09/09/2024
I just wanted to live again—to work out, play, and enjoy my family without back pain.
For almost a year, I dealt with off-and-on back pain that would sometimes lock up my mid and lower back, leaving me on the floor for 3-4 days. I couldn’t walk; I had to crawl on my hands and knees just to get to the bathroom. During these episodes, I couldn’t work, walk, sit, or drive. My life came to a standstill.
As a physically active person, this was devastating. I used to lift weights 4-5 times a week and run or bike twice a week. But for 10 months, I couldn’t care for or play with my two little kids. My life became a constant cycle of sitting on the couch, waiting in fear for the next episode of my back locking up. The pain was a 10 out of 10, so severe that my wife had to take me to appointments in a wheelchair.
Not only could I not roughhouse with my kids or pick them up, but even our quality time together was reduced to them lying beside me on the floor. The burden on my wife was enormous—not only did she have to take care of the kids and home, but she also had to do everything else, including shoveling snow in December. Over the course of this ordeal, I missed around twenty days of work and countless moments with my family.
I went through 10 weeks of physical therapy at another facility. At that time, I was strong enough to max out on resistive trunk exercises and cable equipment when my back wasn’t locked up. However, the flare-ups kept coming back. My MRI and other tests were negative, which baffled all the medical professionals. With no need for injections or surgery, my last doctor recommended Taylor Creek Physical Therapy. From the very first day, I was an instant believer in their approach.
My first session at Taylor Creek PT was incredible. After two solid months of constant back pain, I walked out completely pain-free. I learned that simply adjusting how I stood could eliminate all the pain. It turns out that my habit of placing pressure on the balls of my feet was a major trigger for my pain. By shifting my weight to my left leg more than my right, I was able to offload the tension. I also learned simple adjustments for how to rise from a chair, sit, and sleep on my side—all of which are now pain-free.
Every session brought more progress as I performed Postural Restoration exercises. After just 12 visits, I was 100% better and back to weightlifting, running, and, most importantly, playing with my family. Coming to the experts at Taylor Creek PT was a game-changer for me. It’s amazing how the whole body is connected, and Postural Restoration therapy made all the difference.
-Ray Johnson
Intensity with Integrity
Northeast Nebraska's ONLY Certified PRI Clinic