Brian Spoljarick

As a shooter and point guard on the University of Michigan-Dearborn basketball team, Brian says that he "went from inactive status to 100% participation" after suffering from severe lower back pain radiating into his legs. Special spinal injections and rehabilitative therapy made all the difference. "Without successful treatment at the Michigan Sports and Spine Center, I couldn't have played," Brian says.

Angela Culcasi

"I wasn't able to do much of anything for over eight years due to constant pain in my back," Angela remarks. "I even made visits to the emergency room because it was so bad, and another physician that I'd seen over the entire period of time wasn't able to help me." Things changed, however, when Angela visited Dr. Pierce.

Disc dehydration in her spine caused scar tissue to form, restricting blood flow and producing pain that at times, Angela says, "was so bad I could barely breathe."

A program of injections and physical herapy have allowed Angela to return to a normal life. "Dr. Pierce is my angel," Angela concludes. "He's the only one who helped."

Carol Middel

Before seking help from the Michigan Sports and Spine Center, Carol states that she "couldn't stand without crutches" and often had to resort to using a wheelchair. An MRI (magnetic resonance image) revealed that she was suffering from a herniated disc pressing against her sciatic nerve. Three nerve-root injections over a period of treatment made her "85% better, depending on the weather" and Carol has resumed a much more active lifestyle.