For several months I have been on a personal journey how to cure back pain. It started in my right buttocks and radiated down my right leg to my right foot. At first I thought it was only a muscle pull, the results of lifting several heavy boxes in and out of a van. However the discomfort continued and got progressively worst. Standing, walking and especially driving became torture.Sometimes it would be more like a burning sensation and sometimes my foot would go numb and I when I walked I could not tell if my foot was touching the ground. Now at sixty-three I considered myself in pretty good shape. I have always exercised and watched what I ate. Fortunately I have managed to avoid serious injury and sickness. This was all about to change!

Finally a month after first experiencing discomfort I went to my family doctor. He prescribed some medication and referred me to physical therapy. To make a long story short PT didn't work. In fact it only made it worst. Finally after a MRI revealed a herniated disc. I had surgery. Now one week later I am flat on my back.. I feel much better, but still experience some numbing sensations. The surgeon says it may take a year or more before I' m 100%. Now that's the good news. The bad news is I may never completely be back to my old self. There has to be a better way! So have I cured my back pain? For now the answer is yes? However my personal journey continues. Not only to I want to cure my back pain - I want it from happening again!

Since my surgery I have been researching back conditions and alternatives to surgery - yeah I know I should of thought of this before surgery! I have discovered that there are methods, treatments and exercises that if follwed can bring about relief. These treatments get at the underlying cause of your discomfort.