"I'd been dealing with intense chronic back pain for 25 years and was at the end of my rope. Trips to the ED, physical therapy and consultations with orthopaedic and neurosurgeons hadn't helped. I was advised to see surgeons in Boston or at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Hanover. I chose Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Dr. Lollis told me that surgery wouldn't help me but encouraged me to try Functional Restoration Program. The three week program was really hard in the beginning; I actually thought about leaving. I love exercise but was afraid of what they were having us do. But the staff found a way to get us moving. By the second week I was in a nice rhythm and the class discussions during the third week helped us think through how we'd keep our program going at home. It was wonderful to work through the program with other people. Doing therapy on my own had been very isolating and never really clicked for me. And everyone on the program staff was so dedicated. Every day was filled with activities, comments, and energy that you don't find very often anywhere. Now, one year out, I'm back to working 30 -- 40 hours a week in the heating and air conditioning business. I've gone on back to back 8 -- 12 mile hikes and took an 8 hour kayaking trip."

Learn more at http://www.dhspine.org/.