How do I stop neck pain, back pain, and sciatica once and for all? The is the question is asked by millions yearly across the United States; and, by many more worldwide. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to my demise, I reclaimed my life and beat neck pain, back pain, and sciatica once and for all. Am I being melodramatic? Not at all! In fact, at the time I was trying to figure out just how my family was going to make it in my absence. I was in really bad shape! I had lost 10 years of my life to health issues, some I don't even want to think about any more, most centered around chronic and acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica. Suffice it to say, I was getting ready to call it quits, one way or the other; and, that's where the story begins.
You see, I had reached the point where I had to decide what would be next, whether I would give life one last try or punt. I had to decide whether I was going to let hopelessness and ill health take my life or fight back. I was battling chronic neck pain, back pain, sciatica (most of my spine was involved); Type II Diabetes (insulin dependent and oral medication four times a day); high blood pressure; congestive heart failure; and the real killers, a combination of depression and addiction to the pain medication, pain meds that had been my life for over ten years. I was a legal addict dealing with a "controlled addiction!"
Pain medication for the chronic and acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica was prescribed each and every month in massive quantities (e.g., Oxycontin, Fentanyl, and a number of others); and, there was nothing controlled about the addiction...nothing!
Like I said, a funny thing happened on the way to my demise!
Not so funny really, not when you think about it. Perhaps ironic? Perhaps it was just sad? Yes, sad! Sad in the sense that I had wasted so much of my life. Sad because I had believed the doctors, nurses, hospitals, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who told me there wasn't as lot they could do for me, that the situation was too complex, that there was little hope of any sort of a recovery.
Fooled them!
One doctor said: "If you had no arms or legs, you would accept the fact that you are never going to walk again, that you would be forever disabled. Well, you are actually in the same situation. So, accept the cards you have been dealt and make the best of it!" He walked out of the examination room and I walked out of his practice...for good!
Another doctor said: "Your case is just too complex. Frankly, I wouldn't know where to begin. Honestly, I would rather not take you on as a client."
That one took a while to get over!
Still another specialist, the guy who ended up saving my life, called me "salvagable!" My wife cried!
"Salvagable!"
I will never forget that word. I felt like human refuse! But at least he was offering something approaching hope.
The interestingly part of it all? That conversation actually presaged the most difficult part of my journey back because it was in that instant I learned I still had a chance. It's a funny thing about hope, it cuts both ways. Sometimes it's easier to resign yourself to your fate than it is to fight back.
Well, after several back surgeries, a myriad of treatments, and days, weeks, months, even years in the hospital, I triumphed!
The road took many turns and it was a terrible journey. At times, the road back was so difficult I wanted to quit, really wanted to just quit! I ended up stuck in a dead end or two along the way and the biggest hurdles, mentioned above, were depression and addiction. The combination of depression and addiction was more difficult to overcome than any of the physical ailments. Combined with osteomyelitis and cancer, the depression and addiction meant that every day was a gauntlet, pummeled from all sides simultaneously. Interestingly, the psychological pain, and the ordeal of fighting with and through a terrible addiction, was every bit as horrible as the physical pain. At times, the psychic pain would take me to the depths of despair; and, at other times, it was the chronic and chronically acute neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain that would do it. When all guns were firing simultaneously? It was as if I were in hell on Earth!
Ultimately, I triumphed over the pain, psychic and physical. In retrospect, I don't know how I did it, how I made it through, but I did! I learned a great many things about myself and a number of things about others, particularly about those closest to me. Significantly, I also learned many things about the medical community; and, many were not very complimentary.
What I learned about myself? I can take more pain and go through more hardship than I would ever have imagined. Of those close to me? That they love me and that without them I would have been doomed. About the medical community? They do not like to admit it when they don't have the answers; and, they are unwilling to acknowledge that fact to patients, even if it may cost the patient his or her life. Additionally, there are good doctors and bad, just like there are good mechanics and bad, good accountants and bad, good dog groomers and bad. The difference? An incompetent physician, one unwilling and/or unable to admit his or her shortcomings may cost you your life!
The moral of the story? If you can call it that? If you are suffering from chronic and/or acute pain, get a second opinion. If you don't agree with your physician, get a second opinion. If the quality of your life has been affected, get a second opinion. And, if a physician wants to put you on narcotics for chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica treatment, run screaming from the office and, get a second opinion! More to follow!
