Mr John Joy – A 40 year history of back pain

Here is his story:

“I have suffered with back problems for 40 years. This was diagnosed as a congenital Spinal Disorder (‘Twisted Spine’).

At aged 22 years, I was prescribed by the hospital, a body belt/brace as this was the current treatment for ‘Bad Backs’.

At aged 61 years, I started getting more severe back pain and finally took myself to Annette for some treatment/relief of the pain.

After a year of regular visits to Annette – she informed me that there was more wrong than just a bad back/slipped disc. I was at this stage already suffering numbness in my leg (had for approx. 6 years) which was getting progressively worse (knee to hip). I had pain in both legs which was preventing me from walking any distance but the pain was noticeably worse in the left.

I was also suffering from the following related symptoms:

• Urinating frequently (even at night!)
• Constipation followed by severe diahorrea
• A rectal fissure as result of the other bowel issues
• Left heel of foot was numb
• Depression associated with the pain and exhaustion

I was referred to the hospital for an MRI scan which subsequently resulted in the diagnosis of ‘Spinal Canal Stenosis’.

I was referred to the pain clinic as an interim control measure where I received an epidural, which sadly, the effects only lasted a fortnight. By this time, my condition was unbearable. I was taking 8 Codydromol tablets a day just to get me through the pain enough to walk. I was sent to the Orthopaedic Surgeon for urgent treatment.

On 24th November 2005, I had my operation where the surgeon removed disc matter and a vertebrae which was beyond saving; another was ‘tidied up’ also. They opened up the spinal canal to alleviate the pressure on the nerves. I was recuperating for seven weeks and then signed off as able to go back to work on 13th January 2006.

I currently suffer with no pain and only slight limitation on bending and lifting.

Chiropractors comment:

It took me a while to convince Mr Joy that his condition now had become too severe for any conservative treatment to do any good and that surgery could be his only choice. We have an excellent surgeon and a lovely pain specialist, to whom I am happy to send my patient especially in these severe and serious cases and they both took wonderfully care of Mr Joy, when the time came, following the MRI scan, that surgery was the only step forward.

It is also nice to see that other physical problems he had from the waist down, improved substantially once the surgery had been performed, though other specialists seemed to think they were unrelated.

He had his first chiropractic check-up recently and is doing great. We got to get him in shape with some fit-ball exercises and maybe a bit of Pilates.

This again shows the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to back pain that is becoming more and more evident in clinical practice, to help these chronic severe problems. Once conservative therapies are unable to help, surgery in especially this case of severe spinal stenosis, is the only way forward. The aftercare however is also vital, for the optimum recovery to be achieved.