Healed Her Herniated Disc Without Surgery

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Hi, and welcome to this episode of Bed Back and Beyond.
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On today's episode, I am joined by the lovely Katie.
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Katie, thank you so much for joining me today.
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Yes, thank you so much for having me.
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I am so excited.
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I found Katie on TikTok, and your username is Katie Sorta Wellness.
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Sorta wellness.
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Sorta wellness stuff.
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Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself before we start talking about your injury?
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Yeah, so I born and raised in Kansas.
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I uh have two kids.
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And so when you ask me, like, what are my interests, what are my hobbies, it's literally the my two kids.
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So um I lived in Syracuse, New York for about six years.
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So I've done a little bit of you know life outside of Kansas, but this is the best place to raise kids.
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So that's why we're back.
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Family is here, and um yeah, I uh work in sales, and so that's why I I maybe wasn't afraid to jump on a live call with you.
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Um, because I kind of field questions in my normal nine to five life too.
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Uh and then yeah, I'm here because I injured my back and I told myself, like, if I get through this and when I'm on the other side, I'm never gonna shut up about it.
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So I started posting, I started sharing my story, and obviously have collected uh a lot of people along the way who have, you know, something similar has happened.
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And just in your case too, it's so life-changing that to me, I can't wait for somebody to bring it up so I can talk about it because it really changed the way that I see my life, my kids.
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Um, my own mom had back issues.
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So um now I see her so different too.
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Um, so yeah, that's I'm excited, like I said, to chat and and uh I will beat a dead horse on this one.
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So and it's it's such a lonely experience.
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You feel like no one understands, you're never gonna get through it, and community is such a huge help.
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So to create a page or TikTok to become that community, community that people need.
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That's the same I did with the Reddit and this podcast, yeah.
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To say you're not alone and we can get through that.
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We need we need these spaces because I I certainly, when I got hurt, spent a lot of time on my phone, but a lot of time searching, searching for people that shared a similar story, or obviously like a hopeful story.
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That's what I was looking for.
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And yeah, for you, it's I it's just a space, I think, for people to feel like, okay, I'm not going crazy and I'm not alone.
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Like you said, it's very lonely.
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Yeah.
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So tell us how did you get injured?
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So I I have to ask if you want the long or the short story on this one.
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All right, so buckle up.
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I um have had so I've had chronic back pain since I was a teenager.
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I'm hypermobile.
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Um, I did gymnastics, I did cheer, and I by the time I was 17, 18, like I just remember sitting at my desk in school and like twisting and turning and always being uncomfortable.
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And then it just continued to get worse.
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So my early 20s, I went through a few rounds of injections.
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I tried pain medication, which wasn't, you know, a good road to go down for me.
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And then everything in between acupuncture, chiropractor, massage, I did everything for my chronic pain.
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Then when I was like in my late 20s, I lost quite a bit of weight, just like eating low carb, high protein.
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I made some lifestyle changes.
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I was moving a lot more, walking, trying to get in better shape.
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And even when I had lost the weight, I still had pretty, you know, I would say it was like a three or a four, like bothering me throughout the day type of back pain.
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Um, obviously I could work through it, I could live through it, I could exist.
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And so um it just was, you know, in the back of my mind all the time and annoying.
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And I I didn't look forward to road trips and that sort of thing.
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But um, I had kids.
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Um, my first was 2022.
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I had placenta previa.
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So I had to have a c-section.
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There was no option.
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And that kind of started the path of my very, very, very little bit of core strength that I have left, kind of going downhill.
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Yeah.
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Um, I had my second baby in 2024, and then that was also a c-section.
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Um, my water broke at 34 weeks.
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So, probably like a lot of people listening to this, I don't have great luck when it comes to like medical things that happen.
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It's if it if it's gonna happen, it's probably gonna be me.
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Um, so I'm like that 1% chance, and and that was me.
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So um this brings me to like the fall of 2024.
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So now, early 2025, I went to a pelvic floor physical therapist here, and I thought this is my missing piece.
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Like, I'm gonna go, probably this is what I've been missing because everyone else has focused so much on my low back.
