When Nothing Else Works, Try Exercise

by Corrine
(Dallas, IA)

About ten years ago I woke up one morning with an excruciating pain in my right leg. I figured it would go away, but it continued to worsen to the point where I could hardly walk. Finally I went to visit a local neurologist who took x-rays and proceeded to give me a Cortizone shot and send me to therapy. He had the therapist apply electric shock treatments and pack my back with ice. By the time each session was over, I hurt so badly I could hardly crawl from the facility, since they refused to let me have a wheelchair.

This went on for several months as my condition continued to deteriorate. I was in pain constantly, no matter whether I was sitting, standing, or laying in bed. I had a CT scan done and more treatments and shots, but nothing changed.

Finally, in desperation, my husband got me an appointment with a different doctor to get another opinion. I took my x-rays and CT scans with me. He took one look and told me that I was never to let anyone come near me with electricity and ice again -- that that was the worst thing I could do. Instead, he prescribed more physical therapy, but this time to learn to do back exercises.

I started doing an hour of exercises every day. I did crunches and pelvic tilts. I used a large ball which I held onto and rolled out to my sides diagonally. I used to the ball by putting my feet on it and rolling it out and back, and I did tons of small leg lifts while lying on my back

In addition I had to stand by the wall and slide down to a seated position, hold it, and stand back up. I also laid on my stomach and raised my feet and head.

It took a couple of painful months before I started feeling the results of my exercise, but eventually it did work. Within 6 months my back was better than it had been in years, and my leg pains disappeared.