Gary Paquin
It is a pleasure to provide Dean and Krista with my sincerest thanks for providing the skills, insight and motivation to rebuild my life with physical exercise treatment. You succeeded where more passive forms of therapy failed. I had tried pills, chiropractic, counselling and meditation to assist in controlling my chronic pain and depression. I even left the health care profession that I had worked in for over 40 years. How could I treat my own caseload of patients when my focus was just to get to the end of the session and take more painkillers? I had also given up on having the meaningful social, family, emotional and spiritual life that I had built and enjoyed.
Dean is a rehabilitation visionary. His theories on holistic health, inflammation and stress are based on solid clinical science and cutting edge research. However, he takes them out of the laboratory and into the grasp of suffering people. This is an admirable calling.
Krista puts the theory into action. She is a brilliant kinesiologist and wise beyond her years. Although she is a very kind and generous person, Krista is in control of the process and teaches as well as motivates. Her gimlet eye ensures that you don't hurt yourself by handling more work than your injured body can manage. She is also a stickler for proper form and mechanics. I suppose this comes from decades of ballet. I wouldn't have lasted a week without her guidance.
Please be aware that the road to recovery requires work. You will sweat but you will also be able to succeed in recovering your pre-morbid lifestyle. I have lost 18 lbs and rediscovered muscles that I had not seen in ages. My back and hips are functional enough for me to return to playing softball and golf this spring. Plus I have learned to listen to my body and be my own therapist for some things. How great is that.
I owe it all to Dean and Krista. Many, many thanks for your skills and dedication to your profession.
Ursula C. Carancio
LPN, Emergency Dept.
First and foremost; THANK YOU On-Site Rehab. Thanks to this program I was able to go back to work and get my life back.
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I had been working as an LPN for 7 years prior to my injury; and loving it. One day I went for my break and could not stand. I felt the most excruciating pain, like an electric current, from my lower back down both my legs. I could not move at all. I was told it was sciatica and a UTI and was sent home with analgesics and antibiotics. Walking was becoming very difficult and pain was getting worse. I returned to work 3 weeks after the initial incident. This time I had fever and unbearable pain from my back to my abdomen and down my legs. I was admitted and had an MRI. Was diagnosed with herniated L4-L5, Annular Tear in my Sacrum and Tarlov Cysts. Then started my ordeal of visiting numerous doctors, being put on pain meds that would give me more side effects than pain relief, getting weaker and doing less. Everything was a task, I couldn't bend, couldn't sit, would literally get stuck doing anything. I was like this for 2 years, couldn't work and was on disability. It was awful, not to be able to get on the ground and play with my daughter, not being able to lift, or even do a simple chore around the house.
An unexpected turn of events in my family life happened; I fell into a depression. At first I thought my life was falling apart; yet it had been falling apart slowly and I didn't want to admit or accept reality. Sometimes when you want things to go a certain way, you turn a blind eye as to not see things and end up hurting yourself even more. I think that gave me the push to say enough is enough; I need to take control. Great West Life got me into a rehab program. I had already tried before with Lifemark but it had been an epic fail. So now I was going to start somewhere else. Jacque, my rehab worker, got me into On-Site Rehab, along with seeing a psychologist to help me cope with my depression. The program was at YMCA with Dean and Shelby. The atmosphere was completely different than a regular rehab program where everyone is in pain and given a sheet with exercises to do and you do as you please. On-Site was one-to-one; I was assessed to see what I could do and what I couldn't. The first day was painful, as I hadn't done stretches for 2.5 years and was afraid because of the fear of "getting stuck" and not being able to move - it's hard. I remember Dean saying "just let go," and as time went by literally I did.
Shelby was my trainer and she is great; she treated me as a friend not just a client. She would start me off first either on a treadmill or stair climber to increase my heart rate but be able to maintain a conversation with her. Then we would stretch, I remember the first day on a mat on the floor I was scared. Yet, I did as I was told and she would ask me if it was too much to do, if I could handle the stretch or not. Never did I feel pressured into doing something that would injure me. I had so much support and help from her. As time progressed I noticed the pain was getting tolerable and my body was not scared to exercise. Even my mood had improved because I could now do more things than in 2.5 years I had not done. I worked through it and was able to accomplish so much. I would do my stretches at home and practice with my daughter too.
It changed my life. I believe I was able to start on this program and succeed because I had that driving force of, "I am going to go back to being who I was before." I think I was ready to start again, pushed and believed in myself; determination is very important. Support is also important; Dean and Shelby believed in me as well. They would give me regular feedback and would always ask if I felt ok with doing the exercise. I cannot thank them enough for all the help they gave me.
My goal was to go back to work. I can tell you that I have been back to working 12 hour shifts at my old job in Emergency for 3 months now. I could not have done it without On-Site Rehab. I still do my exercises daily, and my pain is now stable at a low 1/10. I'm hoping that I will eventually be off pain meds at some point.
Thanks again Dean and Shelby; you guys are my angels and I will always be thankful for all your help.