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I've never had someone, you know, uh explore what like is going on in my pelvic floor.
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And so um, I went to this lady here and my pelvic floor was tense, which like some people clench their jaw, apparently I clench my pelvic floor.
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And uh, after kids, you know, it gets worse.
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So she was really convinced that like I needed to um relax my pelvic floor, which I think there's some validity there.
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But as a hypermobile, breastfeeding mom that still had probably a lot of hormones going on, that wasn't a good place to start.
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So that was like the straw that broke the camel's back, was trying to make my pelvic floor relax when like every it was kind of the last Jenga piece like holding me together.
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And so um, you know, my core was offline, my glutes were offline, like everything's offline.
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And that was kind of the last piece of like keeping me upright.
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And so um I had gone to that pelvic floor uh physical therapist for like three or four weeks, and it was January 29th, 2025.
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I'll never forget the day.
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I picking up my kid, something I've done a million times, and it was just like and I just remember thinking, oh, that's weird, something's weird.
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And like I said, I'm no stranger to back pain.
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So may I ask a clarifying question?
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Yeah.
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When you said uh you've had back issues since you were young, was that just muscular in your low back, or did it include some kind of sciatic pain back then?
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Um, I do remember having some sciatic pain probably in like my mid to late 20s.
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And I don't know again, it wasn't like a big thing, it just was like slowly but surely it was kind of getting worse and worse, and then it started, but that was off and on.
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Like I knew if I sat for too long, it would kind of flare up, but I knew what I could do to kind of get it relaxed.
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Okay.
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So very different than like when you herniated.
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I mean, it is so January 29th, I it happened, and like by the end of the day, and I think a lot of people describe a herniation like this of like, oh, I was really hurting, but then by the end of the day or day two or day, like it kind of progressively gets worse over the next like 24 hours.
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But by the end of the day, like I was trying to hold my baby shaking.
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My husband's like, oh my God, no, this is something's really wrong.
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And when I saw his face, that's when I was like, this is really wrong.
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Um, and so I had reached out to that physical therapist that I was working with.
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She thought it was like a muscle spasm.
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And so she kind of worked on me like it was a muscle spasm.
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I went in the next day.
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My husband had to drive me, he had to help me out of the car.
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I could hardly move.
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I was shaking.
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And she basically said to me, Hey, um, it it'll probably get better over a couple of days, like heat, ice, rest.
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Uh, and she goes, but if you lose control of your bladder, um, call 911.
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But don't Google that, it'll freak you out.
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I'm like, oh my god.
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Okay, so I was thinking her needed at this then, but she didn't.
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Something's really wrong.
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Exactly.
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And I just again, I wanted to trust her, but um again, a lot of people that are listening to your podcast know there's not it.
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We run into more bad uh practitioners than good a lot of times, unfortunately.
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It's like so I think she kind of made the wrong call with like the relaxing of my pelvic floor and kind of really focusing on that rather than focusing on let's strengthen these other things first, and then that's kind of secondary.
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Um so yeah, so that was in January, and then it it kind of cycled where it would get a little bit better.
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So I was in bed for like two weeks straight, but then it would get a little bit better, and I'm like, okay, I think I'm okay.
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Um, and then like a week later, I'm like, I can't get out of bed again.
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And then it kind of followed that cycle until the end of May.
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And at the time, so I stopped seeing the pelvic floor PT.
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I was seeing a chiropractor at the time who was like, I don't think I can help you.
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Like, you've got to get an MRI, like you've got, we've got to figure something else out.
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And so um, when I got my MRI, it was like it was bad.
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It took the life out of me.
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I mean, and you've been there, so you know.
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And my kids were the baby was six months old.
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I was still breastfeeding at the time that I got hurt, and then eventually just had to stop because it just wasn't feasible.
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I mean, I could hardly move when he needed, you know, me to like maneuver around.
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So I had to stop breastfeeding sooner than I wanted to.
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Um, but then yeah, finally in May, I got the MRI and it was like, you probably need to see a neurosurgeon.
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And your chiropractor is telling you that or your your primary care.
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Yeah, primary care.
