Testimonial

Chronic Low Back and Leg Pain -

Advanced Canal Stenosis

"My name is Sigrid Moore, and I have been suffering intermittent back pain since I was 16 years old. Recently (3-months) I commenced Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy under the direction of Dr Malcolm Hooper at the Spinal Rehabilitation Group in Melbourne. The results have been amazing!

When I was 16, I had a severe fall which resulted in me being restricted to bed initially for about a week. The pain continued and within 2-years I was having severe problems sitting. Eventually I was sent for X rays and was told that I had fractured my coccyx during this initial fall. The only treatment recommendation was bed rest and anti inflammatory drugs. Eventually my back slowly settled but I continued with the usual episodes of back pains on and off over the years.

During my 3-pregnancies I suffered terrible lower back pain with pain extending down my left leg. Most women are told that the baby is pressing on a nerve when in fact, like me they actually have a back problem which is being exacerbated by the pregnancy.

During 1984 my husband and I bought a Licence Supermarket. This meant I had to work full-time managing the grocery department requiring a considerable amount of heavy lifting and physical work. In addition, I had the usual house-hold chores so my back was constantly exposed to ongoing stress and lifting.

I have virtually always lived with back stiffness and deep seated dull pain. But with the years of business, I found my back becoming progressively worse often aggravated by simple things causing terrible back pain forcing me to bed rest.

I was working in excess of 50-hours per week in the Supermarket, as well as raising 3 extremely active boys. My back progressively deteriorated and eventually my GP informed me that I had quite a lot of lower disc damage in my spine. Over the years I have I have always needed different forms of treatment including physiotherapy and chiropractic. On many occasions my back responded to treatments but towards the end my back simply was getting worse and often aggravated by the treatment. I found eventually, my back would not tolerate heavy treatment and often manipulation made my back worse!

One unfortunate day whilst working on stock, I suddenly experienced severe back pain. It felt as though I had totally dislocated my lower back. I could not move, I was in severe agony, I had collapsed to the floor. My husband had to carry me out off the supermarket floor. I spent the next 5-weeks in bed heavily medicated with painkillers and anti inflammatory drugs. This was the first time I started using a walking stick.

After this incident I was told to give up full time work and was restricted to working in the office usually 2-days per week. Over the next 12-years, I have always experienced some form of pain and stiffness. When my back got worse I was restricted to bed-rest. Most of the time my back was sore or painful, I could not sit or stand for long periods and was forced to walk often with a walking stick, walking with a limp.

Economic circumstances forced me back to work full time. In early 2001 I gradually noticed that my back felt as though it had deteriorated to a new low. I was constantly in pain regardless of my activities and or rest. Numerous chiropractic and physiotherapy visits made very little difference. In fact I was getting worse.

On 22nd July 2001, I suddenly was unable to get out of bed. I was in big trouble - incredible back and leg pain. With the help of my son, I was again dragged to the chiro and my lower back manipulated.

I was told 'you know the drill'. The drill was the usual bed rest, cold packs, pain killers and anti inflamatories. However, this didn't seem to work this time. I was extremely frustrated.

I consulted my GP who prescribed Panadeine Forte and told me the usual - 'time and rest'. My chiro attend my house twice per week but could not help me. I ended up in hospital requiring further X rays, injections, muscle relaxants and heavy anti inflammatory drugs. Eventually I was told to go home and restrict myself to bed-rest. Regardless my condition did not get better, my back got worse.

I was unable to bathe, wash my hair or even go to the toilet without assistance! I was extremely upset and embarrassed by my disposition. I was also extremely annoyed by the fact that regardless of treatments or following my doctors instructions to the letter, my back was getting worse!

I was totally useless and becoming very depressed. I had CT Scans which confirmed that I had a very unstable L4/5 disc. Again sent off to the physio who was unable to do any thing for me. Again I ended up at the chiros who eventually suggested cortisone. I thought this was the job of my doctor, not the chiro! I was sent by my GP to a specialist and again told bed-rest with a 30-day course of cortisone. When I told the specialist that I have already tried bed-rest he was very reactive to me questioning his direction.

I progressively deteriorated. Stronger medication and constant rest made no difference. I was very depressed.

Eventually I heard about Hyperbaric Medicine and the Spinal Rehabilitation Group through a friend whose sister was to have had a back operation 3-years ago but instead had this form of treatment and is now totally stable. What did I have to lose, I had tried just about everything else, apart from surgery.

At last!! Help was found. The first thing Dr Hooper recommended was an MRI of my entire spine. The second thing he said was no more manipulation into my unstable lower spine!

The MRI results were very upsetting, however at least now I knew exactly what was wrong with my back and the reason for my ongoing problems. Dr Hooper said any future treatment must be based upon the MRIs and not just on how I felt. This was very important because he said that inappropriate treatment including manipulation into an 'unstable' region would reinforce the mechanism of instability. This was probably the reason why my back was constantly needing manipulation and not settling.

MRIs revealed severe 'degenerative canal stenosis' of my L4/5 level which means that the lower part of my spinal cord is literally being strangled. The MRI showed that both nerves coming out at this level were also being severely squashed. Dr Hooper stated that the conservative option was surgery including 'decompression and fusion' at this level.

However I was given the option to try Hyperbaric and a conservative approach of therapy including acupuncture needling. Obviously I elected for the latter and started treatment at the clinic twice per week.

Prior to starting Hyperbaric I was sent for a range of blood tests including tests to identify the possibility of underlying infection that may be contributing to this degenerative process. I was subsequently recommend a different course of anti inflammatory (Vioxx) which was coupled with a muscle relaxant (Norflex). In addition I was directed antibiotics based on the results of my blood tests. Inconjunction with Hyperbaric and acupuncture, I was injected on each occasion with B6/12 injections and recommended a high potency amino acid antioxidant preparation.

The results were almost instantaneous. My pain levels dropped dramatically. In fact it was like a false sense of security because the difference was very dramatic. I was coping better, less depressed and my day to day existence improved significantly. Within the 3-month period my back is at least 70% better. I have lost weight, I am back at work part time and I have a sense of purpose that I seemed to have lost over the many months of relentless pain.

I have now had about 50 hours of Hyperbaric treatment and I continue to improve. I am not dependent on pain killers and am now taking them infrequently. I have not had my spine manipulated since starting treatment and my back certainly feels a lot more stable.

Many thanks to Dr Hooper and his wonderful team at Spinal Rehab" - Sigrid Moore