Success Story!

Hey, all!

If you're reading this, you're likely dealing with back pain. And if you're dealing with back pain, you're likely scared, frustrated, and pretty miserable.

I'm not trying to sell you anything or promise you a cure. I just know what that feels like, and wanted to share my story in case it gives you some hope . . .

Back in March of this year, a series of unfortunate events led to a rather catastrophic back injury during my opening night performance of a musical I was performing in (I am an actor).

It was terrifying: after a couple of days, I ended up on the floor of my apartment, entirely incapacitated and in what would have previously been unimaginable pain.  I was unable to stand up.  I completely lost function in my right leg, and moving - even being scooted a couple of inches onto a stretcher - sent pain through the entire right side of my body so intense that it felt as though I'd been struck by lightning.

I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and diagnosed with a severely herniated disc in my low back, which was impinging my S1 descending root nerve to the point that the surgeon at the hospital was ready to operate that night.  I asked for some time before making a decision.

I am so glad I waited.

In my recovery, I tried several rounds of physical therapy, and unfortunately, none of it was working.  So, under the supervision of my doctor (checked in with him on my progress and plan moving forward), I started a long, tedious, often frustrating process of trial and error to see what helped and what didn't.

What was perhaps most confusing in my recovery from this injury was that the demands of the recovery change: at first, it's all about protection: don't move and don't load.  Then, it's about the *right* kinds of movements.  And those change over time, too!  Movements that would have harmed my recovery early in the process were the *exact* movements I needed later in the process!!

Again: it was complicated. Backs are complicated. Pain is complicated. 

And it wasn't just in the gym.  Your back is with you at all times of day (and night), so treating it requires constant vigilance.

But there's a happy ending!

I just met with the doctor overseeing my case yesterday to share where I am, and he said this: "When you came to me, I thought, "this guy's in trouble!"  I feared you'd need a dramatic medical intervention.  But I was wrong!  You're out of the woods.  Keep doing what you're doing and feel free to call me if anything happens, but I don't think I'll ever see you again, so good luck with your wedding and all the best to you."And I think he's right: I don't think I'll ever see him again.

Why am I sharing this story?  Back pain can happen to anyone, even if you're fit and hard-working and doing everything "right."  They can be terrifying, and they can feel like they'll last forever.  They can frustrate you to no end.  They're tedious and complicated and painful, and as you try to heal them, you'll often receive disparate, even conflicting advice.  

But you have the power to heal your body.  Work with professionals you trust, whether it be a GOOD physical therapist (shop around), a doctor, or both.  Take ownership of your healing, and do not give up.