I used to be a very active person. Way back, I was into dancing, swimming, aerial fitness, and more. Also, 3 years before my symptoms got worst, I used to be in a pharmaceutical company, where I was required to work in the field, lift and send heavy stocks, and do multi-tasking. I believe that I had a healthy spine and until I realized that I started to feel back pains. While working in that certain company, I already had minor back pains. However, it was 3 months after I quit the job when my symptoms got worst. When I started to work in an office job, I noticed that rest and massage could not relieve my back pain anymore. It can be tolerated so, I just disregarded it. Then, my symptoms continued, visited an Orthopedic, and ended up on NSAID’s and physical therapy. The symptoms did not subside, but rather it radiated to my entire left butt and groin. I was dependent to NSAID’s on a high dosage during the time for me to tolerate my work and daily activities.

It came to a point that I can’t walk fast anymore; I had that intense shooting pain whenever I move. Then, I started to worry much about my condition. I worked up with x-ray and the Orthopedics said that the result was inconclusive. Then, I was able to seek help from a Chiropractor and showed my radiographs, he said that my left hip was subluxated and my pelvis was anteriorly rotated which caused the intense pain on my low back, left butt, and groin. He treated me and I was able to walk without much pain anymore.

August 2016, I was admitted to the hospital because of severe vomiting. I was uncertain if it was food-borne or probably from the chronic use of NSAID’s. I was so anxious because I had an international trip scheduled 7 days after my admission, I was weak, and I was still suffering from the back pain. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days and the doctor told me to consume lots of sweets for the healing of my liver. Thank God, I was discharged 3 days before the trip.

Although, I still had a bit of weakness my back pain was just minimal and I was able to do a bit of laundry 2 days before my trip. I was able to push my travel with a backpack and seated on a plane for quite long. Then, I was very careful with whatever I eat; however, I consumed a bunch of sweets.

We backpacked for 6 days and visited places. However, as the days passed during the trip, I felt that the pain was going back until I walked slowly again. I finished the trip with a hard time walking, but I was able to go back home without wheelchair assistance. I reported to work the following week, but I had much pain and I was just forcing myself to work.

The next week, I really had a hard time. I can’t even do a single step and I needed a cane to walk. A single movement hurts my back a lot, the pain was non-stop, and was miserable. I was off work for 15 days and had chiropractic treatment. Then with some sessions, I was able to move with tolerable pain, but still with the assistance of a cane. Then, I resumed my work.

I decided to have an MRI workup then I found out that I had bilateral stenosis on my L4-L5 and L5-S1 plus sacroiliitis. I never expected to have it and to suffer the miserable kind of pain.

I had physical therapy again; however, the symptoms were still there. With the chiropractic treatment, I had some relief. I consulted a rheumatologist, did laboratory examinations, and had a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

I decided to be off work again for a month. I had rest, chiropractic, and bed massage. I can walk without a cane by now, but I still have a bit of antalgic gait.

Right now, my chiropractic treatment is still continuous. I have no pain medications anymore. I resumed my work already and I am doing ways not to stress my back. The pain is still here, but I am positive to overcome it. I am so grateful for the progress that I gained so far. I am hoping for continuous recovery and to be pain-free with God’s grace.
Soon, I will be sharing the back pain treatments and remedies that helped me.

Are you also suffering from chronic pain? Please feel free to share your experience and your pain management. Who knows? Maybe your pain will be at ease when you share it. Let us lift up one another.

Summer Healing,
ARL1