Before I developed pain, life was good for me. I enjoyed working as a Physical Therapist in home health care.  I enjoyed my family. I was healthy and active.

Then, in March 2017, I was working with a gentleman who was very weak after a long hospitalization. His legs gave out when I was assisting him back to his wheelchair. Suddenly I experienced pain in my back.  Back pain is common and I expected the pain to resolve.  But it became worse. It traveled down my right leg.  I was no longer able to do my job. I was diagnosed with a massive L-5 herniated disc and the doctor suggested conservative treatment of anti-inflammatory medications, rest, and physical therapy. I was totally confident that I would get well with physical therapy.

After about four and half months, I felt good and went back to work full time. I had a little stiffness and fatigue at the end of the day.  I took my son skiing again, went hunting, and started a home renovation project.

Then, about eight months after I went back to work and a year since the initial injury, I felt pain in my back that continued to get worse. I was worried.  I stopped all activities; was using ice, heat, and topicals; and resumed physical therapy treatment. Over the next six months the pain kept getting worse and I had to quit work entirely. I was worried about the effect it would have on my family.

I had an MRI and was told that my back had healed so I should go back to work.  I couldn’t believe it!  Then I remembered that eight months earlier my physical therapist, who had advanced training in pain science, recommended that I review courses in pain science.

Now with no help left, I finally did it. I cannot describe the hope and excitement that filled me when I learned that there is a scientific explanation for my pain and that I was not alone.

I learned the effective and simple practices used to master pain. They helped me to think differently about my pain. As I implemented these practices in my life, I had less pain and more mobility. I began to envision my life free of pain.

The practices were rooted in the basic understanding of how pain works. I learned that my brain was just in an overprotective mode and my pain was not an indicator of harm. I learned to think differently about my pain and how to care for myself.

Before the doctor would clear me to return to work, I had to lift 75 pounds.  I felt strong but knew that I needed to start out lighter and slower.  I used good mechanics.  I went to the gym, began by lifting 40 pounds, and went on to lift 75 pounds.

Using pain science, I have been working full time for the last two and half years. I have been able to resume my life.  I take my son to the ski slopes, I had success with buck hunting, and I finished adding a second bathroom to our home.

I can’t put into words the awful reality of what my life would have been like if I hadn’t found pain science.  I am eternally grateful.   It saved my life.

In my practice I teach pain science, the practices and how to think differently about pain.

I am grateful to share my story with you.