Laser Spine Institute in the Community

It is not every day that a Laser Spine Institute patient can boast of completing a triathlon - but Steve can.

At 59 years of age, Steve has overcome his back pain and maintained his passion for biking, swimming and running. But he wasn't always sure such an active lifestyle would be possible for him.

In May of 2008 Steve was hit with unseen back pain during the USAT National Championship Triathlon in Las Vegas, Nev. By 2009 Steve was unable to stand for more than five minutes without debilitating back pain.

Laser Spine Institute is happy to announce donation recipients after the inaugural year of the Choose Your Charity contest.

The contest was set up to distribute $7,000 to six separate charities this holiday season. The following financial donations were made to these charities:

• Humane Society of Tampa Bay: $4,000
• The Spine Foundation: $1,000
• Alex's Lemonade Stand: $800
• Feeding America: $600
• Operation Homefront: $400
• Esping Family Foundation: $200

Laser Spine Institute has always been committed to giving back to the community, and perhaps at no time is such dedication to helping others more important than during the holiday season. Thus, we're proud to highlight our employees who helped support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in December.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit public charity that helps give tangible signs of hope to economically disadvantaged children and families during the holiday season. Laser Spine Institute employees at our four surgical centers collected gifts and gift cards through December 16, when members of the United States Marine Corps collected the Toys for Tots boxes at each location.

During the holiday season, many people turn their attention to the less fortunate members of their community. Whether it's volunteering at a local soup kitchen or participating in a toy drive for disadvantaged youths, there are a number of great ways to get involved and give back. But, did you know that such efforts are not only beneficial to your community, but also to you as well?

We all know that it feels good to help others. The enjoyment that comes from doing community service and helping those in need is undeniable. Giving back to those less fortunate than you, especially during the holiday season, is a great way to lift your spirits and boost your attitude. And, if you're one of the millions of Americans suffering from chronic neck or back pain, such an uptick in your overall outlook can make a huge difference in helping manage your pain. Obviously, chronic pain and the other symptoms of a degenerative spine condition can threaten to drag you down into the dumps or make you feel depressed, especially during the holidays when nagging pain might keep you from fully enjoying your time with friends or family. But doing anything you can to remain positive and improve your outlook, including giving back to your community, can be a great way to help you stay happy and healthy. Basically, giving back to the community helps others, and it can also help you, too!

Laser Spine Institute seminars give those individuals suffering from chronic back or neck pain the chance to learn about how our endoscopic procedures are used to treat a number of spinal conditions, and whether they might be a good candidate for such a procedure. And best of all, this tremendously informative opportunity is entirely free, and are held at convenient locations across the country each month. Patients can bring their MRIs or CT scans and have it reviewed by one of our physicians, and get questions answered about their condition and possible treatment options.

In October, Laser Spine Institute will be holding seminars in the following cities: