Chronic Pain WikiThis page is to share your own journey of chronic pain for the benefit of others. (Please feel free to edit this page and add your own story here or if you are logged in you can tell your story on your user page (just click on the link with your user name at the very top of the site to access it).
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Hello, I am a 40-something year old physical therapist who would like to share my healing journey with chronic pain so that it may help others on their healing journeys. I have always been a very athletic and adventurous person who enjoyed running, biking, weight-lifting, hiking, skiing, scuba-diving, and playing sports with my kids. Although I am small in stature, I had no qualms about working with large patients with neurological or orthopedic injuries. My world changed one day in June of 2007 when I sustained a back and SI (sacroiliac joint) injury while working with a CVA (stroke) patient. The MRI showed a moderate disc bulge at L5, S1 and I had a severe sacroiliac joint strain. I had pain and numbness into my leg and knee which did not follow a “typical dermatomal pattern.” The pain was like a “hot knife was twisting” in my R lumbar and sacroiliac area. Acutely, I learned that ice, sacroiliac stabilization belt, anti-inflammatories, electrical stimulation, and moving around/stretches seemed to help take the “edge off.” I used a Saunder’s home lumbar traction unit for a couple of months. The traction did seem to help relieve some of the leg pain/numbness and brought the back pain down a couple of notches. I underwent two prolotherapy injections into the sacroiliac ligament (inject dextrose to promote scar tissue formation to help strengthen the ligament). The first injection seemed to help, but the second injection seemed to scar down the sacrum into an already torsioned (twisted) position. I opted not to have an epidural, but in retrospect, I probably should have had one. The inflammatory cascade that ensued followed the course of the nerve roots and produced more scar tissue. I believe the inflammatory process led to a cartilage defect under the patella (knee cap) where the burning and numbness persisted for more than two years. The fascia began to harden and contract in my leg, buttock, lumbar, and thoracic areas.
A year and a half later, I was still in pain every day, and sitting was limited. I had been treated by another physical therapist who used traditional manual therapy techniques and resisted stabilization exercises, a massage therapist who did some Upledger cranio-sacral techniques, a chiropractor, and traditional medicine. My option with traditional medicine was to have an epidural and/or pain pills. I exercised at least an hour every day and did traditional single plane stretches, stabilization exercises, strengthening, self-massage, walking, and some biking. Emotionally, I was very frustrated, sad, and angry about the prospect of living with pain every day for the rest of my life. I grieved for the activities (especially running) that I had to give up. I could feel that my sacrum was rotated, but I couldn’t correct it. I felt like a failure as a physical therapist since I could not “cure” myself. I started to search for continuing education courses that would help me improve my treatment techniques, and hopefully help myself as well. My symptoms began to improve after attending a Gary Gray “Chain Reaction Transformation” seminar on functional exercise. During that course, I learned how to stretch and strengthen in all three planes of motion. As I performed the exercises, it started to help break up the scar tissue. I was more sore the next day, but then I felt better. I was introduced to Monavie juice in May of 2009. After 3 weeks of drinking the juice, my pain improved markedly, but I could still feel the myofascial restrictions. In the summer of 2009 I attended my first John Barnes myofascial release course. I was initially more sore after the first day, but the pain improved after the 2nd day of treatment. I attended a second John Barnes course a month or two later. After this second course, I could run without pain! I didn’t think I would ever be able to run again. I attended the John Barnes myofascial unwinding course in the fall of 2009. I had a wonderful, very profound experience both as therapist and patient during this course and realized the amazing healing benefits that this treatment provides. I continue to attend additional John Barnes myofascial release courses and other continuing education. Through self-treatment, exercise, and treatment by other MFR therapists, I have managed to control my symptoms and enjoy the activities I love!
For more information about fascia, myofascial release, or to ask questions, please visit my website: www.solonphysicaltherapy.com