Listen to Your Doctor, But Don’t Always Believe Everything They Say: A Personal Journey to Pain Relief
When I was 13, a lacrosse injury left me with two stress fractures in my L2 and L3 vertebrae. It was a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of a long journey of navigating both conventional and alternative treatments for back pain. My doctor at the time advised rest and traditional healing methods, which I followed diligently. Yet, years later, despite following these instructions, the pain would return sporadically, reminding me of the fragility of my back. It wasn’t until much later, through my own exploration of body care, that I realized the power of healing options beyond the doctor’s office.
The Second Diagnosis: Degenerative Discs and a Grim Prediction
Fast forward to the age of 21, when I visited a chiropractor for some persistent back pain. After an x-ray, I was told I had degenerative disc disease. The chiropractor gave me a prognosis that seemed bleak: I would likely be in pain for the rest of my life. This stark prediction left me feeling helpless and defeated, and it’s a feeling many people know all too well—after all, we’re taught to trust health professionals and take their word as fact.
But something in me resisted fully accepting that my back pain was a lifelong sentence. I decided to take matters into my own hands, cautiously exploring other avenues to support my spine and relieve my pain. Through steady dedication to these alternative modalities, I experienced a profound and lasting relief from pain—a solution that was never part of the initial diagnosis.
Embracing a Holistic Approach: Yoga, Dry Needling, and Massage
My journey to recovery began with yoga, which taught me to reconnect with my body and explore gentle movements that didn’t aggravate my pain. I started with light stretching and gradually moved on to postures that built strength and flexibility. Yoga has been shown to improve core strength and body awareness, which are crucial for spinal health (Saper et al., 2013). The mind-body connection fostered through regular yoga practice also contributed to my emotional well-being, reducing the stress that can exacerbate physical pain.
Alongside yoga, I incorporated TDN (Trigger Point Dry Needling) and regular massage therapy. Dry needling targets trigger points or knots in muscles that often refer pain to other areas, offering relief by promoting blood flow and muscle relaxation (Dunning et al., 2014). Myofascial release, facilitated through massage therapy, complemented these treatments by addressing muscle tension and enhancing mobility around my lower back. Numerous studies back the efficacy of massage for chronic back pain relief (Furlan et al., 2015), and I found that integrating these treatments created a solid foundation for a pain-free life.
The Power of Persistence and Alternative Healing
Over the years, this regimen helped me not only alleviate my symptoms but also understand the importance of taking an active role in my healing process. While conventional medicine focuses primarily on diagnosis and symptomatic relief, alternative therapies like yoga and massage provide a more holistic approach. They consider the body as an interconnected system, which, when properly balanced and strengthened, can often heal beyond what we think is possible.
It’s now been over ten years since I last experienced lower back pain. The degenerative disc disease, while technically still present, no longer defines my experience. Instead, I’ve reclaimed my body through practices that build resilience and honor its natural healing abilities.
Finding Balance Between Medical Advice and Self-Empowerment
This isn’t to say that traditional medicine doesn’t play an important role in managing health; rather, it’s crucial to remember that doctors and healthcare providers don’t have the final say on what is possible for our bodies. While medical opinions are often based on objective assessments, they can unintentionally limit our understanding of what’s achievable through alternative methods and persistence. It’s essential to seek medical advice but also remain open to exploring complementary therapies that support your unique body and needs.
If you’re facing a similar challenge, remember: healing is not one-size-fits-all. Take the time to listen to your body, research alternative options, and create a plan that feels right for you. After all, the most important element of any treatment plan is your willingness to advocate for yourself.
Sources:
Dunning, J., Butts, R., Mourad, F., Young, I., Flannagan, S., & Perreault, T. (2014). Dry Needling: A Literature Review with Implications for Clinical Practice Guidelines. Physical Therapy Reviews, 19(4), 252–265.
Furlan, A. D., Imamura, M., Dryden, T., & Irvin, E. (2015). Massage for Low-back Pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).
Saper, R. B., Sherman, K. J., Cullum-Dugan, D., Davis, R. B., Phillips, R. S., & Culpepper, L. (2013). Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Predominantly Minority Population: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 19(5), 18–27.
By balancing both medical insight and alternative therapies, I was able to overcome pain—and the limits of one prognosis. Today, I’m pain-free, active, and more in tune with my body than ever.