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Yeah.
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They said they literally said to me, um, basically, you kind of have two options.
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Either like you keep feeling like this, you're kind of risking nerve damage and um feeling like you know, it this is not getting better, clearly.
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We've been at this for January to May, five months or four months.
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Um, this isn't getting better, and we've got to look at other options.
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And I said, I don't want surgery.
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That is so scary.
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And so, um, and like I said, side note, my mom had multiple spine surgeries when she was actually about my age.
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I remember probably one of my earliest memories being her in a dark room coming home from surgery.
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My parents moved the bed right up next to their bathroom door so she could get to the bathroom and back.
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And I must have been like six.
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And so that just like haunted me.
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And I said, I'm gonna find someone that knows exactly what they're doing.
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And if they can't figure this out in a couple of weeks, like then I'll I'll I'll let me kick the can down the road a little bit more.
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And I will say I'm not against surgery, it just in that moment just really like shook me.
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You know, my memories of my mom too going through that, it just like shook me out of it.
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And so I went to I found a special physical therapist who was highly recommended.
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And again, you're scared to go because the last physical therapist didn't do a great job.
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And uh within like two sessions, he he just knew right up and just like got me on the right track.
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And I was like, I'm getting to give this a hundred percent.
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Okay.
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And everybody in my life had to agree to it too.
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You know what I mean?
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Like everybody had to be on board for this to work, and um and it worked.
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I mean, I you know, I'll stop here.
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This was the long-winded story.
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I did warn you about that, but um, yeah, I gave I I knew I was gonna give it a hundred percent if I was gonna do this, and um it was a lot, it was a lot on everybody, but I'm I'm so much better now.
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Even my like regular three to four chronic back pain stuff is also gone.
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So you would say you're at a zero, yeah.
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Pain wise, yeah.
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It was something I for sure probably needed.
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It's it was a long time coming.
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Do you remember how many months into physical physical therapy you you were able to say, I think this is working?
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It was like within two sessions.
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Oh my goodness.
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Yeah, and I say that also shout it from the rooftops, too.
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Like, if you and your physical therapist aren't vibing and you don't feel like it's on the right track, you should not be going for months.
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I mean, you give them literally like two or three sessions to see.
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I mean, I I wasn't a hundred percent better, but I was like 10% better by that third session.
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I realized I was sleeping deeper.
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And that was huge.
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Um, because you have to sleep to heal, and I wasn't sleeping, and so it was just like this, you know, vicious cycle.
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So, yeah, by that third session, I was already sleeping better.
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And so I you hear me say this on my TikTok all the time like give them two or three sessions and then feel free to fire your physical therapist.
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Please do not spend months going because yeah, then you're just you know in in worse shape sometimes after the and I feel like the herniated at disc world is uh inundated with try my low back program.
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There's this one or this PT or this chiropractor, or or how did you go about just choosing your physical therapist?
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Okay, so this is also a convoluted story, but my in-laws are retired physical therapists.
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Okay.
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And so they've been they now they their specialty was something different.
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Um, but they heard of this guy through uh just referrals.
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And so like it was a referral from someone to them to me.
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So like they kind of keep their finger, they've been retired for some time, but they keep their finger on the the pulse of what's going on in that world, and obviously they're still interested in, you know, corrective exercise and that sort of thing.
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So um it was like a referral from their world.
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And so even then, like that these are people that know me so well, they're like, we can't help you either, like we can't figure this out.
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And so um, yeah, he it was a a very specialized referral from him.
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But yeah, I went in there and I'm hypermobile, like I said.
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And he within five minutes was like, Let me check some things.
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He goes, I think you're hypermobile.
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And that was like music to my ears because nobody else had clocked that, or I had to tell them and they'd be like, Oh yeah, I know I work with hypermobile people.
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And it's like, oh, do you?
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Okay.
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Are you extra flexible?
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Like, can you do splits?
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And have you always been flexible all your life?
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Yes, yeah.
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And it was like fun party tricks when I was young, and then now it's like, oh my god, I'm first of all too stiff.
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And like it's hard when you have pain because like I can stretch, I don't need help stretching.
