This is the story of Gislane Rodrigues, an athlete who began suffering pain two months before the pandemic. She first thought it was probably just muscle soreness from her regular sports activity, but it did not improve. The pain got so bad that she couldn’t turn over in bed, and no one seemed to know the solution. That is, until she met Dr. Català. In this article, Gislane tells us about her experience in her own words.
"About two months before the Covid pandemic, I began to notice back pain. Since I'm an athlete, and I do a lot of squats and lift weights, I thought it was probably just sore muscles. But no, the days went by and the pain did not go away. I went to the doctor, and they prescribed medications, rest, and physical therapy… I tried everything, but nothing relieved the pain.”
Gislane’s pain kept getting worse, so they tried treating it with infiltrations. This helped some, but then the pain came back. Doctors performed several tests, and that’s when they discovered that Gislane was suffering from a worn intervertebral disc. Seeking a solution, Gislane consulted several specialists, however they all told her that they there was nothing to be done, that many people have the same problem and she would just have to learn to live with it.
Gislane recalls, "I thought, how is it possible that there is no solution? The only thing that has no solution is death! Then I tried checking with more doctors, first in Girona, and they told me the same thing. Then I made an appointment with a doctor in Barcelona, and he also told me the same thing, that surgery was not a solution and that I would just have to learn to live with the problem.”
Gislane’s memories of those months are painful. She began to lose hope because the pain meant she had to give up sports, which was very hard for her because being active was such an important part of her life. In addition, she had suffered anorexia in the past, and sports had been very helpful in overcoming it.
"It seems crazy, but life lost all meaning, because I couldn't do anything. After this, I returned home and even tried just to live with the problem, but it kept getting worse. I couldn't roll over in bed, I couldn't bend over. It got to a point where I couldn't put my shoes on, I couldn't dress myself without help because I couldn't flex my torso," she says.
The only exercise Gislane could do at that stage was to walk, so she walked 20 km a day with her dogs. She wasn't able to stop because the pain became unbearable when sitting or lying down. And so the months went by. Until, one day, in 2021, while she was at the gas station where she works (she also works in a gym), a customer happened to come in and see her crying from the pain.
"The man asked me what was wrong, and I told him everything. By a twist of fate, he turned out to be a patient of Dr. Ignasi Català. There I was crying. I was distraught and saying things like ‘I just want to die now,’ and the man took out a card, and said ‘Wait, don’t say that! Call and make an appointment with this doctor. If this doctor doesn't cure you, no one will.’"
Then Gislane called Instituto Clavel and was given an appointment for March.
"As soon as Dr. Català saw my tests, he told me that I needed an operation. I was stunned. I said ‘Now?’ He said yes, and explained exactly what he was going to do to me, and I didn’t hesitate. If it was going to cure me, I was willing to do anything."
And so it was, that on March 12, 2021, Gislane underwent anterior approach disc replacement surgery at Instituto Clavel Barcelona. After a few hours, Gislane was able to get up and move normally again.
"The physical therapists came to see me, I got up and I could turn around, move in bed... For me that was a divine gift, the opportunity I asked God for. It was incredible, I could move! Before the operation, I couldn’t move in bed, so however I laid down, that was the way I had to stay. If I tried to move, it would make me would scream… And I got up, walked around the room... I was in the hospital for a week and came out as good as new. This man is a miracle, I owe him my life!" she explains excitedly.
Two weeks later, Gislane began physical rehabilitation and her progress went very well. After just two months, she was able to gradually and carefully return to weightlifting. One of Gislane's big concerns had been to know just that, if she would be able to do again all the things she did before, including competition.
"I asked Dr. Català if I was going to be able to do everything I did before and he said yes. I had thought it wouldn’t be possible to do deadlifts, which are a fundamental exercise for the gluts and legs, but yes, I could! After 6 months I competed again and I won! I was Champion of the Women's World Cup IFBB Spain!" she explains with great joy.
Now, some time later, Gislane is still doing great. She feels no pain and says she feels even better than before surgery. She is able to work, teach and follow her demanding training routine without any problem. So much so, that she is currently preparing for the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) European championship that takes place in April, and then another in May.
In closing, Gislane says, "I'm at my very best! That doctor is a wonder of the world! I recommend him to everyone whose back hurts, and I tell them that if they were able to cure me, after 10 doctors had told me that I had to learn to live like this, there must be a reason!"
You can check out other patient’s testimonials here
Categories: Spine treatments, Spine pathologies, Surgery, Testimonials