It was dark and rainy as Mustaqim (not his real name) drove home from work one November evening. Suddenly the traffic ahead of him came to a stop, forcing him to slam on the brakes. The car behind him smashed into the rear of his vehicle, pushing it into the large SUV ahead.
Right away Mustaqim knew he was hurt. He felt tightness in his neck and right shoulder, as well as in his left lower back. When the ambulance arrived, he was given a cervical collar and placed upon a backboard to be driven to the emergency room of the nearest medical centre.
There, he was X-rayed and examined. Pain medication and muscle relaxants were prescribed, and Mustaqim was directed to do a follow-up if the pain did not ease.
Subsequently, he met with a chiropractor and began a course of adjustment and massage therapy. He believed the primary injury was to his neck and upper back, and over the next few months, as he continued his treatment, the pain and stiffness in these areas improved.
Unfortunately, at the same time, his left lower back began to worsen. Shooting pains began to radiate into his left hip and down his leg all the way to his toes, and the muscles in his hip and leg were continuously spasming.
His chiropractor sent him for a lumbar spine MRI, which showed disc bulges and protrusions at multiple levels. The most significant was an annular tear of the disc at L5-S1, which resulted in a protrusion that was coming into contact with the nerve root.
This was the cause of the pain that went down his leg.
Mustaqim was diagnosed with a slight herniated disc, more commonly known as a slipped disc. Based on the MRI results, he was referred to a specialist in rehabilitation and physical medicine. This doctor ordered more diagnostic testing and prescribed new medications for the pain. He also ordered a course of physical therapy.
The physical therapy was excruciating. At times he was unable to roll from his back to his side. He couldn’t lift, twist, or sit for any extended period, or participate in any kind of physical activity. He could barely get in and out of his car.
After a few weeks, he got his first injection at the L5-S1 point. This helped a lot, and he was able to continue physical therapy. Each time the symptoms returned, he received another injection, ultimately getting several jabs over two years.
He lost over 13kgs and had strengthened his core considerably. While he continued to experience some minor flare-ups of pain, he was increasingly able to enjoy his life, and gradually resumed most of his pre-accident activities.
Mustaqim has continued to focus on keeping his weight down and his core strong, as this is the best way to keep the pain at bay. His lower back now rarely flares up after physical activity, and he is able to live the life he wants and be an active father to his young son.
He is sharing his experience as he knows how disruptive an injury like this can be on a person’s life and family. He says some cases can be resolved without requiring surgery if you are patient – by improving your core muscles, losing weight, and allowing your body to heal itself.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life. Email [email protected] to share your story.
Click here to read more health educational articles or download the app to chat with a health practitioner.