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Like, I it sometimes stretching is making it worse.
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So yeah, it was um, I don't even know where I was going with that.
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Just a referral over referral, but he knew right away.
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And yes, I've been I uh I did gymnastics and cheer growing up, so I was rewarded for being flexible and you know, now I'm paying for it.
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So then what did being a mom look like during these months of physical therapy?
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Um, I love this question, and there's not an easy answer.
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It was dark, it was really dark.
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Um, and like I said, I think about my mom because um my mom passed away when my first baby was just three months old.
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And so that's thank you.
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Um that's uh that's clouded a lot of this too.
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And like I said, with her surgery, like I watched her be in pain um and go through a lot, and that's every I just I thought about her so much in this.
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And I know that sounds I don't know how that sounds.
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That's she was like at the top of my mind of like, how did she do this?
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Every day I woke up thinking, like, how did she do this?
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She had four kids.
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Um, and yeah, I uh it was dark, it was really dark, it was tough to get through, it was mentally tough, and of course, like I was not the parent I wanted to be.
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And um again, that was like a big driving force too for me of like I've gotta get this figured out because this is not this can't can't go down this way.
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Yeah, yeah.
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What a source of strength she turned out to be for you through her experience.
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So you mean source of strength for me?
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Yeah, you looked at her and you were able to say, I need to be her.
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Yeah, big time.
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Yeah, that's just an amazing testament to how who your mom was.
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She was incredible.
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And so um, and she's from Philadelphia.
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I hear it.
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I can hear you.
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I know you said something about Philadelphia time earlier.
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I was like, I can hear it a little bit.
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They're from um like the Ridley area.
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Oh, yeah, I'm from I'm from Del.
00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.240
That's Delco.
00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:10.079
So Delco try and I try and clean up the the accent a little bit for no, because she lived in Kansas for 30 plus years and she still it was still water and everything.
00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.599
Yeah, still say water, coffee and talk and all that.
00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.480
Yeah, exactly.
00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:17.519
She was a Delphin girl, and she was so she was tough.
00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:19.039
Oh my gosh, she was tough.
00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.079
Um yeah.
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:26.720
But yeah, between you know that, like for sure, I um I thought about her every day.
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:39.440
And then, like I said, my husband, my family that um helped with the kids, because obviously they had to be on board too of taking care of the kids and then taking care of me.
00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:52.079
My husband for sure joined in on you, may see a video or two of him, but like he joined in on like helping me stretch, like he went to a few physical therapy sessions, and my doctorate showed him what to do at home.
00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:58.960
Um, so yeah, he got roped into a few things, but I I leave I don't know what I would have done without him, truly.
00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.680
Same.
00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:09.359
My husband was amazing, helping me and I and he had to do some embarrassing, for me, embarrassing things in the toilet and helping me in and out of the shower.
00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.559
And he he was my guest.
00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:12.799
Yes, there's sickness and health.
00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:16.400
I know, but while we're testing this out, very young.
00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:25.119
But I you know, people often talk about on the forums the mom guilt that they just can't get past.
00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:32.400
You're so used to putting your kids ahead of you, and now suddenly you're in a situation where you have to put yourself first.
00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.240
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:52.960
And like I said, I remember my mom with her like ish chronic issues and some of her health issues, and I can like speak from the child experience too, of having a parent that dealt with uh back injury and and spine surgery.
00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:58.000
It's like I only see my mom as like just incredible.
00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.039
Do you know what I mean?
00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:06.079
Like none of us kids look to some of the things we had to do to help my mom as uh a burden.
00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:11.119
So, but that that doesn't change that I felt guilty to my injury.
00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:19.839
Um, so I to the moms out there that are listening, like I I only look at my mom with with just so much love and respect.
00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:22.079
Like she was so tough to get through that.
00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:33.200
And so um if I could say the same and take my own advice, I don't know if I can, but uh yeah, the guilt for sure is big because it's like I'm not doing the things.
00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:38.400
And like I said, I we worked so hard to get a good breastfeeding relationship.
