Sports Medicine near Rockford picked by BestProsInTown
“I’ve been working with Brandon and he, and the entire staff, are so kind and patient every time I come. I continually feel stronger and my pain diminishing with each appointment. He’s given me easy stretches and exercises to use in my everyday life and schedule.”
“After having had radical head and neck cancer surgery and reconstruction, and then 6 weeks of daily radiation (all down at Cleveland Clinic), I was instructed to find a local Physical Therapist who could help me manage the facial lymphedema that would result from the removal of 88 lymph nodes in my neck.
After a bit of prayer about this (😌), my niece then gave me an excellent recommendation and referral for NovaCare’s Mackenzie Harris!
Not only has Mackenzie taught me how to successfully manage the facial lymphedema, but she has graciously and confidently tackled ALL of the other resultant issues that have arisen as well; such as:
• How to rebuild and strengthen the remaining muscle around my lower leg (fibula) donor-site, where a few inches of bone, muscle, skin, veins and arteries were surgically removed, and then transplanted into the space where my upper right teeth, upper jaw, roof of my mouth, right maxillary sinus, and cheekbone were removed due to tumor invasion.
• How to basically eliminate by exercise and massage the swelling at the lower right leg donor-site and ankle, that I had been told would very likely be a chronic, ongoing issue.
• How to soften, increase circulation, and improve the healing of my significant amount of scar tissue and skin grafts.
• How to improve, correct, and strengthen weakened right leg balance, and upper-body posture.
• How to “unlock” the trismus (lock-jaw) that had restricted the opening of my mouth, and how to now keep my jaw fully functioning.
• How to relieve the tingling and numbness in my right arm that began after surgery and radiation, as well as a new pain in my hips resulting from the necessity of an elevated upper-body sleeping position.
• How to reduce the restrictive neck tightness, discomfort, and further development of fibrotic tissue that can occur after radiation and surgery.
• How to decrease pain, and increase movement around an unintended post-surgical deep skin adhesion.
• How to massage the area of my right eustachian tube to increase the possibility of hearing restoration in that deaf ear (which was negatively effected during radiation).
• I’m sure there is (and will be) much more…but you get the idea 😉.
I’m a “visual” learner, and Mackenzie is great at pulling up pictures/videos to clearly explain the anatomical problem, and also the needed physical-therapy solution.
She strives to support Cleveland Clinic’s long-term process, while demonstrating an extremely impressive, knowledgeable, expertise of her own!
…Seriously, I am so impressed with the way that she has helped improve so many troublesome issues, which I might have ignorantly resigned myself to believing that “this is just how life has to be now,” …when it doesn’t …at all!!
She has gently and diligently taught me how to care for, and assist my body as a whole, in its gradual recovery process. She has done well at instilling confidence, and cheering me on with her genuine concern, care, and positive outlook for my future journey with this somewhat rare (and sobering) diagnosis.
Thank you SO much Mackenzie! 💛😊”
“Great staff and atmosphere, the doctor gave me excellent service, attention to detail and AMAZING adjustment!”