When I first came to Neeva, I couldn't stand--let alone walk!-- due to a severe, acute lower back injury; the mere attempt brought me to tears. I was supposed to receive physical therapy in Palo Alto, but the designated clinic wouldn't take me in for at least two weeks, despite the massive pain and inability to walk. On top of not receiving PT, my then-doctor wouldn't even physically examine my back; he merely prescribed muscle relaxants and told me I could walk out of his office. I was incredibly insulted by his rudeness and cavalier attitude- for goodness sake, I was in a wheelchair, and he told me to walk away! (I should note that my current doctor is much, much better.)
So, I used yelp to find a PT near my apartment in Fremont. When I called to schedule an appointment at Peak Performance without any doctor's referral (I was very much on my own), the receptionist Silvia was so kind during our conversation that I broke down and started crying again. Peak Performance immediately worked me into their schedule that day.
Within 10 minutes of Neeva working on my back, I was able to stand up straight. It required all my concentration to maintain the pose, but I could do it. No tears. Neeva immediately started me on an extensive PT program at home and at her office, which I follow religiously. On the days when scheduling doesn't work out, I see Todd instead of Neeva, who is just as awesome. I adore that both of them are willing to work with my goals (weight loss, increased strength, as much physical activity as possible) and let me push myself. But when I want to go too far, they are the first to advise caution, and I've learned that listening to their advice always yields excellent results. Despite no longer being able to run and lift heavy weights, I've lost over 30 pounds since working with them.
Besides Neeva and Todd, everyone I have interacted with at Peak Performance has been professional, effective, and easy to talk to. I do about half of my exercises with Jerome and Monique (the other half with Neeva), and I enjoy working with them just as much.
No one ever *wants* to go to physical therapy. But Neeva and Todd are such wonderful, kind, and talented physical therapists that you sort of do want to go! I actually look forward to seeing them every week! And when I'm in their office, I get a very strong impression that the other patients feel similarly. This means something, when you remember that everyone there is experiencing some form of physical pain.
I suspect that in addition to the role of physical therapist, Neeva and Todd also end up playing mental therapist. There have been so many times when I was afraid I would never get better, and the pain would genuinely scare me, but Neeva was easily able to calm me, and make me laugh. I hope she knows how much I have appreciated and relied upon her kindness; I'm not sure it's even possible for me to thank her enough.
Really, it's been a joy being Neeva's patient. If you ever need physical therapy, go to Neeva. She listens to you when you describe the pain, and actively helps you fight it. She took one look at my back and correctly guessed the underlying medical problem months before a MRI procedure correctly bore out her prediction. I trust her more than any one else. As far as I'm concerned, she's a life saver, perhaps even a miracle worker. read more