So there I was, I had failed several weeks of PT, painful injections that didn’t offer any relief, and I was still in pain.  I was so frustrated.  Why were things that were supposed to help me, end up hurting me?

Since I wasn’t getting any better, my doctor decided to have me consult with a physician with a more specialized kind of therapy, Physiatry.

I was evaluated by an MD, my x-rays were reviewed, I was told I had something called “talus torus” affecting my feet, where I would walk on the outside of my heels and throw my hips off balance.  I could look at my shoes and see where my shoes were wearing off just as the doctor had said.  He also explained the effects of spondylosis in greater detail.  It was a little scary, but it was also something that could probably be managed with the right kind of therapy. 

I had several more rounds of a more specialized PT, with someone with knowledge on how to treat my specific issues.  Most of my back, hip, and SI pain went away, with occasio...

I’ve shared with you my unfortunate first experiences with PT.  It did not solve my problems and I was classified as having “failed PT” and was discharged. 

Now what….

With worsening pain, hot/cold packs, pain relief creams, and pain medication became a daily routine.  I pretty much stopped walking my dogs or doing anything that involved much activity.  I had some x-rays done on my back and hips.  I did have some spondylosis at the end of my lumbar spine where the last vertebrae had shifted forward, but it show a significant bulging disc or tears.  It was recommended try facet joint injections to eliminate the pain as more than likely, something was getting pinched causing swelling and pain.   

Well, there was truth in that statement, “swelling and pain.”  I remember being told that the procedure would be relatively painless.  A pinch, a little pain as the medication was injected, and then it should feel a whole lot better. 

My pain had been going on for months without much relief....

I wanted to share a little more about my personal journey and what went wrong when I went to PT for my back and hip pain. 

First off, I’m thankful my doctor recommended therapy before considering injections or expensive tests.  Most do not do that.  Unfortunately, the person I went to see for PT was not a good fit for me and my problems.  As I went from one appointment to the next, my pain would shift.  One day it would hurt mostly on the left, and then another day, I would feel pain shift to the right side.  Some days it was my hips, others, it was my low back or SI area. 

We’d try this exercise and that exercise, and nothing seemed to help. When I told the PT the pain was shifting, she acted like I was making it up.  Like the pain couldn’t possibly shift from the right side to the left side. I felt like an idiot, but the pain really was shifting all over the place. 

MY THERAPIST GAVE UP ON ME! 

Not knowing what to do, she referred me to another PT to be fitted for a back brace an...

I want to share a bit of my journey that has led me to be so passionate about Myofascial Release and teaching Myofascial self-care to my patients and other Therapists.

I was in my early 40’s when my body seemed to start falling apart.  I had been active in my youth, playing basketball, track, and even college soccer.  As an adult, I loved to garden, landscape, hike in the woods, camp in the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area, etc.   I used to take my dogs for long walks with my neighbors in the woods near our house.  It was a stress reliever, and “good exercise” as we talked about upcoming things, life, and our frustrations and stressors.  

Something started to shift.  I started to have trouble walking.  My left hip would catch and cause a sharp pain that would stop me in my tracks. I occasionally had pinching in my low back that made it hard to stand for long periods.  It definitely became problematic with walking and sleeping.  I’d be ok walking for a little bit, but then the pain...