“It’s Given Me My Life Back”: Tony’s Veteran Journey with Hinge Health

“I Thought I’d Never Be Able to Touch My Toes Again”

Tony’s pain journey began back in 2008, after a seemingly ordinary act of lifting a desk led to lasting back issues. “I had surgery in 2010 — they fused my lower disc to my tailbone. After that, it felt better for a while, but then started to cause problems again a few years later.”

Like many veterans, Tony’s drive to stay active started young and never faded. “I was in the service a long time ago, in the early 60s. I joined when I was 17 years old,” Tony shares. After leaving the Navy, he kept moving: “I was a maintenance electrician in an automotive factory. We work over 70 hours a week.” After the factory, he was far from slowing down: “I was a television repairman, radio station engineer, and disc jockey. I helped build houses from the foundation up.”

Today Tony still lives an active life with golf and bowling. But nagging joint pain threatened his ability to enjoy the things he loved most. He tried traditional physical therapy and regular pain management injections, but relief was fleeting. “The pain relief from shots only lasted two weeks. I love to play golf and bowl, but even with therapy, nothing really helped — it was always the same old moves, same stretches.”

His surgeon warned him: “You’ll never be able to touch your toes.” But Tony’s determination told a different story.

Finding Something That Actually Worked

Tony first heard about Hinge Health through a flyer distributed by the company he retired from, which offered Hinge Health in their health plan. “Nothing else had worked, so I thought I’d try it. I’m so glad I did.” The all-virtual, digital care program felt more accessible and personalized than anything he’d experienced before. “You can do the exercises as much or as hard as you want. It’s amazing—it adjusts to what you need.”

He worked closely with his dedicated care team—including his health coach, Kelly, and physical therapist Dulce, herself a fellow veteran. They helped him not only recover, but thrive.

Back to What He Loves

Now, Tony is busier than ever. He bowls (including winning his local Senior Masters Championship), still plays golf, and stays active around the house—landscaping, yard work, and even trimming trees. “My balance has improved. They said I’d never touch my toes, but now I can touch my ankles—and my knuckles, too!”

He does Hinge Health sessions almost every day, far more than the recommended three times weekly. “It’s the best part—it gets me started in the morning.”

His favorite feature? The ability to adjust the difficulty of each session. “Not everybody is the same. Being able to make it easier or harder, depending on the day, makes the program feel like it was made just for me.”

Even after having toes removed due to diabetes and joint pain, Tony’s balance is better than ever. “I can balance just as well on my left side as on my right, sometimes even better.”

Advice for Other Veterans

Tony encourages other veterans experiencing muscle stiffness, soreness, or joint pain to give Hinge Health a try. “For me, it’s the only way to go. You just have to put in the time—and it’s not much. The program will address and fix your pain.”

“I’m proud of what I can do at 82. I don’t consider myself old—it’s just a number. Hinge Health helps keep me moving and doing what I love.”

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re wondering how you can get started, it’s easy. Just see if you’re eligible—it usually takes less than five minutes.

You’ll answer a few questions about your health, and then we’ll connect you with a care team and get you started.

Interested in more stories like Tony’s? Discover how our program is making a difference—read more member stories here.