“My name is Nathan and this is my story. In 2022 I hurt my back with an annular tear between l-4 and l-5 while carrying 80 lbs. of batteries. This was signaled only with a pinch and some heat but within minutes it moved into debilitating pain, and I had to excuse myself from work. I then spent the next 5 weeks at home unable to do most anything, even needing help to dress myself at times. After the 5 weeks I'd completely exhausted all of my resources, time off, vacation pay, and savings so I needed to do something. At this time my insurance would only cover 12 PT visits, so I did those with little to no gain. But it's all I had at the time. I went to my work and appealed my situation to them and they thankfully allowed me to work on light duty in a different position. I was still barely able to perform my tasks and certainly unable to do so without a back brace assisting me while also taking large amounts of over-the-counter medication in an attempt to quiet the pain I lived in 24 hours a day. However, even this situation was barely feasible and I had considered trying to find different forms of employment. I had even gone as far as to consider taking the offered prescription of (addictive) - narcotic pain medication for my chronic pain. And so I decided ..... (at my wife's insistence) PT was at least worth one more shot. So, after living in this condition for more than 18 months I found my way to Pain Science where I met Dr. Abby Hendryx. Over the course of 6 months totaling some 18 visits, I learned how to incrementally increase my range of motion while at the same time gaining strength. This was very necessary to reduce my pain.... The strength part. After being pretty much on your back for more than a year you'll lose some strength. I would like to point out the during these visits I had received different forms of therapy; some intended to reduce my stress and pain while others were intended to help me gain strength and resilience. I still wanted to know what was wrong with me. I was sure if I understood the mechanical failure that would illuminate a way out of my painful situation. To my relief Dr. Abby has on hand a large amount of information. The information she provided me helped to finally understand what was going on with my body. I'm very sad to report that there is no "off button" for pain listed anywhere in the educational material I viewed. No short list of simple actions will do this is something you have to work at. It's very hard to see any progress when looking at it in the short term. However, stepping back and looking at something after a month's work at it and you can see progress. Today I am mostly pain-free. I still have a lot of aches and pains and there are limits to what I can do, but I don't feel irredeemably broken! I know that I still can do things in life. I can still achieve my goals if only I reach them. There's hope for you yet. Good luck. -Nathan“
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists
“My name is Nathan and this is my story. In 2022 I hurt my back with an annular tear between l-4 and l-5 while carrying 80 lbs. of batteries. This was signaled only with a pinch and some heat but within minutes it moved into debilitating pain, and I had to excuse myself from work. I then spent the next 5 weeks at home unable to do most anything, even needing help to dress myself at times. After the 5 weeks I'd completely exhausted all of my resources, time off, vacation pay, and savings so I needed to do something. At this time my insurance would only cover 12 PT visits, so I did those with little to no gain. But it's all I had at the time. I went to my work and appealed my situation to them and they thankfully allowed me to work on light duty in a different position. I was still barely able to perform my tasks and certainly unable to do so without a back brace assisting me while also taking large amounts of over-the-counter medication in an attempt to quiet the pain I lived in 24 hours a day. However, even this situation was barely feasible and I had considered trying to find different forms of employment. I had even gone as far as to consider taking the offered prescription of (addictive) - narcotic pain medication for my chronic pain. And so I decided ..... (at my wife's insistence) PT was at least worth one more shot. So, after living in this condition for more than 18 months I found my way to Pain Science where I met Dr. Abby Hendryx. Over the course of 6 months totaling some 18 visits, I learned how to incrementally increase my range of motion while at the same time gaining strength. This was very necessary to reduce my pain.... The strength part. After being pretty much on your back for more than a year you'll lose some strength. I would like to point out the during these visits I had received different forms of therapy; some intended to reduce my stress and pain while others were intended to help me gain strength and resilience. I still wanted to know what was wrong with me. I was sure if I understood the mechanical failure that would illuminate a way out of my painful situation. To my relief Dr. Abby has on hand a large amount of information. The information she provided me helped to finally understand what was going on with my body. I'm very sad to report that there is no "off button" for pain listed anywhere in the educational material I viewed. No short list of simple actions will do this is something you have to work at. It's very hard to see any progress when looking at it in the short term. However, stepping back and looking at something after a month's work at it and you can see progress. Today I am mostly pain-free. I still have a lot of aches and pains and there are limits to what I can do, but I don't feel irredeemably broken! I know that I still can do things in life. I can still achieve my goals if only I reach them. There's hope for you yet. Good luck. -Nathan“