Jeff's new beginning
In 1997, Jeff, 52, of St. Augustine, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a disease that causes chronic pain in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. Jeff found the pain was taking over his life, making it difficult to focus on important things like his job, his marriage and even his two children.
“My pain level was usually a 7 out of 10; 10 being out-of-control pain,” said Jeff. “It would get to the point where I could feel it all over my body.”
Jeff’s physicians prescribed countless medications including morphine and a fentanyl patch to treat the pain. “I'd be so drugged up from the medication that I'd have to pull over in the morning on the way to work. It just got to the point where my body required more and more medication, but the pain was always there.”
Luckily, Jeff was referred to the Brooks Pain Rehabilitation Program. He was admitted for two weeks as an inpatient to wean him from pain medication, and then later commuted daily for the outpatient program.
Jeff’s therapy at Brooks consisted of rigorous physical activity, psychological counseling, retraining and reconditioning. He worked with a team of specialists, and was taught how to work with his body so that he could sleep, work and move with less pain.
Jeff says, “If your mind understands what’s happening to your body, then the pain doesn’t scare you as much, and you can manage it.”
Now, Jeff’s pain remains at a steady 1 or 2 out of 10—without the influence of any medication. He started his own business in October 2005, and enjoys spending time with his family and being a coach for his son’s baseball team.
Jeff says of his rediscovered life, “I’m excited to live life to its fullest. Being on medication is the wrong way to go about living your life—and if you have the strength, guidance, tools and support, like I did from Brooks, you can really experience a new beginning.”