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Message: [QUOTE="CaptainObvious, post: 1008096, member: 17060"] I started having back problems when I was about 17 years old. It started as a simple spasm that would have me in mild pain for a day or two. By the time I was 30, I'd have 3 or 4 episodes each year that would last 10 to 20 days. The last one I had hit me hard. I lost the ability to stand on my toes, my feet went numb and I had intermittent bladder control. I wasn't able to commute to work, let alone sit in a chair. After a few weeks of this, I went to a doctor begging him to cut me. After an MRI, it was discovered that I had a herniated disk between L3 and L4. The doctor insisted that this could be completely repaired without surgery. I didn't believe him. He asked for 90 days to correct the problem, and if I didn't show vast improvement he'd cut me. He prescribed simple physical therapy and wrote a prescription for me to see a PT at the NJ Spinal Center. I was sure this wouldn't work. After all, how could simple stretches and exercise help. I was in [I]real [/I]pain. But after just a few weeks I began to feel better. At the end of the 90-day period, I was able to stand on my toes (not much, but it was an improvement) again. I was cleared to go to work provided that I stretched every hour. The PT signed me off and said "I hope to never see you again". I agreed and asked what kind of restrictions I should place on myself. He said, "none, if it feels good - do it". He went on to say that I learned good habits and if I did have any problems that I knew what to do for self-correction. He said "take it slow, but don't expect to run a marathon any time soon". I kept up with my stretching and light exercise program. Six months later I joined a gym and started jogging. In time, the feel and motion had come back 100%. A year later I ran my first marathon. I called my PT and thanked him. He truly changed my life. I haven't had a back problem since, and that was 13 years ago. And I still do those silly stretches every day. [/QUOTE]

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