‘The Tolbert Center Helped Me Gain So Much More Mobility in My Knee’

Years ago, Mary Lee, 69, who has many creative talents, suffered a knee injury that was preventing her from growing her business and doing the things she loved in life.

Check out our first in a series of patient stories where you get to hear, first hand, from real patients and their healing journeys. Hear how Mary discovered a simple, non-surgical treatment from the Tolbert Center that gave her the ability to return to an active lifestyle, even as a grandmother. She’s now enjoying life, working on her next entrepreneurial venture and traveling the world—all without chronic pain.

Tolbert Center: Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have always been interested in creative endeavors—lyrical and poetic writings, singing and performing. I’m just overall supportive of all things creative, spiritual and upward.

I’m a semi-retired mother and grandmother. I have sung professionally for some years and have done some bid parts in movies and television.

I also love to travel. I was recently blessed to be able to travel to Egypt and Israel with stop-overs in Paris, Jordan and Germany. I did an impromptu performance in Tel Aviv at the No. 1 blues club in the city. Such a fun, humbling and well-received experience.

I’m also in the process of writing a book.

TC: Tell us about what was causing you pain.

I sustained an injury to my left knee some years back. Before being treated at the Tolbert Center, I was experiencing a lot of pain, swelling and general discomfort.

TC: What did you try before you found the Tolbert Center?

I tried physical therapy on my knee, ice and cold compacts, Tylenol Extra Strength. In fact, one doctor gave me some kind of pain pill. I only took two of them, and it didn’t help. The medicine was actually making me feel sick and generally out of it.

TC: How was your experience at the Tolbert Center different?

Currently, I work part-time as an in-home care provider. One of my clients was under Dr. Tolbert’s care, which is how I became acquainted with her. After reading a brochure and a few visits to the Tolbert Center, I asked about the prolotherapy treatment.

About a year later, I became Dr. Tolbert’s patient and received a number of treatment options before getting the shots. After only a series of three prolotherapy treatments, the pain started to go away, the swelling and disfiguring of my knee went down, and I began to be able to move around without pain or cracking noises.

I gained so much more mobility in my knee that I probably told everyone I knew about the center’s treatment plans.

At times, I still get some pain—particularly when it’s cold and raining. But I’m nowhere near where I was before the treatments.

TC: Now that you’ve been healed, how differently do you feel?

I feel so fortunate to be able to move again without pain.

TC: What do you think really made the difference for you at the Tolbert Center?

The attention and care that I have received from Dr. Tolbert and her staff made a world of difference for my healing and personal growth. I also believe Dr. Tolbert’s personal approach and care for her patients are the driving forces behind her patients’ healing.

I’m a living witness that the Tolbert Center is actually about creating wellness for people.