Degenerative Lumbar Spine

I THOUGHT I WILL NEVER WALK STRAIGHT UP AGAIN!In October 2016, I woke up with pain in my right gluteus muscle and a bit of pins and needles in my right foot. From March 2017 – May 2018 I visited chiropractors, physiotherapists, biokineticists, a lynotherapist, a pain and nerve release practitioner and tried body stress release. These treatments gave me little relief and pain still persisted.From March 2018 my pain was excruciating. I lecture and I had to move around in an office chair because walking was difficult. Visiting a mall, I had to use a trolley to support myself because I could not walk unaided for too long. I was extremely hunched over, my posture had skewed to the left and I was unable to straighten myself up!I refused to visit any surgeons because I did not want a back operation! I found Dr Ashburner, an osteopath whilst researching a treatment for psoas syndrome. My journey with Dr Guy Ashburner began in May 2018. In October 2018 my posture started to straighten and I felt relief from the pain and pins and needles. The treatment included principles of physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic, exercise and changes in my postural habits.

The positive aspect of this treatment is that the healing came about from treatment and exercise. Dr Ashburner encouraged me to attend gym while prescribing exercises that contributed to my healing. Change in habits included being very aware of my posture when I walked, stood, sat and exercised. The end result is that I am pain free and my posture is as straight as a pin when I walk, sit and stand. I had family, friends, colleagues and my GP comment on my good posture.

For two years I was unable to use walking as a form of exercise. February 2019 I started training to walk 5 km. In June 2020 I walked 10 km which I currently walk over a weekend. May 2021 I am able to do 10 “male” push ups, something I was unable to do before. My road to recovery was aided by consistency in listening to Dr Ashburner’s advice, doing the prescribed exercises and maintaining a good posture. I am extremely grateful to him for my healing and that I now can live a good quality life without pain. My next goal is to walk 21 km! June 2021.

L Cornelissen

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