"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 First Health 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 Physical Therapist, Donna Schneider. 

After meeting with David and Donna, I felt that I had found someone in “my corner” in the medical field.  They were caring, concerned and sensitive medical professionals.  David, Donna 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 physical therapy 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