Six years ago, my back gave up. It didn’t just give out, it gave up. It had enough. I bent down to dry my feet after a shower and felt lightening pain shoot through my lower back. I hit the floor, crawled into my son’s nursery to check on him, and rolled over to lay flat on my back. I didn’t stand or walk for two more days.

At first, everyone said, just take Advil, lay on the floor for a while, and you’ll be fine. I was not fine. I couldn’t move. Later that night, I took my first (and thankfully only) ambulance ride to the ER. Getting me on the stretcher and down the stairs was more painful than early labor contractions. I cried the whole way.

The doctor in the ER was very honest and said he was going to give me a number of muscle relaxers and pain medicine so I could get up and walk out. That didn’t work either. He said they rarely admit patients with back pain but I was high on all the medicine and still couldn’t move. I was really giddy, it was hilarious, but I had absolutely no muscle strength in my abs, low back or pelvic floor. There must be something else going on.

They admitted me and found a torn disk and a herniated disk. Not a huge deal, a torn disk would take several years to heal but it would eventually heal and lots of people live functional lives with a herniated disk. Why didn’t the pain medicine work to get me to walk out of the hospital? My recovery was irritatingly slow. I stayed in the hospital for two and a half days and eventually did get up and walk out.

Recovery at home was interesting. Lugging my six-month-old son to and from physical therapy sessions in a heavy car seat, hurt. Everything was painful. I could barely stand let alone move, practice yoga or dance.

I was so far from where I wanted to be. With patience being forced on me and lots of physical therapy, a little yoga, massage and acupuncture, I started to feel better. Then, a year later, I was pregnant again and my body screamed. I was miserable. I missed being able to do my favorite things.

After my second son was born, I was more determined to heal. I wanted my yoga practice to look like it did before my back gave up. I wanted to be able to move my body. I couldn’t even bend over to put on pants. You should have seen the way I had to do it- sort of leaning/sitting on the bed, one arm flinging the pants toward one foot, getting the first foot through and then the second without bending too far. It was nuts. I got good at it though.

I was constantly afraid my back would spasm. I could barely stand on one foot and I couldn’t squeeze my core muscles without pain. Doing a sit-up was completely out of the question.

I didn’t give up. I made a different choice. I chose to heal. I stopped physical therapy and started healing my soul.

I had tons of Reiki sessions, practiced yoga, continued acupuncture, and a year and a half ago, I started seeing the best Chiropractor in the world because she combines energy healing with chiropractic care.

Just over a year ago, I couldn’t do one sit-up. Not one. Now, I feel better than I did before my back gave up. Sometimes, I forget it ever happened. (Until I sit on a hard surface, then I quickly remember.)

Today, I can hold plank pose for two and a half minutes. I can do fifty sit-ups. My yoga practice is better than it was before my back gave up. I dance all the time. Not only can I touch my toes, but I can bend backwards too. Dips are my favorite. It has taken me six years to get where I am today. I’m so far from where I started and I’m thankful.

I’m grateful to be in good health again. I’m incredibly grateful for the people who helped me get here. Extra special thank you’s to Christina, Amy, Alicia, Michelle, Dr. Nicole, Stephanie, Mike, and Bryan.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for helping me heal my body, mind, and soul.

I’ve never been this strong physically or mentally. I am grateful.

I’m happy to help you, in a similar way that my friends helped me.

Start your healing journey right here.

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