00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:47.200
Like he was premature in the NICU, we had to see lactation, we did all this stuff, and then it's like it's over so fast because I got hurt.
00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:50.799
So it was just I beat myself up about that for a long time.
00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:54.880
Do you mind if we talk about how did you get comfortable?
00:20:54.960 --> 00:21:01.920
Uh, were there any things that were useful to you trying to sleep or particular moves or anything like that?
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:10.640
So before I found the physical therapist that I was with, it was like I wasn't sleeping.
00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.200
Do you know?
00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:16.640
Like it was like very light, or I'd finally get comfortable, and then the baby would wake up.
00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:20.079
And that was like, ah, like that was the worst of me.
00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:30.799
Um, but yeah, I so once I figured out like where my herniation was, I've posted a few videos about this too, but like I literally had pillows everywhere.
00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:35.200
I would have like one pillow like rolled up on my side because that helped the most.
00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.880
And then I'd have like, you know, my pillow under my head and under here.
00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:43.440
But I've seen a lot of people do um like the pregnancy pillows.
00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:48.720
And I'm like, I probably should have like not got rid of my pregnancy pillows because that would have about done it.
00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:55.200
But um, yeah, it was like me and a bunch of pillows, and then I had um like lumbar support in the car.
00:21:55.359 --> 00:22:06.079
Uh and again, at the height of like my nerve pain, it Was really like me sitting in the car, like squeeze, like grilling my teeth, like, oh my god, like don't hit a bump.
00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.240
It makes you scared to do anything.
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:16.079
Like I all I could see anytime we got the car was if we get in a wreck, like my back is toast.
00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.960
You know what I mean?
00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.559
And I'm sure you went through that too.
00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.920
Like when you have surgery, too, that's so scary.
00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:30.880
Um, but yeah, I to answer your question, there was a lot of little things, but I think a lot of just like lumbar support.
00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:34.640
Um, and then of course, like it was just me in comfy clothes.
00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.519
Like, I hardly left my pajamas most of the time.
00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:40.720
So I'm sure you know you know that too.
00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.359
Oh, yeah.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:47.599
I lived in uh pajama dresses, yes, yeah, made going to the bathroom so much easier.
00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.880
Yeah, my um father-in-law was teasing me about my pajamas.
00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:54.240
I was like, okay, it's a Hugh Hefner thing, all right?
00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.839
Like, is it cool?
00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.920
Like he made pajamas during the day, you know, famous.
00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:11.200
So did you when you saw the neurosurgeon, did he make you feel like surgery was the only answer, or did he give you like some encouragement towards physical therapy?
00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:14.319
No, so I never saw an actual neurosurgeon.
00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:14.960
Oh, okay.
00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:22.160
I went to my primary care doctor, and um, they were the ones that pushed me to get the MRI.
00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:27.039
Because in my brain, I just kept trying to kick the can down the road.
00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:32.799
So I was like, let me just try this, let me give it a couple more weeks, let me just see how this does.
00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.160
Because I was so scared.
00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:40.400
And then my primary care was the one that was like, let's get we need to get an MRI to see what's going on.
00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:47.039
And I was like, Well, if I get an MRI, it's not gonna change anything because I don't think I want to do surgery.
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.559
He's like, We still have to see.
00:23:48.640 --> 00:24:01.680
And then when he saw it, he was like, Holy crap, okay, here are your options, and like this is really because then what happens too for a lot of people is like you're looking at actual like permanent nerve damage sometimes.
00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:03.680
And when he said that, I was like, Oh my god.
00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:21.839
But yeah, he basically said it's kind of either or, but like, we're not, you're not leaving my office today without a plan to figure this out, and that's when we were like, let's dig into find out who this physical therapist is, um, give him a couple of weeks, and then we'll go that route.
00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:26.960
But it was like right there, and then like I said, I found him a couple weeks later already doing better.
00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:29.279
Okay, uh very fast.
00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:34.240
And then you said uh when you were younger, you got some quartisone injections, correct?
00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:34.640
Yes.
00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:37.119
Did you try them after your herniation?
00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:47.599
No, no, and I I feel like I maybe should have, um, just to kind of let like take the edge off a little bit.
