Back Again

I'd given up on this blog for a while as I was pretty despondent about the prospects of never being able to do Wing Chun again. The blog seemed pointless as I struggled to accept this sombre fact.

I was determined to do everything I could to fix my back earlier this year. I was even prepared to have surgery if it came down to it. Really, I was terrified of the thought of surgery but willing to do it.

What's Really Wrong With My Back

I paid to have an MRI scan.

I got a copy of the radiographer's report after a few weeks, but I couldn't work out what it showed so was relying on "health professionals" to tell me.

My osteo said I had a degenerated disc. My GP said the same, but also convinced me to try physio again. So I went to the University of Bath's Sports Injury Clinic's Head Physio. This guy is the physio for the British Judo Squad and other sporting teams from Bath.

He was the only person to explain to me that "sacralized L5" in my spine meant that my coccyx is completely fused and immobile - hence why the disc above it is degenerating from the extra wear and tear.

Heal Thyself

The physio gave me a series of exercises ("extension" and "inflection" based I've now discovered) and told me to get Treat Your Own Back by Robin McKenzie.

My pain has improved significantly since I started my physio exercises and read this book. I'm still not without the risk of a painful episode, but I'm able to manage and control my condition. If I start to feel it hurting, I do my exercises and it alleviates it usually straight away. I'm very disciplined with myself now too.

I have a tall desk (that I can adjust the height of) so I stand 90% of my working day. I do my physio exercises at least 5 times a day. I even have a yoga mat on the floor next to my desk, so I can just get on with it when I need. I don't care if people make comments or if I look funny to them. I'm in pain, and I'm doing something about it.

Take Control of Your Life

I strongly recommend to anyone with lower back pain to get Treat Your Own Back by Robin McKenzie and to seek out a good physiotherapist (osteopaths and chiropractors are only going to alleviate your condition temporarily in my experience, so you'll continue to pay them for continuous treatments). It really empowers you with the ability to fix yourself. Having control of my own life again has been an immense change.

This should mean the start of Wing Chun again! :)