I grew up in Fort Payne, Alabama, and attended Fort Payne High School. I got injured there and had to have early knee surgery in 10th grade.
After high school, I began my career in masonry and loved it. However, the physical demands of the job took a toll on my body, and over time, it wore my body down.
I went to Andrews Sports Medicine and saw Dr. Lyle Cain for my knee as well as my shoulder. Dr. Benton Emblom performed my hamstring repair, and Dr. Kathleen McKeon did my hand surgery. Then I saw Dr. Andrew Cordover, not knowing anything was wrong with my back. I then got the report back that I had completely worn out my back. Due to my condition, Dr. Cordover performed back surgery on me in 2023 and then a neck fusion in 2024.
I was very apprehensive about getting back surgery done. That was the one thing I swore I'd never do, but when you get to the point that I was at, I was ready. I could not walk at all without having to bend over because of the back pain. My legs would go weak, and I couldn't find any comfortable position, except for lying flat in bed.
My legs would often tingle and become numb, it ended up that I had stenosis. My lower back was completely compressed and worn out.
Dr. Cordover put spacers and bars in my back to spread it apart, and the relief was one of the best feelings I have ever had. It took a little while, about three or four months, to fully recover, but then I was fully ready to go.
In April of 2024, I had the neck fusion procedure performed. I have been playing guitar since I was eight years old, causing my left hand to become very weak. There were basic things I couldn't do on my guitar, and the tingling in my two outside fingers was miserable. It hurt and tingled all the time, I received almost immediate relief from that fusion. The day after surgery, Dr. Cordover asked me, “What about your hand?” I said, "It's already better.” Having that procedure done was an amazing decision.
Dr. Cordover has been top-notch in all aspects. We have built a genuine relationship over the course of my time at Andrews. He's been so great to my wife, my daughter, and myself. I couldn't have asked for anything better from a healthcare provider. He cares so much about his patients, and it shows in his work. I would recommend the entire clinic of Andrews to anyone with any type of orthopedic issues. Every doctor that I've interacted with has been top of the line.
All of my Andrews Sports Medicine surgeons have been wonderful. All of the staff have been as well. It is the most well-run medical facility that I have ever been to. I have been through taking care of my parents as they aged, and have never visited a place run as efficiently and as caring as Andrews.
