I'm doing great. Just got home from chairing a meeting at my home group. I am grateful that Kansas City, Missouri has such a strong recovery community. Jim & I rode the Door County, Wisconsin Century bike ride a few weeks ago with five of our Minnesota friends. Had a great time.....we rode 100 miles in 6 hrs. 50 minutes – that’s just under 15 miles an hour average. We were well-trained so it was a blast. Just six months ago I was holding onto the walls at LVRC – just to walk down the hall – now I can ride a bike 100 miles! Amazing what a recovering addict can accomplish, isn't it? Recovery rocks. I love you & LVRC!
Dana

After a 20-year career in motorsports, my back had finally given out. Two ruptured discs and two back operations left me with a legacy of severe chronic pain On oxycodone for 3 ½ years, my pain steadily increased along with the dosage until I could take no more. In addition, my anxiety and depression worsened along with the pain to the point of despair. LVRC was a revelation. Within one month of treatment, my pain was reduced from a 7 out of 10 to a steady zero, yes, ZERO. I was in the throes of a classic case of hyperalgesia, thankfully with physical therapy, cognitive therapy, and classroom groups I was able to conquer and subdue my chronic pain and live with my addiction. Dr. Pohl’s care was timely, efficient and right on the money. Anonymous

To the magnificent LVRC, I first discovered LVRC when a relative attended a few years prior to me. She couldn't say enough praise about it, & there was overwhelming evidence of the positive influence. After researching my treatment options, I chose LVRC for their pain management program and qualified specialist. During the pain program I realized things about myself that I had overlooked for a decade & began my evolution to recovery. The culinary staff was amazingly accommodating, the medical & nursing staff compassionate & responsive, and the counselor/administrators non-judgmental with a realistic honesty. Also the support of the RT’s & receptionists was the icing on the cake. I became comfortable and connected with everyone for the first time. Please believe when I say that alone was worth it. Though I was resistant, they never gave up on me. LVRC is by far one of the most difficult, enlightening, wonderful, life changing experiences of my existence. The best decision I have made thus far. Without them I wouldn't have 16 months clean with a renewed positive outlook on life. My appreciation is immeasurable, thank you. Truthfully yours,
Alita

Prior to being admitted to Las Vegas Recovery Center's inpatient program, I had attended an inpatient program for adolescents. I was twenty years old at the time and more combative and blindly rebellious than ever. The atmosphere of kids my age who wanted nothing more than to act out helped flame negativity. I felt like the lines were drawn and it was us (the kids in treatment) versus them (the staff). Las Vegas Recovery Center juxtaposed this atmosphere of conflict. Having a broader age range consisting of people who know this may be their only chance at getting clean quelled the divide between staff and patient. Having a staff that mainly consisted of people in recovery allowed the gap to be bridged even further since for me it is much easy to relate to someone who has been in the same trenches as i was. I have learned in recovery that it is vital to surround oneself with people who work their program diligently and it is my opinion that there is no better group of people as inviting, knowledgeable about recovery, or dedicated to the process as the people i met at LVRC. Las Vegas Recovery Center also address more than the "garden variety addicts." I fully credit their pain program for educating me on how to live a full life without any mood altering medications. I had a complete spinal fusion at fourteen. My back never felt the same and seemed to get progressively worse and worse. I learned there that the drugs I was taking did more harm than good and that there are alternatives that lower the pain that I feel while also allowing me to strengthen my back opening up a world of physical activities which I am now excelling in. LVRC's pain program helped me go from the paradigm of a drugged up couch potato to a nationally ranked athlete. Finally, LVRC's education on the physiological aspects of addiction helped subdue a lot of the guilt and sense of shame that is inherent with discovering oneself is an addict. LVRC helped teach me that it is not because I am weak (something my addiction loves to tell me) or immoral (although my addiction has led me to immoral things) that I am a drug addict. Their tall, dark-ish, and handsome Medical Director Dr. Mel Pohl helped illustrate that it was indeed a physiological disease. More importantly, he showed me that there is a treatment for this disease – the 12 steps, meetings, service, and fellowship.
Michael L.

