11/11/2025
"To write this review for Strive Integrative Health, I need to include a little back story of my life. I have always been an active person biking, playing sports, hiking, and managing a high/low ropes course. I even flew in a hot air balloon and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane skydiving, but for the last 2 years I have lived a pretty restricted lifestyle due to how my body has felt. Pain was an everyday occurrence and I really had to mentally work hard to push on with life despite the pain. Simple things became a challenge that included navigating stairs, getting in/out of my vehicle, trimming my bushes, riding my bike, and walking on uneven surfaces to name a few. I had to cut back from a job I love with the Milwaukee Brewers because of the amount of time required to be on my feet and uncertainty navigating stairs. Things I once loved doing hiking and riding my bike became something in my past life for the last two years. I also suffered two falls on my stairs because my leg gave out or locked up and ended up in the ER. On one fall, I cracked my head open and required 22 staples for a head wound. For the grace of God, I did not lose consciousness in this fall and was able to call for assistance. By the time emergency personnel arrived to my house, I was sitting in a pool of my own blood and as I looked around the area it reminded me of a CSI crime scene.
My physical and mental well-being was a huge weight to bear as I reflect. I tried several things such as taking over the counter medications, applied topical ointments and creams, stretching, strengthening exercises, acupuncture, massage therapy, saw medical professionals, used a walking stick for stability, and made adjustments in my lifestyle to avoid certain things that caused me pain or potentially could have been a safety issue. From seeing my medical providers, I know I have a significant amount of age degeneration/arthritis going on in my spine and all of my joints. I was told by one physician I would need surgery in 3-6 months and have been offered options that just mask the pain to get through life. While this may be an avenue, it would do nothing to improve the structural issues going on in my body.
In my head at this point, I thought my options were limited until my good friend sent me a link for a consult with Strive Integrative Health. I read the information about services and treatment they had to offer. I was intrigued with the information I had read and felt it couldn’t hurt to see what they could do specifically for me to manage my condition. I was very pleased with the care and time Dr. Erik took in his assessment and explanation of what is going on in my body. I started treatments on 9/11/25 and one of my initial goals was to get back on my bike. I can say with excitement since 9/22/25 I am back riding my bike daily 5-8 miles and hope to get back to 20 miles per day. The simple things I spoke about in the beginning are no longer my biggest challenges of the day and my job with the Milwaukee Brewers is one of joy and with minimal pain right now. Prior to treatment, I would rate my average daily pain 8-9, now I would rate it 1-2. I am so grateful for Dr. Erik and the team at Strive Integrative Health for their care. As I started with treatments, I became more motivated to do my end of the work. I was provided suggestions for stretching and strengthening of my core to help in my personal care. I am finding that my part is just as important as the care I receive from Strive Integrative Health. My gains continue daily with the team approach and I am determined to do my part to get back to living my best life."
