Overcoming a lifetime of injuries

Cathedral Osteopaths are helping their patients with back pain with IDD Therapy. We reveal how it helped ease one patient's debilitating back pain and got them caving again

The picture shows Stuart and I before we set off on our 5 hour underground assault course thanks to your team (you'd think we'd be more sensible aged 60 and 80).

Peter Sykes is a keen caver whose back problems looked like they would prevent him from ever resuming his hobby.  This is his story.

'Following a few episodes of back pain over the last few years, in May this year it completely floored me. I awoke unable to straighten up and could barely walk. It took quite a while to get into the car and be driven to the doctors, where I was prescribed pain killers and sent home. However, the pain increased and travelled down my left leg giving excruciating pain in both my thigh and kneecap. After a few more visits and 6 weeks off work with progressively more powerful pain killers (Naproxen, Amitriptyline), I asked when I could expect a scan of my back. The reply was that they were a waste of time as all it showed would be a lifetime of collective back injuries.

So, there it was. There would be no attempt to find out what was causing the underlying problems and the treatment was going to be painkillers in the hope that the unknown problems would magically go away.

At this point I contacted my friend Stuart who I knew had experienced a similar sounding problem. His advice was to contact the osteopath in Ripon he had used to see if they could help. So, I booked a consultation at Cathedral Osteopath’s with Vanessa to consider what to do next.

After a thorough examination and consultation, her advice was that an MRI Scan was needed to identify the cause of my immobility. This was promptly arranged within a week and confirmed both a 7.4mm disc bulge and tear below it.

Vanessa advised that IDD Treatment (Spinal Decompression Therapy) was suitable for me, (Stuart had already described what to expect from IDD and gave me the confidence to give it a go.) I commenced treatment the following week. Within a few sessions with Ellie/Josh I had already noticed a reduction in pain and sensitivity in both my back and leg. They gave me specific exercises to help strengthen my back and leg muscles. At this point I was able to reduce some of the pain killing and anti-inflammatory medication. With each session leading to further improvement which enabled me to return to work on light duties. I was soon painkiller free and continued my IDD sessions with reduced pain being provided by the treatment rather than medication.

My next goal was to get fit enough to resume my hobby (potholing/caving) to attend my friend Stuart’s 80th birthday caving trip.

Thanks to the efforts of the team at Cathedral Osteopath’s both Stuart and I were able to complete a 5 hour caving trip which a few months previously I thought I may never do again. As an added bonus a numbness in my knee I had tolerated for years turned out to be back related too, this has also been improved by the IDD Treatment.

IDD is the option that lets you progress off painkillers without having to resort to injections or invasive surgery.

If you, like Peter, have been struggling with back pain or have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis or a herniated disc that hasn't responded to manual therapy, physiotherapy, or medication then IDD Therapy may be for you.

IDD Therapy could be a suitable treatment for you. To find out more call 01765 804055 and we can arrange a free 10-minute telephone conversation. Atternatively visit our website, download a free information pack and see other client testimonials.