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There’s nothing a student-athlete dreads more than a serious injury that threatens even one of the precious few seasons available during a high school career. 

Unfortunately, that's what happened to Chillicothe High School baseball and football player Coen Butler. He began experiencing shoulder pain during the fall of his sophomore year. Then, a few weeks later during a game of tug-of-war at a weightlifting session, Coen felt an even sharper pain run through his shoulder. 

He decided to see athletic trainer Lisa Chaffin and then scheduled a visit with a chiropractor, who believed he was suffering from a tear. Following another visit with Chaffin, Coen was scheduled for a visit with orthopedic surgeon Meaghan Tranovich, MD, at Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute. 

“From the first time we met Dr. Tranovich, we instantly liked her,” said Coen’s mother, Rachel. “She made us feel very at ease with Coen’s injury and, although surgery is never what you want to hear, she was very confident in the process and in Coen making a full recovery.” 

Coen underwent the shoulder surgery in March of 2022. His mother was fearful of what the recovery may involve, having heard stories of people getting addicted to pain medications following a surgery. The procedure went so well, however, that much of the pain management was able to be done through the use of over-the-counter medications with limited use of prescription drugs.

Coen credits Dr. Tranovich for making what could have seemed like a daunting experience so much better. 

“She did a great job and I liked her a lot,” he said. “She was very easy going and she would call and check up on me and let me know what I needed to do to make it feel better and let me know when I could do certain things. She helped out a lot.” 

Now, with his senior football season as a defensive end upon him, Rachel can look back on her son’s surgery as just a “bump in the road” and offered some advice for families of student-athletes facing the same dilemma. 

“If you have to send your child for surgery, Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute is a great facility to consider,” she said.