Back Pain? Fear not.

Meet Indiana Spine Center Patient: Jim Hemminger

Hear why a herniated disc was just a hiccup for this 62-year-old bodybuilder

the man:

Retired, age 62
National Physique Committee (NPC) member
NPC bodybuilding Masters Level competitor since 1994
3-time National Masters Weight-Class Champion

the problem:

Condition: Herniated lumbar disc
Cause: Developed following injury
Symptoms: Leg pain, muscle weakness, difficulty walking
Treatment: Discectomy | lumbar disc microsurgery

the fast track to recovery:

Contacted Indiana Spine Center: April 6, 2010
First appointment: April 9th
Surgery performed: April 21st
Back in the gym: April 26th
Release by Dr. Brkaric: May 5th

..From the first time I saw the doctor until I had my operation was two weeks...in four weeks I'm released by the doctor, and my lifestyle's back to normal.

Gorup. Brkaric.
Who are these guys?

When you make an appointment, you’ll get to know them right away—because Dr. Gorup and Dr. Brkaric are not just fellowship-trained, orthopaedic spine surgeons, published medical-journal authors and technical advisors to a leading biomechanics lab. They’re doctors who will engage you as a patient and a person.

Knowledge Is Power

Especially over fear. Check out Indiana Spine Center’s quick online video tutorials to learn more about common back problems and the advanced medical solutions to treat them.

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765.446.5210

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Unity Healthcare is a comprehensive, multi-specialty healthcare provider with satellite offices and physicians located throughout north central Indiana. We have more than 600 employees, more than 70 doctors and over 25 specialty areas – all sharing a vision to give you the best medical care possible. Because our goal is to offer a continuity of care that leads to faster, more accurate diagnoses and shorter recovery times, we bring innovative technology to the region including 3-Tesla MRI imaging and IMRT. We also offer the latest procedures including outpatient joint replacements, orthopedic spine surgery, balloon sinuplasty and intra-operative radiation therapy for breast cancer therapy.

Jim Hemminger's Video Transcript:

Back in the early '90s, I was squatting and lifting heavy weight and my form got bad and I actually blew the disc out. Then of course I went through a long medical process there and ended up getting a micro discectomy and it got better, it got better. I went to a sports doctors then took care of the issue. Then this year in this spring, I was preparing again to go back to the Nationals in July I started heavy leg pressing doing heavier stiff-legged dead lifts and I started noticing pain in my hip area and my glute area. I didn't think anything about it, I had just pulled a muscle.

Weeks go by now, it's March and the pain is getting a little more serious. And then it starts showing up on my calf the side of my calf and my ankle. At that point I knew I had some issues. Went to his reception and got an appointment Within three days I was back in his office for my first appointment. Not even a week went by. That first appointment was on a Wednesday, that Monday I went for my MRI. That next Wednesday I came back to his office for a consultation. We decided the best route to go was surgery. Then the next Wednesday, which was April 21st, I went to Unity Surgery Center and had my discectomy. That was on a Wednesday. The next Monday I was back in the gym just for some minor workouts. That week Wednesday a little more. May 5th back to the doctor's office for my release appointment. I was happy everything went good, I felt good, and it's been fine ever since. When you go to a doctor and you talk with doctor he gives you the confidence that you need that he's going to do what you need to get done and that's get the pain over. You're happy. You go get it and it's fine, so I was very happy.

And the timing, man, I mean my God. I, from the first time I saw the doctor until I had my operation was two weeks. And in four weeks I'm released by the doctor, and my lifestyle's back to normal. Now granted you don't get crazy in a week. If you cut your hand you're not going to go out there and hit it with a hammer again, you know, you're going to go easy with it. But nothing like the pain you had before. That's the significant thing. That pain is gone. There might be a little bit here and there but that's just the healing process.

When you know your body like a bodybuilder does you understand pain there's good pain or bad pain. Dr. Brkaric, he has a very good understanding of a person who has a workout mentality that likes to work out and likes to train in a gym. And he knew, when he found out I competed, he knew I was under a time constraint, he worked with me, and I'm sure of that. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to satisfy my dream of being able to still compete in July. And he did. I was happy.

Jim Hemminger. Im retired. I'm 62. I'm a competitive bodybuilder. I belong to the National Physique Committee. I've been competing nationally since 1994. At the national level, I'm a three time National Masters Weight Class Champion.