On Nov. 4th 2011 I had an accident at work that changed my life. X-Rays and two MRI’s reviled two ruptured discs, which resulted in sciatica down both legs. Diagnosed as “lumbar sprain” or S-I joint dysfunction, it felt like I was being stabbed and cut from the inside out. It was as if there was a boa constrictor with razor blades for scales wrapped around my leg from my big toe to my hips, with the snake biting its fangs into my gluteus. There were a few months when I could barely walk. I was using various opiate pain pills, muscle relaxors and alcohol with little effect on my pain. I went through 5 different physical therapists, 3 MDs, 2 surgeons and had an electromyogram (EMG) which measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals.
The treatments approved by Labor and Industries and the Rehab Institute of Washington (pain management clinic) weren’t helping, it seemed like I was stuck in a rut, constantly in pain, frequent flare ups, muscle spasms and quickly becoming addicted to prescription pills, I soon realized that traditional medicine wasn’t working. So I sought a different approach. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Acupuncture, Massage, Chiropractic, Pilates and Yoga.
Recently L&I has determined that I’ve “reached maximum level of recovery” and quickly closed my claim. Unfortunately I’m still left with this supposed life long injury with scar tissue in my back, hips and legs. I still can’t run or exercise like I used to but I intend to change that. I don’t care what L&I or American MDs say, I will recover 100 percent.
Since L&I doesn’t cover “alternative medicine or therapies”, I’ve paid for it out of my own pocket. And it’s these alternatives that seem to work better than the insurance industry standard medicine. It’s almost as if they don’t want me to heal, so that I stay stuck in the prescription pill / surgery game. No thanks, I’d rather find the core issue and fix it.
My new goal is to become a Yoga instructor to help complete my healing. The word “Yo-gah” is sandscrit for the union of body and mind. This is my quest, to see and feel if yoga really can heal my injuries for good. I’ve come a long way from a year ago. I can walk normally again, but I still have a ways to go before I’ll run in a marathon.
Stay tuned and I’ll keep posting my progress over the next month in Maui. Class begins Nov. 1, 2012. Wish me good karma & I do the same for you.
~Paradise
