Real people. Real experiences. Real relief.
For Ricky Sims, life changed on April 4, 2000, when a helicopter accident left him with a serious spinal injury. What followed was a long journey involving multiple surgeries, chronic pain, and the challenge of finding a way to continue living life on his own terms.
Today, Ricky is a patient of Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants (TVPC), where he works with Dr. Morris Scherlis and Michelle, CRNP, to manage his pain and maintain the quality of life that matters most to him.
Living With Chronic Pain
Before his accident, Ricky’s career as a pilot was one of the most important parts of his life. After the injury, he underwent several surgeries over the following years. Although he was able to continue serving in the military, his pain gradually became a constant part of everyday life.
Ricky experienced persistent burning and aching in the backs of his legs and feet, with typical daily pain levels of four or five out of ten. The pain affected nearly every aspect of his life, from his work and hobbies to time spent with his family.
“There were days, hundreds and hundreds of days, where I would close my door, lock it, and lay on the floor, trying to find a sweet spot,” Ricky recalled.
Even everyday activities required careful consideration. He sometimes chose to stay home while his family went out, not because he didn’t want to be there, but because the pain made it difficult to participate.
Despite these challenges, Ricky remained determined not to let pain dictate his life.
“At some point in time, you either say, ‘I’m bigger than this,’ or ‘I’m going to let it drive me.’ And I just absolutely refuse to let it drive me.”
Finding a Team He Could Trust
As Ricky approached retirement, he began looking for a pain management provider who could help him navigate his long-term condition. Recommendations from people he trusted led him to Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants.
When he began working with Dr. Scherlis and Michelle, Ricky appreciated their willingness to understand his medical history, explain his situation honestly, and work with him to develop a plan.
Ricky understood that managing chronic pain would take time. He wasn’t looking for an overnight cure. Instead, he wanted a realistic approach that would help him do more of the things he loved.
What stood out to him was the trust he developed with his care team and the opportunity to be involved in decisions about his treatment.
Over the years, that relationship has continued through different stages of his life, including particularly difficult family circumstances when he needed to travel overseas to support his daughter during a medical emergency.
Ricky remembers how Michelle worked with him during that time to help address his pain management needs while he was away from home.
“I’m forever grateful for it,” he said.
For Ricky, that experience reinforced the importance of having a care team that understands him as a person, not just his medical history.
Redefining What Relief Looks Like
Ricky’s treatment has included medication, staying active when possible, and a spinal cord stimulator to help manage his symptoms. Over the years, he has seen how his treatment plan can make a difference in his ability to participate in everyday activities.
One of the clearest examples came during family trips to Disney.
Ricky loves visiting the parks, but chronic pain once limited how long he could stay. He often had to head back early while the rest of his family continued enjoying the day. Those moments were difficult, especially when he felt he was missing out on time with his children and grandchildren.
As his pain management plan evolved, Ricky began noticing a difference. He could spend two or three additional hours at the parks, giving him more time to enjoy the experience and make memories with his family.
For him, that was a meaningful sign of progress.
His pain hasn’t disappeared, and he still experiences burning and aching in his legs. But being able to participate in more of the activities he enjoys has made a difference in his quality of life.
Ricky’s story is a reminder that relief can look different for everyone. Sometimes, it means being able to stay a little longer, participate a little more, or enjoy moments that chronic pain once made difficult.
Looking Ahead With Determination
Outside of family trips, Ricky enjoys building furniture, a hobby he has loved since he was 25. Although pain can sometimes make it difficult to find the motivation to get started, he continues to look forward to returning to his workshop and creating pieces for the people he loves.
His faith, determination, and commitment to staying involved in life continue to shape his outlook.
Ricky also encourages others living with chronic pain to explore their options and seek help rather than assuming nothing can be done.
He readily recommends Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants to people who ask about his experience, encouraging them to make an appointment and learn what options may be available to help manage their pain.
His advice comes from years of firsthand experience: pain management may not mean eliminating pain entirely, but finding a plan that helps you live with it.
At Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants, every patient’s experience is unique. Ricky’s journey reflects the value of a personalized approach to care, an ongoing relationship with a trusted medical team, and a shared goal of helping patients maintain the best quality of life possible.
Ricky’s story is his own, but his message is one many people living with chronic pain can relate to: relief isn’t always about making pain disappear. Sometimes, it’s about getting more of your life back.
Real people. Real experiences. Real relief.
Learn more about Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants and our approach to pain management at tnvalleypain.com.