Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

"I always heard horror stories of how the Dr's here just dismiss all their patients like their drug addicts at the pain management Center, floor 15. Never thought that is how it really was until I saw it first hand. I have never seen a Dr treat my girlfriend, who has real pain inside, like she was someone who is an addict who only wants drugs. As I sit in the waiting room, I hear it from multiple patients, their all being dissmissed like all they want are drugs. You ever think for a minute that you don't know how they feel and all they want is to feel normal again. I have back pain 24/7 and my surgery didn't fix it and the epidurals didnt fix it. So i just struggle day to day just like everyone else here, but my Dr actually listens to me and understands my pain. I didn't see that the whole time I was at Ability Labs. Understanding that some of these people have no where else to go, since no one wants to touch organ pain. But that doesn't give the Dr's and staff the right to treat the patients like their worthless, with hostility and aggression. We are all human. Some have rare conditions that will never be cured. It breaks my heart watching my girl, with that rare condition, curled up in a ball, sticking her fingers in her liver just trying to get some relief, with me not being able to do a damn thing. But it definitely seems like lm doing more for her than the drs are, thats for sure. Having to lose money because just to get an appt., months away, we have to take off work. "WE" she will never go alone, I won't allow it, because this place will give anyone anxiety when they don't care enough to help you, your just a paycheck to them. I watched two people walk out that room just aggravated at the way the Drs' talked down to them. Take their money but don't help them. That's how Ability Labs seems to be. I will be finding her a better pain management center that cares about her and not just about the money she'll be giving them. I'm glad I came to see, which will make me research harder for help for her."

"The nurses and pct's do an excellent job of patient care and the therapist do great to motivate and push you to do your best. I improved tremendously in the six weeks I was in therapy there. I'm very thankful for their services."

"Shirley Ryan and the staff nurses drs etc are far beyond any 5 star rating. We were so lucky to be admitted following the month long stay in the ICU and hospital in Fort Wayne Indiana. My daughter was hit by a drunk driver ejected from her vehicle and sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. Her recovery was possible bc of these great people. They love their jobs and are so invested in their patients that when given the opportunity to finish doctoring and rehabbing in Fort Wayne at a different facility or at Shirley Ryan in Chicago…. I’ll continue to ALWAYS choose the 4 hour drive and the people at SRAL. Thank you all for investing in our lives. ❤️"

"I took physical therapy from them, as well as occupational therapy (focusing on the wrists and hands) from them. I had two different instructors, one for the hands and one for everything else (including back, legs, arms, etc.) Usually they focus on just one body part but my primary care physician wrote an order for them to focus a little bit all over (as fibromyalgia often manifests). This was in the midst of the pandemic — all appointments (except of a more emergency nature) were held remotely over telehealth video calls, making learning the exercises more difficult and not very productive for me. However, I have a friend who had a stroke and in the aftermath really benefited from Shirley Ryan’s care. He had in-person care. Had I had in-person care, maybe I would have had a better experience. It soon will be time for me to return to Ability Lab for physical therapy soon and I hope I have a better experience now that the care will hopefully be in-person. :-)"

"Shirley Ryan AbilityLab exceeded our expectations. They took care of our father after he broke his neck. It was a long road ahead and they had a team ready to guide us through the next chapter. Their attitude was phenomenal. They all worked as a team for one goal and that was the patient to have the mindset and the physical capacity to challenge themselves with one on one physical therapy, as well as the round table and share experiences with those needing more encouragement to push through. Truly mesmerizing to see the experience and the attention to detail. On behalf of our family we are forever grateful."