My Comeback Story: Kelly W.

I was never a runner...until I was. And when I fell in love with running, I fell hard. Seven days a week, no rest days, no easy runs. Every day was a push to PR, and I thought that was what made me strong.

Until it didn’t.

The pain came suddenly, sharp and unrelenting. My leg hurt so badly I couldn’t sit, stand, walk, or even lie down without agony. Something I loved so deeply was taken from me overnight. Physical therapy brought more tears than progress, and I began to wonder if I’d ever get my life back.

That’s when I turned to Dr. Riccio. He listened, he understood, and he assured me he could help. Within a month, I was scheduled for a microdiscectomy to remove the damaged piece of spinal disc that was pressing on my nerve.

I’ll never forget waking up from surgery and thinking, “Wow, I'm back.” The relief was instant.

The last 13 months since surgery haven’t been perfect. Every little pinch still scares me, and I’ve hit a few bumps along the way. But this journey has taught me to slow down, to listen to my body, and to appreciate the gift of movement.

Thanks to Dr. Riccio’s guidance, I’ve learned proper technique and found my way back to running, something I prayed for but never truly believed would be possible again.

I am forever grateful to him and his team, not only for their skill but also for their kindness, patience, and faith in me when I had lost my own.

This isn’t just a comeback. This is a second chance.