Supertraining

Stephen,

I went through VERY similar sounding stuff for just about the same
amount of time.  Back pain was initiated by nothing severe or
obvious.  I was about 27 years old at the time.  No falls, blows,
shocks or anything overly strenuous.  I went through all sorts of
assessments and treatments.  X-rays, MRIs, blood exams and neuro
exams revealed nothing.  I went through about a dozen PTs and chiros,
two accupuncturists, various manual treatment methods like Muscle
Activation Techniques and Active Release.  I got orthotics.  I
stretched constantly.  I even had prolotherapy injections that
weren't covered by insurance and they weren't cheap.  I didn't just
bounce around randomly from treatment to treatment.  I stuck w/one
treatment at a time and followed the directions of the docs and
therapists as I would the word of God.  Meanwhile I was reading
everything I could find on spines, connective tissue, herniated disks-
-everything.

What was the result?  With each new treatment the back pain would
recede for about a week and then return exactly the same.  I started
developing knee pain, shoulder pain and intermitent elbow pain.  I
was OBSESSED w/this pain.  I all but quit lifting, running and
biking.  It was misery.

I finally started reading the work of Dr. John Sarno and I haven't
looked back.  His work pertains to the role of emotions in
causing "physical" pain.  I saw myself and my own traits over and
over in his case studies: self-critical, a NEED to achieve certain
goals to feel good, "appear to handle stress well," physical activity
and athletcs defined me in a large part and those things were taken
away by this pain--which exacerbated the pain.

It's fascinating stuff and all I can say is that where methods A
through Y DID NOT work, method Z did work in an impressive fashion.
It may sound odd to some, but emotions, frustrations, repressed
feelings--all that sort of negative mental stuff seems to often play
a huge role in producing pain where there is no structural injury or
disease.  I now see these same symptoms and stressors in a lot of
people.

I hope I don't sound like some UFO nut or anything and I don't have
any financial stake in Sarno's books or his work but after suffering
through 2 1/2 years of pain and not being able to exercise, I can say
that his work did amazing things for me, and it might work for you.
His books are "Healing Back Pain," "the Mindbody Connection,"
and "the Divided Mind."

Hope that helps.
Kyle Norman
Arlington, VA

--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], Dr J Michael Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> Greetings Stephen,
>
> The primary innervation of gluteus medius is the L5 nerve which
exits at
> L4/5 not at L3/4.  Thus I doubt that is where your problem arises
from.
> I have been fouled before by sacral iliac joint problems causing
> referral into the hip extensors.  However, your chiro should have
picked
> that up.  I can probably help you with a phone call.  I will post
you my
> clinic # so that we can work through a few tests.
>
> Dr J Michael Smith, MSc., DC.
> Whangarei Chiropractic Centre
> Whangarei
> NEW ZEALAND
>
>
>
> > Its been 2.5 years since I first strained my right glut medius
after
> > doing glut medius work and then doing straight leg dead lifts
(warm
> > up weight). After a week of my torso leaning over to my left most
of
> > the time, i felt almost normal but it took a year for me to run.
> > 9 months ago i reinjured it doing a no weighted squat (after doing
> > trigger point therapy work on my glutes the night before).
> >
> > Since then i have had chiro work, physio work and more trigger
point
> > therapy work and had a sports doctor tell me (after a CT scan)
that
> > they dont know what the problem really is as all they can see is
L3-
> > L4 has a minor/hair line bulging disc - my symptoms seem too
chronic
> > for the diagnosis. I think the original glut med injury was
actually
> > something occuring in L3-L4 now.
> >
> > I have no flexibility or obesity or fitness issues, i still
exercise
> > 3 days a week with weights mainly machines but cant get the right
> > help or diagnosis from anyone. Ive spent too much money and today
> > woke up as stiff as a board, with my torso leaning over to my
right
> > hip.......I can push my torso back, but i think the gluteal nerve
at
> > L3-L4 is compressed and hurts and certainly doesnt like it. By the
> > way the impingement gets chronic when i try standing up after
sitting
> > down especially in buckets chairs.
> >
> > Helpful feedback or advice needed!!
> > Sounding like a horror movie at 33y.o.
> > Stephen Morris, CSCS
> > Sydney, Australia
> >
> >
>