Company’s calling - more on back pain
This week, we welcome Helen, a freelance writer from Kitchener, Ontario. She talks to us about her back pain.
Can you tell me about when you first started experiencing the pain and what kind of pain it was?
I started experiencing back pain in 1995 when I was pregnant with my second child.
Did you seek help right away?
Yes, I sought help right away. I went to my family doctor.
What did your doctor tell you?
Initially it was thought to be pregnancy-related. I tried massage.
What have you tried to help you with your pain?
It did not go away after the birth of my child. Later I tried ibuprofen as well as prescription muscle relaxants. I’ve also tried physiotherapy, reiki, therapeutic touch, laser light therapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, acupressure, acupuncture, massage and shiatsu massage. I also read a lot about back pain and general health including the mind-body connection.
Can you tell me a bit about what worked and what didn’t?
So far, the chiropractic combined with massage was somewhat helpful as well as shiatsu massage.
How does having this pain make affect you in terms of how you live your life?
There were times when the pain was very debilitating and I had to miss a lot of functions due to the pain. I work from home as a freelance writer because this allows me to work when I am feeling well. It would be impossible to work at a job with regular hours in an office. I also work only part-time. It has also restricted the kinds of activities I’ve been able to do with my family.
If you were to look back over what you have tried/haven’t tried, would you change anything? If so, what would you change?
There isn’t anything I would change except to pay more attention to my health and fitness earlier in life.
What would you say to someone in a similar situation who is just starting to try to find treatment and relief?
Pain is very isolating so seek out support through support groups, online support or even counseling. I had a group of friends who were all suffering from various health issues and their support was helpful.
I saw a lot of specialists so I got in the habit of getting copies of test results from my family doctor to take with me to appointments. This was very helpful since the specialists often had not yet received the test results.
I would tell them not to lose hope if they don’t get results right away and to keep trying things. As long as I am trying something it gives me hope that eventually it will get better. Also, the alternative health care practitioners are generally more understanding than Western medicine so it can be helpful to use alternative health care in conjunction with Western medicine.
Thanks Helen. Back pain is so common and so debilitating. I’m glad you were able to find support from your friends –that’s an important part of dealing with chronic pain.
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Image: iStock.com
Tags: acupressure, acupuncture, alternative health, Back & neck pain, chiropractic, Chronic Pain, freelance writer, ibuprofen, massage, muscle relaxants, osteopathy, physiotherapy, pregnant, reiki, shiatsu, western medicine
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POSTED IN: Back & neck pain, Chronic Pain, Company's Calling
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