Acupuncture and Low Back Pain

"Pain!!  Everyday…Sometimes it was so bad I sweat and soaked through my clothing.  I had nausea …dizziness …

No one seemed to be able to help me. 

My ordeal started the first week of February 2006.  I went to bed one night with a back ache and woke up the next morning in worse pain.  The following year would be the most horrible physical and emotional trauma I have experienced.

I laid low for a few days, thinking it would settle down but the pain got worse. 

In the following months I visited every medical professional you can imagine, including primary care doctor, chiropractor, neurologists, Physiatrists and pain specialist.  I had x-rays, MRIs, PT programs and 2 neurosurgeons. 

My pain medications progressed from Ibuprofen to Naproxen, to nerve deadening therapy.   Nothing was helping ….

In September and November I had steroid injections in my lower back.  They did nothing to relieve the agony I was experiencing.  Finally I started taking Percocet.  By late November 2006 I was at my lowest point – I could only stand or walk for a few minutes at a time.  When I tried to move around the pain would increase so greatly I would have to lie down.  At this point I was over 80% disabled.

My oldest daughter suggested that I contact an acupuncturist that had treated her the previous year, David Sollars at FirstHealth in Andover.  At that time she was having a problem with migraines and she had great results from the therapy she received there.

In late November 2006 I called and made my first appointment with FirstHealth of Andover.  My wife transported me there in the manner I had grown accustomed to – laying in a fetal position in the back of her SUV.  I had my first acupuncture therapy and set up an appointment to see the resident fitness coach.

After meeting with David, I felt that I had found someone in “my corner” in the medical field.  He was caring, concerned and sensitive medical professionals.  David and the staff at First Health met and discussed my case – they went over my MRI reports and X-rays.  They told me they saw no reason why they could not help me.  This was the first time I had heard anything positive in a long time.

For the next three months I visited FirstHealth on a regular basis.  The acupuncture gave me pain relief and the fitness coach made me stronger and stronger as time went on.

It is now April 2007 – I am happy to report that I am well on my way to recovery.  I am actually planning on returning to work next week for the first time in over a year.  Thank you First Health.  You’ve given me my life back!

Sincerely

GM, Methuen, MA