About My Back or Neck Pain Syndrome
I never had an official diagnosis, because my doctors were unable to find anything on x-rays or through an MRI. However, I was experiencing chronic back pain and went through times when I couldn't get off the couch from the pain. After countless doctor visits, I thought I would never be able to find a solution.
Problems Caused by My Syndrome
My back pain made it almost impossible to sit for long periods of time at work and it made exercise very difficult. I never knew when I would throw my back out and that made me very cautious with my movements. It was frustrating, being afraid of all the things I enjoy - walking, running, weight training, etc. and having to take pain medication just to get through the day.
Lessons Learned
- The most important lesson I learned was to take control of your own health. Doctors can be helpful, but you often have to try a variety of things to find what makes things better. Always get a second (or third or fourth) opinion if your doctor is dismissive of your issues.
- Keep a journal to track your pain and how different treatments affect you. Most of my back pain was from sitting for hours in front of a computer and I realized that by tracking my activity and noticing when the pain was worse (after sitting for too long without getting up) and when it was better (when I moved around more).
