Hi,
I was reading a back issue of Reader’s Digest and found an article titled 50 Secrets Your Surgeon Won’t Tell You. It was very interesting and worthwhile sharing with anyone who may now or eventually need surgery, but one “Secret” that was especially interesting had to do with back pain.
Written by Kevin B. Jones, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon and scientist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Primary Children’s Medical Center at the University of Utah, Dr. Jones stated:
Some problems just don’t fix well with surgery, like many cases of back pain. My advice? Grin and bear it. Some surgeons vehemently disagree. They say, ‘Oh, you have a degenerative disk and that must be the culprit. Let’s fix it.’ But many people have a degenerative disk with no pain. There isn’t a lot of evidence that we’re helping very many people.
It continually amazes me that doctors, massage and physical therapists, and anyone who is searching for the cause of low back pain overlooks how the quadriceps muscles of the anterior thigh interact with the lumbar vertebrae of the low back. It’s so logical, and it is ignored! Grin and bear it just isn’t acceptable, not when I’ve proven it’s not always the answer. There are so many people who have been helped by treating the muscles in the order given in the Julstro Protocol that I have folders filled with testimonials. Each testimonial is important because it is from someone whose life has been changed by my work.
One is very special to me because of the outcome and how it’s still continuing. This testimonial is from Allan Woodward, an athlete who really made my heart sing. It’s a bit long, but Allan’s life and professional sports career totally changed, he describes an amazing ending:
About 20 plus years ago I was a talented young track star with dreams of one day competing in the Olympic Games. Suddenly that dream was cut short due to chronic hip and low back pain, which no one at the time could diagnose. I went to see several top notch doctors in my area but they still were unable to figure out the source of my problem. I even took a visit to see one of the doctors who treated the famous Michael Johnson, the former World and Olympic champion in the 200 and 400 meter and still had no luck.
Amazingly, 20 plus years later the grace of God lead me to muscular therapist Julie Donnelly who was holding a seminar on self-treatment. In this seminar she demonstrated self-treatment techniques using rubber balls, foam rollers and things of that nature. Not only did she demonstrate the proper therapy techniques, she also made us aware of how often we only treat the irritated area and in many cases, it’s really not the true source of the problem. In other words, it hurts in one area, but the source of the pain is in a whole different area.
I have to admit at first I was a little skeptical. I figure after all of this time of living with this chronic muscle tightness and pain, I had tried everything. But to my surprise, after I started to apply these techniques to my daily routine. I noticed a difference, instantly. The feeling was overwhelming! To be able to take a full stride again without overbearing pain was incredible. I have to thank God for directing my steps to the right place at the right time.
What’s really incredible is the fact that after 20 plus years, at the age of 42. I’m back on the track competing again with people 20 years my junior. Now, that is truly a blessing and what’s even more amazing – in 2011 at the USA Masters Track and Field, I ranked #4 in the world in the 200 and 400 meters and ranked #2 in the USA in both of these events. I just want to say I owe a great deal of thanks to Julie Donnelly for sharing these awesome self-treatment techniques.
These techniques played a big role in my accomplishments this year. I strained my hamstring three times and each time I use the techniques that Julie taught me and because of this I was never out more than two to three days before I ease back into training. Every athlete on every level can benefit from these techniques. I believe Julie’s teaching can help other athletes like it’s help me.
Allen Woodard
USA Masters Track and Field
Houston, TX
It’s interesting how just doing the self-treatments that I teach in my book, Treat Yourself to Pain-Free Living, can make a huge difference, yet too many people would rather stay in pain than spend some time and money getting relief that will give them back a full and productive life without pain. The fact that you are reading this blog shows that you want to stay pain-free and flexible, I hope you’ll share the information with other people you know who feel the same way.
Okay….off to the gym to continue my determined goal to get in shape to walk the El Camino de Santiago!
Have a great day,
Julie