MY BACK PAIN STORY
Learn all about my journey through back pain and sciatica
symptoms.
Read about other
peoples successful back pain stories
My
experience with Back pain.
When Steve asked if I would like to write about my experience
with
back pain, two things went through my head; one, that my
story is not new, exciting or rare and two, that it might just
help someone. My intention is only to share what I learnt
through my experiences, which may or may not be relevant to you.
I am always impressed with people who knowledgeably negotiate
their way through back pain and if that's you I hope you laugh
with me at how naďve I was. I did not try everything and I am
well aware people have success with things which did not work
for me and vice versa.
I am not an expert on back pain but if you want to know how it
was for me with my condition and what I learned please read
on…..This account is not always pretty and I am not always
proud, but it is a frank, and very personal journey.…..
A year ago I knew nothing of the trials of back pain. Sure I had
a riding accident when I was 10 and since the age of 18 minor
episodes of backache, spasms and pain, but always resolved
quickly, if not completely….a few treatments, rest, and back to
normal. In my youth I was athletic, loved horse riding and
running and nothing was stopping me. After all isn't a little
back pain part of life….?
I was a positive, happy, and healthy person, and I saw no reason
that would change…... Had I known when I was 18 what I know now
I would have been finding the root cause of my aches and pains
and doing targeted exercises to help me years ago.
Lesson one learnt : Kill
the monster while it's a baby! Or in other words tackle any
issues when they happen and while they
are minor.
Well I was in ignorant bliss but things were about to
change…..big time!! I had a burning feeling above my knee. I
assumed a pulled muscle. No big deal.
I waited three weeks but the pain got worse. The Dr who examined
me suspected disc problems and sciatica. The solution?
Physiotherapy, but a twelve week wait list……..I asked what I
could do, he said my spine was very curved and it was all about
posture and to stand up straight. I thought I was standing up
straight! Time with the doctor was so short. I did not ask for
detailed explanations. I assumed they would just take care of
me. I was about to start a steep learning curve….
Lesson two learnt: Ask better questions.
Getting worse and no physiotherapy, I went privately. She
explained about discs and showed me the spine. It felt good to
be resolving the issue….or so I thought. Twice a week ESTM and
manipulation great and did ease the pain…temporarily. Exercises
to help myself, fantastic! I did them diligently. However, I did
not really understand why I was doing them or how they would
help me. I had lots of questions but there was little time as
she was seeing other patients at the same time. However, people
were talking about me being better in weeks!
Lesson three learnt: Learn how your body works. Take
responsibility.
Then it got worse....much worse!!
Severe hot burning pain and tingling down both legs hip
to toes day and night, no respite. I was desperate Physio was concerned and thought I may need
surgery, she said I needed to request an MRI and soon.
Waiting for the MRI, I spent many weeks off work, lying on the
floor with severe back and nerve pain. I became miserable and
demotivated and wondered where my life had gone. I hadn't slept
in months. Painkillers spaced me out and make me feel sick and I
couldn't live like that so I chose the pain… I was not pleasant
to be around; tearful and angry at what had happened. My
husband deserved a medal!! Even though I was not making progress
now I dragged myself to physio hoping somehow it would work,
writing the checks.......
Lesson four learnt: Keep doing the same things you will produce
the same results. Listen to your body.
I focused on the pain and everything I could not do and worse
projected in to the future all the things I thought I would
never do. I know how powerful the mind is and I was seriously
doing myself no favours. I felt isolated, I knew no one with back
pain to share this experience with. I read everything in the
house and my brain was turning to mush with daytime TV!
I started a journal, noting all the pain free time I had, even 5
minutes, and being grateful for all the wonderful things I had
in my life. I started to focus on what I could do. I listened to
motivational CD's and positive thinking tapes. I got a little
better. I determined to go back to work. My employers were
considerate, adapting seating, taking advice from the
physiotherapist, but it was hard. I quickly became exhausted
from dealing with pain and trying to work. I should not have
gone back so soon.
Lesson five learnt: Focusing on the negative and what you can't
do makes it worse, focus on the positive and what you can do.
Listen to your body.
So to the MRI appointment. The only problem was getting there…in
a thunderstorm!! It should have been 90minutes drive, but I
couldn't sit for more than 15 minutes, so we kept stopping…I
know every lay by and trucker stop on that route!!
So I arrived and changed into those oh so flattering gowns. A
guy who had been in before me said in a cheery booming voice
"your turn in the barrel now love!!" A great sense of
humour is
so important in these situations! The radiologist was great and
explained everything. A tip, take in some music and they will
play it for you. I took in my favourite relaxing CD but to deafen
the noise I should have taken in heavy rock!! While MRI is
certainly a weird experience it was fine.