00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:57.599
But I also, and I I know a lot of people in pain know what I mean when I say this, but it's like it's just so exhausting to even pick up the phone.
00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:09.359
And so the thought of I'm gonna have to go in, like get a referral, go through this process, and then like wait three weeks for an appointment.
00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:12.000
I just kept thinking if I wait three weeks, I'll feel better.
00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.960
Do you know what I mean?
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:15.759
So, no, I didn't do any injections this time.
00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:23.039
I did like obviously like Tylenol um and ibuprofen a lot, which makes me feel awful now.
00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:28.720
Like it hurts my stomach to think about how much I was taking, but um, that was the big thing.
00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:33.279
Then it was literally that, and then like heat and ice until I got to that physical therapist.
00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.000
Oh, okay.
00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:41.759
Yeah, I got I had one cortisone injection done, and I think it helped for about two weeks and then right back.
00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:46.160
Yes, I didn't like how I felt and my legs swelled from it.
00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.440
Oh my gosh.
00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.480
Well, that's okay.
00:25:48.640 --> 00:26:03.519
So when I did get them done, and mind you, I was like 20 years old and um still like fairly thin, but I think that kicked off some of my weight gain too in my early 20s because I remember it was like I ballooned up so fast after that.
00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:09.680
So I think that also maybe it's a little bit of a vain reason, but that was part of the reason I wanted to avoid them this time.
00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:15.920
I was like, I can't be, you know, I'm postpartum, like I can't gain any more weight, I can't go through that.
00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.799
But yeah, you're right.
00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.599
I hear that too.
00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.519
Like it's so short-lived sometimes.
00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:30.960
It's like, well, if you're gonna have to go, and I kind of thought of it that way too of like if we're doing surgery or if that's really what's on the table here, then let me just, you know, skip that this time.
00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.599
Yeah.
00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.720
But I do think it can be helpful, like to be fair.
00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:38.160
I know for some people they're great, but I just didn't want to go down that that route.
00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.519
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:46.799
I uh I had the one done, and then when the pain came back two weeks later, uh I was just like, ah, I think we're a lot of surgery.
00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:54.240
I was out of work and unpaid, and uh we were in need of my paycheck.
00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:58.960
So yeah, I just thought we get surgery, yeah, get this done.
00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:01.519
Yeah, because where where was your herniation?
00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.640
It was your lower back.
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:05.599
L5 F S1.
00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.880
L5 S1.
00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:11.119
So one lower, but yeah, that's like yeah, couldn't move.
00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:15.279
Yeah, your legs are not moving, my toe, I couldn't wiggle my toes.
00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:21.200
So it that nerve, that hitting hitting that nerve like will take you all the way out.
00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:24.880
And like you said, my husband had to help me to the bathroom and stuff a few times.
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.960
So yeah, lucky him.
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:33.839
So after your first two physical therapy sessions, you started to feel a difference.
00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:37.279
Do you remember when you got to pain-free?
00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:49.680
I would say that came like six, that really was probably six months um of like consistent work.
00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:55.599
But I knew like I that I was on the right track within about two or three sessions.
00:27:55.759 --> 00:28:08.319
And that's what, like I say, I I'll shout that from the rooftops because um people, I'll get on my soapbox for one second, but people will get hurt uh herniation and they will be told, hey, call the physical therapist.
00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:15.839
The physical therapist will look down and be like, oh yeah, for L-5 herniation, we normally do this many sessions, let's book them all out.
00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:25.279
And then people start going and they're like, this isn't really working, but I kind of feel guilty because we're already booked out for, you know, so it's like, my please fire your PT.
00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:35.359
Like if if you're not feeling better, because um, yeah, I think within a couple of sessions, they should have an idea of what's going on, and you should be seeing some level of relief within a few sessions.
00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:45.279
But yeah, I would say like totally pain-free, back to my normal, like picking up my kids and carrying groceries in and just again very basic things.
00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:48.559
But when I got back to normal, was probably about six months in.
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:55.920
So, like I remember like September being about when I was like, okay, like I can kind of do whatever I want now.
