My Journey

Prior to living with chronic backpain, I was a very active, young, healthy, vibrant female. I would run at least 40km a week, climb at least 3X per week, go dancing with friends, walk my dog, and for 2 decades I was a horseback rider (equestrian).

In the summer of 2005, I noticed that I would have radiating pain in my hips, that would ultimately lead to severe muscle spasms througout my back. This would typically happen after a run, or doing house chores such as vacuuming.

I had just begun to date an amazing man, who is now my lifelong partner, who had known me as everything I had described above; a very active, energetic female.

We both noted that these muscle spasm events would occur more and more. And in particular, I had signed up for a yearly race "Run for the Toad" which occurs in Ontario, Canada every year. I had run this race 3 times previously, and loved it. It was a trail run - so it was a pleasure to run through the forest and not have the chronic pounding of the payment that exists in the other races I typically ran.

Well... I couldn't finish this race! Me! I could not finish - the pain was unbearable... something was definetly wrong.

So I took a break from running, thinking that a break was all that I needed. In the mean time I was seeing two professionals: a Chiropractor and an Active Release Therapsit (ART) (a specialized form of Massage Therapy). The Chiropractor told me my pain was a result of how active I was. And my Active Release Therpist, knew something was strange, but couldn't pin-point it.

Because I had seen a chiropractor, and because I was so young... my back as being the issue was never even looked at! The hips was where everyone focused.

My massage therapist, noted that I had a severe, prolonged spasm on the lower, left side of my back. When she would release this spasm, the pain the next day was horrible. It literally felt as if someone had hit me with a bat on my back. She showed me her anatomy book which showed a connection with this area of my back, and my glut muscles which were perpetually in spasm. Extremely painful.

She sent me to an Osteopath, who noted how stiff my whole body was, but could not identify the source. At this point, I was going into year two of dealing with chronic pain. So I am now seeing weekly a chiropractor, massage therapist and osteopath - with NO IMPROVEMENTS!

Finally, as last resort I saw my family doctor (General Practioner). I say this as a last resort, because my experience with family Doctors is that they know very little about a lot - and I had yet to see much benefit from their expertise (my apologises to all General Practioner Medical Doctors out there).

My G.P. asked me to slowly bend over and touch my toes. She saw an obvious sign that there was something wrong with my back! And yes... my chiropractor or the first osteopath (yes there were others)... could not see this!

So she sent me to have an x-ray and see a Sports Doctor. Within two weeks, I was able to get in to see this new doctor. He opened the door, and hadn't even sat down before he told me my prognosis.

"your L4-L5 disk in your back has degenerated and your L4 and L5 vertebrae have begun to fuze, as a result you have been receiving severe nerve pain"

I was shocked and emotional. He was so blunt with his announcement, completely unaware of how long I had suffered.

Wow!! If I only saw my General Practitioner Doctor first! This would have been solved in 2 weeks.

But of course, this is only the beginning of my journey.

More to come.