Two weeks later, the
NHS physiotherapy appointment arrived; now
at last I wouldn't have to pay anymore…. From her I got new
information; she told me she thought there was something wrong
with the position of my hips….
That same week MRI results!! . Now there would be action. Now I
would know exactly what was wrong and they would resolve it for
sure. To me a scary diagnosis of prolapsed, desiccated,
degenerative discs with nerve compression and lordosis of lumbar
spine…What did that really mean??? but hey I got to take away
some great slides I did not understand. They felt I was best
seen by a neurosurgeon to interpret the results and plan the
next step. A four month wait list. Dr said with my results and
little progress he saw no point continuing the physiotherapy…
This, yes this, was my low point. I felt abandoned by the
medical profession. I felt like a failure. A hopeless case…. I
hit rock bottom. I asked myself poor questions "why is this
happening to me?" I know I should have asked empowering
questions like "How can I find a solution" but I was tired,
stressed and giving up hope.
Lesson six learnt: No one cares about your back like you do. YOU
have to take control….
My husband encouraged me to see an Osteopath. The first visits
seemed promising and helpful, but when he saw my scan he seemed
to be not so sure and I lost confidence.
I tried a healer who said it may be a problem with one or more
of my past lives …. Not sure about that. After a couple of
treatments I found ineffective, Acupuncturist told me I would
need at least 10 sessions plus herbal pills at a cost of
hundreds which I simply could not warrant spending by now, and
so on..... I was sick of standing in cold rooms in front of
total strangers in my underwear only to be told…. you have a
back problem!
Lesson seven learnt: Before spending lots of hard earned cash
ask what the root cause of the problem is and how they intend to
treat you. Ask what assessments they will do and what the
assessments can tell them about your condition. Don't commit to
long contracts.
So what next?
I struggled into work tenaciously determined to live a normal
life in spite of the back pain only to crash out when I got
home. I got through each day using heat packs…. costing me a
small fortune! The only relief I got from pain was in the bath.
Many nights were spent wandering around the house trying to lose
the pain. It took its toll and I got constantly sick. It was
painful to drive, to sit, to lie down, to walk. …. What a life I
thought…..
Is this really the way it's going to be? I had been told what
not to do but not what I could do to get rid of the pain. I
guessed I was heading for surgery but even in my darkest moments
I thought, I cannot be that bad, surely there must be another
way…….…I got a grip, stopped feeling sorry for myself and
started searching.
Lesson eight learnt: NEVER, ever give up looking for a solution!
Then two things made a big difference to me. I saw an advert for
a Memory foam mattress. I was hesitant to spend more money but
it had a money back guarantee and proved a good investment. It
didn't change my physical condition but finally I could get
comfortable. The foam cradled and supported my suffering body
and although I still was in pain I could get to sleep. Bliss! :)
I searched the internet for help. I didn't just want another
book. After researching possibilities, I found
lose the
back pain website
read page after page, testimonials and
information. Even so I wasn't sure. I had lost trust in anyone
who offered a solution. Were these guys really on the level? Did
they really care? However with a money back guarantee and
personal support seriously what did I have to lose?
I watched the DVD. Well I was surprised; it was just two regular
guys Steve and Jesse explaining simply and clearly about back
pain. No hype. No jargon. I did the self assessments. I recalled
my Dr mentioning my curved spine and the physiotherapist
remarking on, "something wrong with your hip position". There
certainly was!! In less than an hour I had discovered the root
cause of my pain! Why in 7 months of this pain had no one
mentioned muscle imbalances? The handbook was full of great
solid advice and exercises I could implement. However, I was
nervous about the exercises. I needed answers to my questions.
Poor Steve was the guy who got them all! He replied with
sincerity and compassion, but also the push I needed. I remember
his first advice to me,
"If you do nothing, nothing will change"
I had found an oasis in the desert! Steve educated me how to
help myself. I started the specific targeted exercises for my
conditions, slow and steady, gaining confidence in my body. Lose
the back pain is the main thing which helped me tackle my
physical condition. To the bemusement of my colleagues I even
stretched during long meetings! Steve and Jesse are wonderful
coaches and the ongoing support is fantastic:. I slowly and
surely improved. The pain changed and eased. To supplement the
program I got in the water, gently moving and found it really
helped especially with pain. Water therapy is fantastic!
Lesson nine learnt: Nothing changes until something moves.
I got a burning desire to beat this thing!! Motivated and
empowered I hogged the computer at home researching back pain!
