By Ian Hart, CSCS
After helping hundreds of people who suffer from back pain and…
Battling it myself for 10 long years…
I can tell you there’s probably no more aggravating form of pain.
Sometimes you can’t sit. Sometimes you can’t stand.
Sometimes you can’t walk or drive. Or even lie in bed.
The pain is simply wretched.
A couple days ago a man… he’s a golfer… came into our clinic practically on his hands and knees.
It was the only way he could find relief.
He was practically cursing under his breath.
The pain radiating down his spine was unbearable.
He actually inspired today’s article. Today, I’m going to tell you what I told him…
Every week in fact, my clinics and programs are a destination for people from all walks of life who suffer from mild to severe back pain. The first thing you should appreciate is: Back pain IS something that can be fixed without drugs, injections or surgery. That’s right. Allow me to be clear about this, because it’s important: Doctors are under intense pressure to see as many patients as they can. When a doctor tells you the only way to find relief is through drugs, injections or surgery… You’re not quite being told the whole truth. It’s unfortunate, but the state of our healthcare system forces doctors to live by the old saying… “If all you’ve got is a hammer, everything becomes a nail.” And no matter how well meaning, they’re forced to advocate certain pre-authorized treatments. That’s reality. (I also have doctors in pain who visit my clinics, so I know.) So when doctors put a label on your pain, such as “sciatica,” and give you their recommendation… I totally get how good that makes you feel in the moment. What happens next? They prescribe some heavy duty Ibuprofen to calm the inflammation, maybe ship you off to a physical therapist, and then… They’re on to the next patient. And we already know how well that works, don’t we? Let’s face it:The Reality is a Lot of Doctors Fail to Fix Their Patients’ Back Pain
Patients return repeatedly with the same pain, the same issue, the same cry for help. The doctor eventually begins to wonder whether the patient even wants to get better. Imagine that! It doesn’t quite occur to them it could be THE TREATMENT that’s not working. And that’s because their diagnosis just becomes an easy way of sending the patient home happy in the moment. For instance, they’ll say, “You unfortunately have a herniated disc.” And then they’ll offer you up some options. In the moment, the pain can so intense and debilitating… … you don’t really care what the options are as long as it gets you relief. But as often the case, the relief is only temporary. Or… Comes with rather nasty side effects. The worst part is: If the issue is not adequately addressed, you never heal. And that means your pain never goes away. It feels like it’s PERMANENT. (You may actually be feeling that way right now.) And for the record, drugs and injections do not heal back pain. They only mask it. Plus one of the back pain establishment’s dirty little secrets is how addictive and dangerous these “medications” can be. And surgery? In the words of one my clients, it’s “a 50/50 shot at best.” Not to mention the down time, reduced mobility and risk. (Imagine never being able to play golf again!) This leaves many people feeling there’s only one other option: living with the pain. It’s a cryin’ shame. Especially if you love golf, like many people do. That’s why I prefer to take a more self-directed, holistic approach to fixing low back pain.So… How Do We Fix the Pain, Tingling and Numbness in Your Back?
Recently, Jay came to my clinic. At 66, he’s an avid golfer. Plays twice a week at least. But.. The first time I saw him though? He hadn’t played in years. Because of a herniated disc (in his doctor’s words “obliterated”), he was just in too much pain. Here’s Jay’s inspiring story in his own words… I think it may inspire hope if you’re also suffering…
I’m a golfer. About 25 years ago, I felt a sharp and severe pain in my lower back.
After an MRI, the problem was diagnosed as a herniated disc between the L5 and L6 vertebrae.
I was told this was a very common spot for this to happen.
And that medication, some rest and possibly some physical therapy would help.
The conservative orthopedic surgeon was hesitant to operate, citing my level of pain and my ability to still get around.
The medication did help. And despite occasional flare-ups all was well until…
About 10 years ago, when I felt intense pain while doing strenuous work.
This time the MRI showed that the disc was “obliterated” and there was nerve impingement between the vertebrae.
(The doctor’s words, not mine.)
The initial sharp pain subsided. But…
I was left with a lower back which I had to be extremely careful with.
My sleep was disrupted.
I had to give up most strenuous physical activity.
My yard work was limited to what little I could do.
On several occasions, I had to miss work because of back pain.
At times the pain was so bad, I was unable to get out of the chair or get out of bed.
It made it very difficult to do routine, daily things.
I went to a physical therapist for 6-12 weeks. That didn’t seem to help much.
Worst of all, I had to give up golf.
It simply it was too painful to continue to try to play.
Now it’s understood when you play golf for a long time, many golfers develop conditions in the back.
Whether it’s in the muscles, or whether it’s a joint pain, arthritis in the spine or something like that.
The game also involves a lot of twisting, a lot of torque in the torso.
Of course, your power doesn’t come from the arms, it comes with the larger muscles in the torso and legs.
Unfortunately, I could no longer make that turn necessary to make a decent golf swing.
It simply it was too painful to continue to try to play.
No lifting, no golf, poor sleep and even standing for more than 20 minutes was painful.
Cortisone injections and oral medication helped, but that is powerful stuff.
And it has dangerous side effects and can be used only to a limited extent.
Then back in 2008, I met Ian Hart. On a whim…
I showed him my doctor’s report and MRI.
He put me on his program right away.
To my surprise, I felt improvement in just a few weeks.
I have continued with this program for 4 years and it has continued to improve.
Has my back pain totally gone?
No and it probably never will. That said…
The improvement has been significant and my quality of life has greatly improved.
Today, I am able to play golf again… at least twice a week.
My game has come back and I am enjoying it much more than I ever have.
I’m able to drive the ball further than I did 20 years ago.
And strike the ball probably better than I ever have.
Regardless of whether you have back pain or not, if you’d want to be active in golf or tennis, I think Ian’s program would help anybody’s lifestyle.
I golf, play tennis, garden and even remodel homes.
And best of all…
I now sleep much better.
In addition to my back improvement, I am now much stronger.
My doctor even commented that my lifestyle is keeping me healthy and that I’m in much better shape than most 66 year olds.
Thank you, Ian!
– Jay Burner
Beaufort, SC
How did we help Jay? Or maybe more aptly, how did Jay help himself?
He did 8 specific movements… These 8 movements are totally unlike “the sheets” of exercises you get from chiropractors or doctors. Instead, we “wake up” certain muscles and restore muscle balance. That’s key. Then in certain areas of her back, we jump-started pathways so vital oxygen and nutrition could get in and help her heal. That’s the holistic way to relieve and remove back pain. In Jay’s case, it took just a few weeks. And that’s not uncommon. Just a few weeks and he started feeling tremendous relief. Able to drive the ball farther than he has in decades. Yes, there ARE ways to get out of pain. They don’t require medication, surgery or injections. They don’t require months of physiotherapy. You just have to restore your body’s natural functional movement and muscle balance and allow it to heal naturally. To learn more, watch this video. About the Author: