Dr. John C. Nordt, III Receives Inspiration Award
Coral Gables, Florida (PRWEB) September 03, 2015 -- John C. Nordt, III, an orthopedic surgeon based in Coral Gables, Florida, was recently honored with the Florida Orthopaedic Society’s Injured Worker Inspiration Award, presented at the Florida Workers’ Compensation Institute’s Annual Conference held in Orlando, Florida this past week.
The annual awards, in their 5th year, are presented to two physicians and their respective patients who have overcome significant challenges and a complex medical system in their journey to return to the work force.
The story of Dr. Nordt’s patient is indicative of the obstacles that often have to be overcome to restore a patient to a productive and pain-free life. In this case, his patient had an injury that limited her ability to work and the first physicians she saw could not help her. There were delays in the authorization of treatment recommended by Dr. Nordt. However, both doctor and patient persisted and ultimately, the surgery was performed and proved to be successful.
Background
The patient, a single mother with two children, worked as a restaurant manager. She had no history of back problems prior to 2009 when she fell on the job, resulting in leg and back pain with numbness. She couldn’t stand for more than 45 minutes.
Several physicians attempted to address her pain through medication and physical therapy to no avail. No definitive diagnosis was made and she continued to suffer.
The patient met Dr. Nordt in May 2010, and by then had a limited ability to walk and severe pain. Dr. Nordt’s preliminary diagnosis was L5-S1 disc disease. Because of the prolonged presence of symptoms, a discogram was recommended to confirm that the L5-S1 disc was the source of the pain.
There were system-induced delays and an insistence for more physical therapy. Dr. Nordt continued to communicate with representatives of the carrier. The discogram was scheduled in January 2011 and confirmed the L5-S1 disc as the source of pain. Surgery was recommended but the patient was asked to go through mediation. Ultimately her case was discharged.
After ongoing intervention from Dr. Nordt, the surgery was finally approved. In April 2011, some two years after the fall and onset of pain, the surgery was performed. By the time the sutures were removed her pain was resolving and excellent progress was made post-operatively.
The patient returned to work part time after 6 months. Despite some foot and muscle soreness she was back to work full time and without restrictions within a year. By the fall of 2013, she was exercising, including biking. The patient is currently attending nursing school and raising her pre-teenage children.
Dr. Nordt
Dr. John C. Nordt III, an orthopedic surgeon based in Coral Gables, Florida, specializes in the care and surgery of the spine. He is currently the Vice President of the Florida Orthopaedic Society, which champions the interests of musculoskeletal patients and orthopedic surgeons in Florida. Dr. Nordt, who was previously a professor at the University of Miami, received his medical degree from University of Florida College of Medicine and has been in practice for 42 years. He is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area.
Dr. Nordt’s Spine Center of Miami is located at 4720 Le Jeune Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146. The phone number is (305) 662-2851.
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Contact:
Spine Center of Miami
305.662.2851
Spine Center of Miami, +1 (305) 662-2851, [email protected]
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