00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:59.440
Um, so that did that part did take a little bit longer.
00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:03.200
I noticed you have a TikTok post showing your you're lean.
00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:07.119
Yes, yeah, I had one of those sideways.
00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:12.400
Yeah, I didn't realize it until the physical therapist pointed it out.
00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:14.720
Yeah, he was like, Yeah, go stand in front of the mirror.
00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.839
And I was like, Oh my gosh.
00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.920
Away off, yeah.
00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:32.720
And I noticed too, like, even now, I'll start to feel like what I call like feeling twisty, because I had, and I guess with S1, you're you're close, but like um uh uh SI joint issue, too.
00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:39.920
So like my SI joint was also off, which I guess kind of does go hand in hand according to my PT with the herniations.
00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:44.960
He was like a lot of times if your SI joint is off, like even decompression will hurt.
00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:52.000
And so I try to share that stuff on my TikTok too, of like, that's what he shared with me, and that makes a lot of sense for like my situation.
00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:57.359
But a lot of people who are walking sideways, it could just be your like you're kind of guarding.
00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:02.720
So you just have to find somebody that knows what what they're looking at when they make that call.
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:06.799
Uh, I saw you doing some decompression at home.
00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:09.119
Do you mind explaining how you do that?
00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.319
Yes, okay.
00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:13.200
So I love decompression and I don't know.
00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:18.480
Are you able to do now after your surgery decompression, or do they tell you to avoid it?
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.519
No, I can do it.
00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.000
Okay.
00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:26.480
I was gonna say, I like decompression now, but um, when I was really hurt, it hurt.
00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:28.480
It was like too much.
00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:33.359
And some people will be like, oh yeah, I have an um inversion table at home.
00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:37.200
I'm like, okay, let's pump the brakes here that might be like a little much.
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:44.160
So the video that I posted is like me like dangling off my sink, just like letting my hips drop and like holding myself up.
00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:46.480
But um, yeah, that feels good.
00:30:46.559 --> 00:31:01.279
I would say if you're like at the very beginning of your herniation, um, just rolling up a, you know, a towel or something under your back and laying can also provide a little bit of decompression without it being, you know, too much or or hard to get back from.
00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.160
Do you know what I mean?
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:04.319
Like you still have to be able to move after this.
00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:08.160
So um, but yeah, I posted that and uh I was just dangling off my sink.
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.039
I'm like, you know what?
00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:13.599
Every everywhere I look now is like uh gym equipment.
00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:16.960
Like, so if it's your kitchen sink, that works too.
00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.400
But yeah, decompression.
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:25.279
Um if it's if you're herniated and decompression feels really good, you probably do have like a straightforward herniation.
00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:34.079
If decompression doesn't feel good, then you might be looking at like an SI joint or so, like if you're walking sideways, it could be your SI joint is off too.
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:39.519
Um, because decompression should feel good if you're herniated, but it can be a little tricky.
00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:42.960
Uh the house we were living in when I got hurt, we had a pool.
00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:46.480
So I would just dangle in the water and lit my legs.
00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:49.200
It's the best thing that is so nice.
00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.160
Yeah, last summer.
00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:53.759
Well, we do it's our neighborhood pool, but last summer that's all.
00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:57.119
I and it stinks kind of getting out.
00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.160
Do you remember that?
00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:02.720
Like getting out oh now I have all my weight back, all the weight back on.
00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.279
Yep.
00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.200
You gotta be careful getting out.
00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.079
Yeah.
00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:14.319
Oh, any other uh tips that you would give someone who is currently in this midst of this injury?
00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:29.200
Yeah, so I have a lot of tips, but first is when you are looking for a physical therapist, do not be afraid to ask a ton of questions.
00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.640
And I'm sure you did that too.
00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:38.480
Like when you find a surgeon, like I'm going to annoy you with questions because this is my my life is on the line here.
00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:42.640
Um, so don't feel bad, don't feel guilty being annoying with questions.
00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:51.680
Do not feel bad firing the doctors that aren't helping you because this is such again, this is a crucial part of your life.
00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:54.960
This has to go right so you can keep living your life.
