Meet Tom: What Finally Worked After Decades of Back Pain
07.01.2025
"I Thought Pain Was Just My New Normal, Until I Found Real Relief"
Tom spent more than two decades living with chronic back pain. The injury started in the military during a moment he’ll never forget. He was lifting a heavy wooden crate off the back of a massive tank—something that should’ve been handled with equipment. As soon as he lifted it, he felt his back give out. After the incident, he was ordered to mainly stay stuck behind a desk when he wished he could be hands-on.
That pain stayed with him for the next twenty years.
After retiring as a Master Sergeant, Tom built a successful career in NASCAR marketing, working closely with Dale Earnhardt Sr. and managing souvenirs for race sponsors alongside his brother. But the pain never left. It particularly flared up in the winter, when his arthritis acted up. It limited what he could do physically.
Over the years, Tom tried everything: pain medications, muscle relaxers, and temporary steroid shots. Each treatment helped for a little while, but nothing lasted. His primary care doctor ordered MRI after MRI, hoping to find the root of the issue. Eventually, Tom was referred to Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates. That’s when things started to change. At CNSA, Tom met Ashley Howell, PA-C, who took the time to walk him through his scans and talk about what was really going on in his spine. From there, he began a treatment plan with Michael A. Worobel, DO, at the Mt. Holly location, receiving a series of targeted injections that offered something new: relief that, while temporary, made a real difference.
For the first time in decades, Tom felt heard. The pain on his left side, which had once been constant, disappeared after a round of injections. Then they focused on his right side, where the discomfort had become more intense. Slowly but surely, he began to feel more like himself again.
Today, Tom says he’s doing better than he ever expected. While he continues to experience some slight ongoing pain, he’s found hope in the care he received. The injections have provided windows of relief, helping him better manage a condition that has followed him since his time in the Army. That injury, which resulted in a herniated disc, was a turning point, and one the VA has recognized with a 100% total disability rating. Because of that, Tom continues to move forward with care, balancing his treatment with the realities of his long-term condition.
He’s deeply grateful to the team at CNSA for their compassion, communication, and commitment to helping him understand his spine, not just treat the symptoms.
“I spent years thinking this was just how it had to be. But real strength isn’t about pushing through pain forever. It’s about getting help when you need it.”
If you’ve been living with back pain and haven’t taken that first step, Tom’s message is simple: don’t wait.
Ready to take the first step toward relief? Book your appointment with CNSA today.
Leave a Comment