Paul T's Recovery Journey

My Experience of Back Pain

In July ’22 I was diagnosed with angina. By August ’22 I was in a lot of pain in my back. A physiotherapist cautioned that I might need to get an MRI. She was fearful of a condition called cauda equina. An MRI confirmed two discs out L4/L5.

The back pain was quickly followed by sciatic pain (from hip to big toe) a swollen lower leg (the doctors were concerned about blood clotting) and pretty soon after all that, foot drop. For me, the pain was indescribable and I was prescribed a range of painkillers (baclofen, amitriptyline, co-Codamol and one other that I can’t remember the name of)

Life was certainly impacted. At the beginning I could not walk the length of myself, I could not walk to the end of the path to the street outside our front door (30 feet). The motor bike that I owned sat in the garage, unused. I couldn’t drive, either car or my cherished motor bike).

I then saw an NHS physiotherapist and initially she did not want me on a cane. After a short while she noticed me tilting to the one side and changed her mind and said, yep we need to put you on a cane. Soon after this after I was given a splint, first a toe up splint and later a much bigger graphite knee to toe device.

During all of this time I had visited some consultants (both NHS and privately). Two insisted that a back operation was required. The third wasn’t so sure. He opted for a “test injection” into my spine. If that had made a difference then most likely he would then propose the operation. The injection made no difference so no op in his view. He diagnosed lumbar-sacral plexopathy. (a neurological disorder caused by damage to the lumbosacral plexus)

Life during this time was challenging. I left many of these appointments needing a wee cry. Una, my wife, and my 5 children were deeply concerned. There were so many restrictions. My balance was off and I fell a couple of times. Walking any sort of distance was a limiting factor. I would get tired very easily. That much cherished motor bike – after 9 months or so I decided to sell it because I couldn’t get on it. There were a couple of tears that day too.

One last, critical, thing. There was no injury. Nothing that I could say, yes, there’s the point of impact for all this pain. That really puzzled me and all concerned.

The weight that was lifted from me at SIRPA’s Masterclass with Dr Howard Schubiner was phenomenal. I only realised then in that moment the extent of what I had been carrying mentally and emotionally and how much that all meant to me. After roughly 3½ years on the cane, I got 10, maybe even 15 years back that day.

For more updates of Paul’s recovery, you can go to his Youtube Channel

Paul developed back pain in July 2022 and an MRI scan showed two prolapsed discs. Soon after this he developed sciatica, a swollen lower leg and then foot drop. He struggled with severe pain for years and had to walk with a cane, having to sell his beloved motorbike because he was unable to ride it. Understanding the mindbody relationship and neuroplasticity started his recovery journey and you can watch the first video he recorded about this, here.

Join people who have found relief through the SIRPA approach to chronic pain.