I’m the man with a crack in his back who takes oxycodone each day, and just happens to like green eggs and ham. But that was yesterday. Today, I’m quite different. Take a peek into my recent history: January 2014 — Laminectomy to relieve bone pressure on the nerves in my lower back. August 2014 — Spinal Fusion to stabilize disks in my lower back. Hence, Spinal Stenosis/Arthritis and a general pain in the ass. Eight months later I withdrew from the oxycodone and now take one over-the-counter Advil, sometimes two times daily, to relieve a mild discomfort in my lower back. It has taken a year for the damaged nerves in my back to heal.
Thanks to my surgeon, Jeffrey Jones, and most recently, Rebecca Cerney, who with her mother Jane, own the Fitness Forum in Anna, Illinois. Maybe it was fate, or possibly I was just lucky when I met with Rebecca. Being 72 years old and a recipient of Medicare, I qualified for a program called “Silver Sneakers,” a hokey name but a damn good program if you want free admission to a qualified fitness club. My wife and I met with Rebecca who structured a fitness program for the two of us. Rebecca, a fitness and nutrition advisor, just happens to have an impressive “six pack.” But I must confess that my “six pack” is a mixture of muscle and a jello-like matter, but hey, Rome was not built in a day. I must say that I am enjoying the experience that is literally changing my life. I’m gaining strength, endurance, flexibility, and having a good time. It’s a bonding experience for my wife and I as we strive for better health.
If you live anywhere close to the Fitness Forum in Anna, Illinois, I recommend you check it out. A small town business where the owners treat you right and appreciate your business; that’s the Fitness Forum. Rebecca, thanks a lot. You are the best.