The facts about my condition were the facts but now it was up to
me. I gained support and advice on the forum and learnt so much
from other people. I was not used to this level of care and
concern from professionals and people who did not know me. I
thrived on it. I decided to give back and help where I could. I
moved from a passive patient to a co partner in my care and
treatment :.
When I saw the neurosurgeon, I was well prepared, had done my
research and was armed with questions! I gave him a summary
document of my issues and treatments, what had worked and what
had not. Finally I had a good grasp of my issues. I am lucky; I
did not need surgery, just water therapy and continue what I was
doing. He told me I would need to manage this condition. That's
OK I now feel I have the tools and support to deal with it.
Lesson ten learnt: I educated myself and developed an empowering
belief that I could beat this thing.
I am not angry anymore. I do not blame anyone. There are good
professionals around. Their time is short and it was good to
have a medical opinion. Maybe it should be different, but my
experience is I needed to ask the right questions, get to the
root cause, get educated and take control.
I figure I have been building up to back pain for years but I am
improving. My husband is happy to have the woman he married back
in his life! I now know my condition is not so very scary and
there are many people with so much worse who handle it more
graciously.
Through all the struggle stay focused on seeking your solution.
I read;
"Quitters never win and winners never quit". Well I learnt there
is no point being a quitter if you have back pain.
We all have our unique story. This one is not special. I just
got to write it down. What is important here is not what this
says about me but if in anyway it relates to you….and what you
can achieve by whatever works for YOU.
Thank you for listening……..and heart felt gratitude to everyone
who helped me.:}
STOP PRESS!! 13/11/07
Free
Trial of Lose the Back Pain System.
I just heard from The Healthy
Back Institute that they are releasing a FREE Trial of their Lose
The Back Pain System. Here you can read
how it has helped me with my own back pain and sciatica. They have had
such great reviews of this package and they are so certain it can help
many people, that they want you to try it first before paying a single
dime for it.
This is a great opportunity for
you to check it out if you have been unsure or putting it off.
As you might expect this promotion
is only going to be available for a limited time. Grab yours now by
clicking the link below...
Free
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Click here
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And I'm not the only one.....Read on for more
great Back Pain Success Stories from Lose the Back Pain users!
"After reading about muscle imbalances on your web site , and your money back guarantee if the video and book didn't work for me, I thought I've nothing to lose. On a Monday at 5pm I purchased online and on the Friday morning it arrived (that's just 3 days all the way from the U.S.A. to Canterbury Kent England). So I performed the self assessments and started on the exercises, including the specific exercises for sciatica. With in days I was feeling better and after 2 weeks I am feeling really good. It is now 19 days as I write this and I have just been to see my acupuncturist, and she is amazed at my progress. So my next visit is not for another 6 weeks, and the way things are going I probably won't need to go. I am still asking myself how these exercises can make so much difference?? Thank you so much."
Roger Linch - Canterburry,
England
|
"This is incredible! In 1988
at the age of 39, I severely injured my lower back by lifting a
large audio speaker onto my shoulder. Ten minutes later I was
practically immobilized, in the worst pain I'd ever experienced.
After six weeks of horrible pain I finally went to a
chiropractor. X-rays revealed a protruding disc. The
chiropractor advised, "Don't show this to an M.D. or you'll be
in surgery within a week!"
After six weeks of almost daily visits to the chiropractor, I
had about a 30% improvement in flexibility and about 30%
reduction of pain. My insurance ran out, so I toughed it out for
months, as my condition slowly improved.
A year later I felt pretty good, but suffered from nagging to
severe muscular pain in my lower back. This continued
uninterrupted until July of 2006, when at age 57, I again lifted
improperly and found myself right back in the condition I was in
back in 1988. Maybe you know the kind of back pain that you feel
all night long, even when you're "asleep."
Later that month, I came across the "Lose the Back Pain" website
and ordered the Book and DVD. I studied the materials for a day
and then began the proper combination of exercises and
stretches. I thought, "This is too easy! How can it do any
good?"
Incredibly, within three days I felt significant improvement.
After six days I was pain free and flexible, although I sensed
that my back was still fragile. Long story short.... I've been
pain free for the last 8 weeks. And I mean PAIN FREE for the
first time in over 15 years!
I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to try this program.
When I started the program I figured I'd be getting my money
back. I went from skeptical to amazed. Now I feel a bit guilty
that I paid such so little for such a great benefit.
You guys are amazing! Thank you doesn't even come close!"
Mark A.
Visalia, California |
Sciatica/Back
Pain/Herniated disc Guides
The Healthy Back Institute have
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Sciatica Gone in Just Days
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Copyright January 2007
MY PET BACK mypetback.com All rights reserved
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