finally got to Dr. McCord, Dr. Jennings (who referred me) knew I wasn’t a malingerer. He knew I had real problems. When I got to Dr. McCord, he knew. He took the time to find my problems. Which by this time wasn’t that hard to find because those discs had deteriorated completely away.

In April this year Dr. McCord did three disc levels in my neck that deteriorated. I’m doing wonderful. I’ve done wonderful at each one of his surgeries. I have much to be thankful. The cages he put in me were experimental. Seemed like the papers I had to sign were a stack an inch thick (laughs). We weren’t sure whether the insurance company was going to pay or not. I’m not sure how much money he ever got out of it but the cages he installed are still there, they’re wonderful. That was January 1995 that he installed those.

I have told many people and several people have come to Dr. McCord due to him being a pioneer of new techniques, and using these cages which are commonplace now, but not by all doctors. I told others about the improvements that he has made in the products he installs.

Seventeen years later after my first surgery I’m still up, I’m still going. I have a very active life. I travel, I just recently shut down my little business, soon to be 69 years old. My life was just restored! I feel younger today that I did in 1994. Able to travel, able to visit...I have a small farm, a couple tractors, a mower and I spend a lot of time on my place.

My life was just restored! I feel younger today that I did in 1994.

Dr. McCord saved my life 17 years ago. I have no idea where I would be today, had it not been for Dr. McCord and the surgeries he has performed. I enjoy life, and I had lost most of the joy of my family and my life due to back and neck problems.