As a deputy and young father, Justin is dedicated to serving his community and providing for his family. After his back injury drastically worsened one weekend while on duty, Justin feared his injury would permanently impact his life. After seeking care from OSMS, Justin was reassured that he would make a full recovery.

---

Over the course of a few months, Justin’s back pain would come and go. It would subside for a while, and when the pain returned, the symptoms he experienced were not drastic enough to make him think much of it.

Suddenly, one weekend when he was bent over searching a vehicle at work, and stood up, he felt like he couldn’t walk anymore.

He knew that this pain was different than what he had been experiencing the past few months, and he became worried.

Justin explains, “I had so much more to do at this age. I’m young, I was only 31 years old at the time, and am I going to have to find a new career path? I need my back for everything in this.”

In his job, Justin’s duty gear puts a lot of weight and pressure on his back – exactly at the point in which he was hurting.

Along with worrying about his job, Justin also worried about his family, and how he would take care of them.

Justin’s injury occurred over the weekend, and on Monday morning, he was seen by Dr. Flannery.

“Dr. Flannery did some initial diagnostics, and then he was able to diagnose that it was my lower back, and he referred me to Dr. Leschke,” Justin described.

While Justin waited for his appointment with Dr. Leschke, he was ordered an injection to help with the pain and inflammation in his lower back.

When meeting with Dr. Leschke, Justin expressed his worries about having surgery.

“He knew I didn’t want surgery, but how he explained it, coming back, I felt very safe. He put all my nerves at ease,” Justin expressed.

The procedure Justin received for his slipped disc was minimally invasive. Since it was outpatient surgery, it was a very quick surgery, and Justin was in and out one day.

Justin shares that, “OSMS has made a huge impact on my life. I couldn’t ask for a better team of doctors and nurses. Everyone there is so kind and helpful that I’m back to doing my whole life again, moving forward again, not backwards.”

Justin is back to playing with his kids, seeing them grow up, taking them to do the little things, going back to work, serving the community, and doing his honey to-do list.

Justin is back thanks to OSMS!