For more information and an intelligent program of treatment for chronic and acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, what I refer to as the "back pain complex," the program below is amazing. It takes a first step and then the progress will be contagious. Just click the link below and take the necessary steps to a new and amazing life. It worked for me, it can for you too! One step at a time:
You see, I had reached the point where I had to decide what would be next, whether I would give life one last try or punt. I had to decide whether I was going to let hopelessness and ill health take my life or fight back. I was battling chronic neck pain, back pain, sciatica (most of my spine was involved); Type II Diabetes (insulin dependent and oral medication four times a day); high blood pressure; congestive heart failure; and the real killers, a combination of depression and addiction to the pain medication, pain meds that had been my life for over ten years. I was a legal addict dealing with a "controlled addiction!"
Pain medication for the chronic and acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica was prescribed each and every month in massive quantities (e.g., Oxycontin, Fentanyl, and a number of others); and, there was nothing controlled about the addiction...nothing!
Like I said, a funny thing happened on the way to my demise!
Not so funny really, not when you think about it. Perhaps ironic? Perhaps it was just sad? Yes, sad! Sad in the sense that I had wasted so much of my life. Sad because I had believed the doctors, nurses, hospitals, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who told me there wasn't as lot they could do for me, that the situation was too complex, that there was little hope of any sort of a recovery.
Fooled them!
One doctor said: "If you had no arms or legs, you would accept the fact that you are never going to walk again, that you would be forever disabled. Well, you are actually in the same situation. So, accept the cards you have been dealt and make the best of it!" He walked out of the examination room and I walked out of his practice...for good!
Another doctor said: "Your case is just too complex. Frankly, I wouldn't know where to begin. Honestly, I would rather not take you on as a client."
That one took a while to get over!
Still another specialist, the guy who ended up saving my life, called me "salvagable!" My wife cried!
"Salvagable!"
I will never forget that word. I felt like human refuse! But at least he was offering something approaching hope.
The interestingly part of it all? That conversation actually presaged the most difficult part of my journey back because it was in that instant I learned I still had a chance. It's a funny thing about hope, it cuts both ways. Sometimes it's easier to resign yourself to your fate than it is to fight back.
Well, after several back surgeries, a myriad of treatments, and days, weeks, months, even years in the hospital, I triumphed!
The road took many turns and it was a terrible journey. At times, the road back was so difficult I wanted to quit, really wanted to just quit! I ended up stuck in a dead end or two along the way and the biggest hurdles, mentioned above, were depression and addiction. The combination of depression and addiction was more difficult to overcome than any of the physical ailments. Combined with osteomyelitis and cancer, the depression and addiction meant that every day was a gauntlet, pummeled from all sides simultaneously. Interestingly, the psychological pain, and the ordeal of fighting with and through a terrible addiction, was every bit as horrible as the physical pain. At times, the psychic pain would take me to the depths of despair; and, at other times, it was the chronic and chronically acute neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain that would do it. When all guns were firing simultaneously? It was as if I were in hell on Earth!
Ultimately, I triumphed over the pain, psychic and physical. In retrospect, I don't know how I did it, how I made it through, but I did! I learned a great many things about myself and a number of things about others, particularly about those closest to me. Significantly, I also learned many things about the medical community; and, many were not very complimentary.
What I learned about myself? I can take more pain and go through more hardship than I would ever have imagined. Of those close to me? That they love me and that without them I would have been doomed. About the medical community? They do not like to admit it when they don't have the answers; and, they are unwilling to acknowledge that fact to patients, even if it may cost the patient his or her life. Additionally, there are good doctors and bad, just like there are good mechanics and bad, good accountants and bad, good dog groomers and bad. The difference? An incompetent physician, one unwilling and/or unable to admit his or her shortcomings may cost you your life!
The moral of the story? If you can call it that? If you are suffering from chronic and/or acute pain, get a second opinion. If you don't agree with your physician, get a second opinion. If the quality of your life has been affected, get a second opinion. And, if a physician wants to put you on narcotics for chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica treatment, run screaming from the office and, get a second opinion! More to follow!
For more information and an intelligent program of treatment for chronic and acute neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, what I refer to as the "back pain complex," the program below is amazing. It takes a first step and then the progress will be contagious. Just click the link below and take the necessary steps to a new and amazing life. It worked for me, it can for you too! One step at a time:
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