Audrey Pollock
After 18 months of a rough recovery from breast cancer treatments I was truly worn out, physically and mentally. Feeling left out in the cold and wondering how I was ever going to get back to the job I loved and back to living life. When my insurance provider asked me to go to On-Site Rehab at the YMCA I was angry because I couldn’t fathom the thought of exercising at a gym. Two months with On-Site and my world has done a 360 degree turn. I see my way clearly, am positive about moving forward and I will definitely keep up with the gym. My family is amazed at what I am capable of.
Thank you Dean and Rachelle you have been my lifeline!
ROBIN HAIRSINE
When I started with my rehabilitation program with Dean and Dana, I was nervous and apprehensive, to say the least; I had recently had heart surgery to correct an arrhythmia that was causing me much grief for the better part of a year. Prior to having heart surgery, I was not active much at all and my fears surrounded being active were great. Logically I knew I was ready to be active again and I knew that I needed to be active; however, I had many mental and emotional barriers that I needed to overcome. I didn’t trust my body. I didn’t fully believe that I was strong and capable.
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Two months after working closely with Dana and Dean, I know I am capable and strong. I no longer have gym related, activity related or body related anxiety or fear. I am not afraid to push myself. I have confidence I didn’t have prior to working this program. I can honestly say that this program has changed my life. I would not be here, feeling this good, if it wasn’t for this program. I went back to work recently from a temporary leave (medical leave), due to having surgery, and I was told “I look good, healthy, well rested and peaceful”. I don’t think I’ve ever been told that by so many people before. I am surprised at how much my life has changed in such a short period of time. I would recommend this program to anyone.
Thank you to Dean and Dana for all your support, knowledge and encouragement. I’m on a wonderful health journey thanks to you!
Craig Milligan
When I first came to On-Site Rehabilitation I was in a very dark and unhealthy place. I had just had surgery on a broken clavicle as a result of a motorcycle wreck. I had been off work for over a year and was stuck in a deep dark rut. I was bitter and resentful and did not see any real path forward.
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However, through the great support of the extremely knowledgeable staff at On-Site, my life began to turn around. I began to see improvements in a very short while…physically, mentally and spiritually. I am the type of person who likes to rush ahead when I see a little bit of progress, and that would have been very detrimental to my recovery. My trainer Amy was very careful not to hurry me along and to ensure that my development was thorough and methodical. I was able to notice personal achievements and it was also confirmed when Dean would take regular measurements of my physical and mental state and record this data. He was able to explain how the healing process works and made sure that we were always working in my best interests. We were able to compare these results month by month and if changes were needed then we addressed them. This progress report was extremely beneficial to me as there were times I wasn’t sure I was going in the right direction. Amy and Dean were always available and extremely supportive, and this was huge for me in my recovery.
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Dean is one of the most knowledgeable people I know and my trainer Amy also has a great deal of knowledge, understanding, experience and personality, and we worked great together. I feel I owe my new-found life to Dean and Amy and I never believed that I could get back to this level in life again.
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I am so overjoyed that I had the opportunity to work with the awesome staff at On-Site and I would recommend this to anyone in need of rehabilitation services.
Kirk Babiak
CTAJ Appeals Advisor Alberta WCB
On-Site Rehab literally changed my life. It is not often, if ever, for most people that you have the opportunity to meet people that really want to help you. Not for any other reason than that they care. That is what I found at On-Site.
I had gone through some major physical and emotional trauma in my life and was certain my path was dark. I went to On-Site with an open mind and met the most incredible people. As I write this I almost struggle for words to describe the energy, positivity and kindness that I was met with. Dean, who runs the program is so full of life, he makes you want to see the world "cup half full." This attitude is infectious. He is a kind man who you can tell right away wants nothing more than to help you and improve your situation. Throughout my troubles I have met several different service providers, clinicians, professionals and I always got the sense I was a number or a statistic. Not at On-Site, that was obvious minute one, I was a person and I mattered, I really mattered.
I was provided a personal trainer who was not just a personal trainer but a sounding board, a coach, someone to encourage me, someone to hold my hand (not literally) and just make me feel safe and ok. I was so very honored to have been able to work with Rachelle. She was always there for me, be it encouragement, instruction, a laugh or just to listen.
As I mentioned above, I knew I was cared about. To be a client and not feel like a client is a pretty special thing. I truly don't know if I have ever known such genuine kindness before.
In the short time I was able to work with On-Site, I made incredible progress both physically and emotionally. Progress that I often worried I would never make, even after seeing all the other people prior to On-Site. I can literally say I got my life back. That would not have occurred without On-Site and Dean and Rachelle. These are remarkable people. I just simply cannot thank you enough.
Thank you Dean. Thank you Rachelle.
Wendy Watson
When I started my association with On-Site Rehabilitation I was in a very low place. Physically and emotionally I felt empty. The very last thing I wanted was to join a gym and feel failure at every step.
However, the people at On-Site were so welcoming, supportive and motivating. Right from the start I had someone who believed in my ability to make changes which would improve the way I felt. It wasn't easy, and honestly I still don't enjoy exercising. But now, 4 months later I know I am much stronger, healthier and happier. It wouldn't have happened without the wonderful people at On-Site, especially Shelley and Dean. I've achieved things I never believed I could, and I know I have more goals to reach.
Thanks to On-Site I'm on my way. I just bought my first gym membership!