My Hinge Health Member Story: Renee
Renee shares how she overcame chronic back pain to achieve goals she once thought impossible, like running a 5K and more.
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Hinge Health is a new kind of digital clinic for joint and muscle pain — one built around members, their lives, and their needs. And it’s backed by life-changing outcomes and real savings.
Here, meet Hinge Health member Renee, an animal control officer who has spent her career tackling physically demanding jobs. In this video and interview, Renee shares how she overcame chronic back pain to achieve goals she once thought impossible, like running a 5K and more. Learn more here about how Hinge Health can help your organization or to request a demo.
Renee’s Story: From Debilitating Back Pain to Running 5Ks
Renee’s career has always been hands-on, from operating machines in a factory to wrangling large animals as a veterinary technician and animal control officer. Her days were filled with lifting heavy loads and maneuvering in awkward positions, which slowly began to take a toll on her. “In my mid-20s, I started having a lot of back pain. If I had to handle a large animal, I knew that for the next couple of days my back was going to be really painful,” Renee recalls. “There were days when I would be really debilitated. Some mornings I would have to literally roll out of bed onto my knees to stand up.”
Over time, the pain became more frequent and severe. “There were times I’d keep muscle relaxants with me at work because I was afraid an episode would start, and I wouldn’t be able to work or get home,” she admits. Despite trying chiropractic care, acupuncture, and physical therapy, Renee found herself stuck in a cycle of temporary relief followed by new flare-ups.
Discovering Hinge Health
When Renee discovered the Hinge Health program through her employer, she decided to give it a shot. “It was super simple. I just had to do some back exercises a few times a week,” she explains. The structure of the program helped her ease back into physical activity in a way that felt sustainable.
“For most of my life, I wasn’t very physically active,” she shares. “I’d go through phases — maybe do some yoga or try running — but I could never stick with it. Every time I’d hit that pain barrier, I’d stop. Hinge Health helped me start small and work toward attainable goals.”
A New Outlook
It wasn’t just the exercises that made a difference for Renee — Hinge Health’s coaching provided the consistent support she needed. “The coaching was by far the most impactful part for me,” she says.
“I knew what to do. I knew when to do it. But I just wasn't going to stick with anything, and I needed somebody traveling that path with me — or at least supporting me along that path to be as healthy as I knew I could be. So when I ran into a challenge, my coach would help me get back on track.”
After about three months in the program, Renee began to notice a shift. “I wasn’t in as much pain, and my outlook changed,” she says. “My pain started to feel manageable, and emotionally, I felt like I could handle it.”
Her coach even encouraged her to set new goals. “I wasn’t a runner, but I thought it’d be nice to run a 5K without pain,” Renee recalls. With her coach’s support, she trained and successfully completed her first 5K within six months of starting the program.
Life Beyond Pain
Reflecting on her journey, Renee has found the tools she needs to manage her pain and prevent it from derailing her life. “If it weren’t for Hinge Health, I’m confident I’d still be trapped in a cycle of back pain — having flare-ups, recovering for a few months, and then starting all over again,” she says. “Now, I can run, garden, and kayak without being sidelined by pain.”
Renee has accomplished far more than she thought was possible. “Today, I was able to run six miles. While I feel a little bit of pain, it’s not debilitating. My back feels better than it ever has in my entire life.”