Back basics

Most people experience some kind of back pain at some time throughout their life, be it a slight annoying ache to full blown agony every time you sneeze, cough, or attempt to move. 

I know this because I spent one-and-a-half years with two dehydrated discs and a rotated pelvis, which gave me pure unadulterated agony every day from when I woke until I finally managed to find a comfortable position in which to fall asleep.  All this from a sports injury where I had not fallen over, knocked into anything or been knocked into.  Just twisted the wrong way at speed and my own body weight did the rest.
Initially my biggest mistake was believing the first diagnosis given without insisting on a full investigation into all the symptoms.  I was told at first that I had a lumbar injury and it would settle down eventually.  Four months on I was talking to a chiropractor in a bar one night and mentioned my back was killing me everyday and he invited me to visit him for a consultation.  Now some people in the medical world ‘poo poo’ chiropractors as not being proper medical consultants but I was willing to try anything by this stage, old ladies with their Grandmother’s remedy would have been an option at this point.  One day later I was being put into different stances and was informed that I had a twisted pelvis.  This is basically your pelvis dislocated from your tail bone and is as painful as it sounds!  My lower body was twisted in such a way that it made one leg shorter than the other which in turn resulted in my spine and neck twisting as my body tried to compensate in order to keep me upright and level.  Sounds freaky and thanks to all the different muscles pulling and contorting my body, looked freaky.  A few clicks later I was back in shape thinking all would be hunky dory…not so.
By month eight I was still experiencing severe pain, although less than before, I decided to revisit a doctor and be referred to a consultant.  This time I was informed that it was a lower spine problem, referred to a physiotherapist and given medication.  Month ten I revisited the consultant and requested an MRI scan.  This revealed two dehydrated discs in my lower back, which were bulging slightly and touching nerves which was what was producing the pain.... Lots if I coughed, sneezed or fell off a curb!  Although this added another piece to the puzzle I was still not satisfied.
I continued with the pills and exercises and visited a lady that dealt with sports injuries. She brought temporary relief to some of the muscle pain and added to my repertoire of bends and stretches but didn’t solve the problem.
I have since visited a different chiropractor who also deals with sports injuries.  He told me that my pelvis was still twisted and probably had been for some time.  This was not helping my two damaged discs.  He went on to tell me that because of the muscle damage, I would have to make frequent visits to reset my pelvis until the muscles could be retrained to hold it in the right place.
It took perseverance and numerous visits to different specialists and cost a small fortune but, to my mind, was money well spent, as I am so much nearer to being repaired.  I should point out before I finish that some of the delay is of my own doing because I had refused to believe I am getting older and that my body would heal itself as it did in my younger years.  News Flash!  As you get older your body is not as bendy or resilient. 
I am still in pain but nowhere near as much as before.  I am slowly getting more mobile but I still have to be careful and can feel when my pelvis twists.  I am hoping that once this is stabilised, my two discs will calm down and I will get even more mobility back.  I will never be as good as new but I hope to be able to return to some of the things that the sheer agony of chronic back pain has prevented me from taking part in.  All I have to do is keep the treatment and exercises going until I am told to stop.  Sounds easy I know... but life is so busy!

Robbie Way