I have had 2 thoracic back surgeries. The first one was a fusion. Four years later, I had the metal taken out. As a result of both surgeries, the muscles between my shoulder blades were damaged, causing a lot of pain. I also had nerve damage. For over 8 years, I have been suffering from chronic pain. I was put on narcotics. My doctor told me I would never work again. I was sent to LVRC by my insurance company. I was scared to death of the thoughts of not having my pain medications and muscle relaxers. In order for me to function, I needed my medications. So I was very resistant when I arrived at the recovery center. I thought once they see how I was damaged due to the surgeries, they would realize I wasn’t a person that needed off my medication. Well to my surprise, the doctors didn’t feel the same way I did. I was put in detox and had more fear than I ever thought I would. The fear turned into anger. I was hostile toward the staff and my peers. After a couple weeks of those emotions, I realized if I didn’t change some of my resistance, they were going to kick me out. And I didn’t want to lose my benefits or family. So I very slowly started tearing down some walls. I was still very angry. I started seeing my peers having fun, laughing and having love and joy in their hearts. That’s really all I’ve ever wanted from life was love and to be happy. So I decided to start sharing with my peers about my life. That was the first part of my recovery. Since that day, I started to put my trust in my peers. Then I slowly started to put my trust in the staff. Well this is my last day and my pain in the last 7 weeks has dropped from a 9 out of 10 when I first arrived to a 2 today. I would have never believed that being on narcotics was actually causing me more pain. This recovery center has been the best experience I’ve had in the last 8 years of suffering from the conditions of chronic pain. Anonymous

Just a short note to all my wonderful friends at LVRC – 11 month and no problems. I am seeing a counselor on a regular basis. I have continued all of the stuff I was doing at LVRC (acupuncture, massage, chiropractic etc.) and my pain is now a consistent 1 or 2. I use John's meditation tape and have done several interventions and helped people into programs. I talk to doctors all the time about LVRC and my experience. The education was critical in my recovery, and the entire program helped me reach my goal. Chronic pain is life-changing, and Dr. Pohl has created a system to overcome and deal with it without the narcotics. I was taking 16 Percocet and 75 mcg of fentanyl every day. When I arrived at LVRC, I had the equivalent of 200 mg of Morphine in my system and had had 7 near-death experiences prior to entering the program. All the medication was prescribed, and I did not know how close to death I had been. Due to my medical conditions, LVRC was the only facility that I could go to that could treat my condition. I was very fearful of withdrawal, but the staff and system made it nearly painless. Everyone on the staff was helpful, friendly and supportive and treated everyone with respect. Originally, I was injured in a building collapse as a firefighter. I had 10 surgeries in 4 years and lived in pain for almost 10 years. LVRC saved my life and let me deal with some of the demons in my closet. I have not had a flashback from Vietnam in over seven months! Thank you for giving me back my life. Say hi to all the wonderful staff. I am currently working as a Deputy Fire Marshal, teach three classes at the college, serve on two boards and enjoy retirement. Tom

At LVRC I discovered a compassionate staff that understood my needs. I wanted help and had the confidence they could give it to me. Dr. Pohl and the entire medical staff worked with me on an individualized basis and the counseling program was specifically tailored for me as well. The Pain Program taught me a new way to live my life. Where I once hated and feared my pain I am now able to accept it as a part of me and use the tools that I learned at LVRC to deal with it in a healthy way.
Cecily B.

To all the doctors and staff at LVRC, I wish to thank all that helped me during my stay at LVRC. Without you guys and ladies, I would still be a train wreck waiting to happen. With the help of the pain program, the pain book, and the expertise of the staff, I have learned to manage my pain beyond belief. I never thought I would ever feel the way I do today. It seems that I was wrong thinking that way, and I have the utmost respect for all that has helped me in my recovery. Trust me when I say that you don’t have to live in chronic pain, you learn to live with chronic pain instead. I will always be grateful and thankful to have been given this gift and will use it for the remainder of my life. Once again, thanks to all for all your help. Rick M.