00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:57.680
So um you've got to find the best doctors.
00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:12.640
And and even if it's exhausting, and I would love to tell myself this too, but like it, even if it's exhausting, you still have to like pick up the phone and dig in and find people that you, you know, vibe well with and that people who who understand what's going on.
00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:17.920
Um, that's first and foremost, like finding good practitioners that get it.
00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:23.680
Um, and then I think number two is like strength, building strength.
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:28.640
Um, that for me truly was what like changed my life.
00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:32.240
And not like going to the gym and lifting heavy weights.
00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:39.440
I would say more like corrective exercise type of strength, but like getting my core back engaged, getting my glutes engaged.
00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:46.480
I've shown videos before of like sometimes it's just sitting here, but like squeezing my glutes just to like wake them up.
00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.200
That's all.
00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:51.599
It does not have to be like going to the gym, pumping iron, and that sort of thing.
00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:57.599
When I say strength, I feel like it's just simply maybe muscle activation is a better way to describe it.
00:33:57.839 --> 00:34:02.240
But that, and then um just be easy on yourself.
00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:05.839
Like this is absolutely life-changing.
00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:08.239
It's lonely, it's scary.
00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:13.840
Um, and even to this day, I have so much fear, and I'm sure you do too.
00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:18.239
Like, once you've experienced that, it's like life-changing.
00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:23.119
I um, you know, some people tell me they're like afraid to sneeze.
00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:30.000
I was afraid to like get a stomach bug, uh, or my kids bring something home because I was like, if I get sick, it's over.
00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:42.000
So um, but yeah, I think those are kind of my top top three is you've got to get stronger, you've got to find a good, good practitioner, good doctors, and then yeah, be easy on yourself.
00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:43.360
It's it's hard.
00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:46.559
Did your physical therapist give you any kind of timeline?
00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:52.239
Like, if you don't see improvements in so many months, you should consider surgery.
00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:52.960
Yes.
00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:57.519
And my physical therapist is very he he's awesome.
00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:02.400
And he worked at he trained at the Mayo Clinic, he's done this for a lot of people.
00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:08.639
And in his opinion, too, he was like, we should know we're on the right track in a couple of sessions.
00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:08.960
Okay.
00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:16.159
Because with like your nerve, if you can't get that pressure off of your nerve, like what are we doing?
00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:21.679
We have to figure this nerve thing out because we're looking at possible nerve, permanent nerve damage.
00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:24.559
And so that's very serious that we can't come back from.
00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:31.360
So even he would agree, it's uh it's a couple of sessions, and then we need to know, okay, which direction are we going?
00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:42.880
And he, you you could look him up, but um, he also would say the same thing like we've got to kind of, you know, shitter it off the pod because you're in real pain.
00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:45.519
And uh he like he's so different.
00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:47.119
I'm so glad that I found him.
00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:55.840
But yeah, he's like, I that that's my goal is like we've got to get this moving because this is impacting your whole life, and we have to make a decision here on surgery or not.
00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:06.239
And so I think he would also say the same thing, and I would say the same thing, and not everybody's the same, but I would say you should know if you're on the right track within, I would say, like a couple of weeks.
00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:09.440
Like it you we shouldn't be waiting months uh in pain.
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.719
Yeah.
00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:13.119
So now we're past the year past a year, right?
00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:14.880
You said January 25.
00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:19.199
Yes, yeah, and I found my physical therapist in May of 25.
00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:23.119
So I'm coming up on a year of discovering him, but yeah, exactly.
00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:26.000
It's uh January was the start of my injury.
00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:26.639
Yeah.
00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:38.079
I after my surgery, I lived with the fear of reherniation at the front of my brain for probably a year after, and then you slowly start to forget about it.
00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:42.079
Yeah, how are you doing in that realm?
00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:45.519
Oh, well, I've not forgotten, that's for sure.
00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:55.920
Not there yet, but yes, I I can see that, and that's why um I wanted to post when I started posting, I wanted to post in real time.
00:36:56.559 --> 00:37:03.039
I am maybe guilty of waiting for things to be kind of tied up before I start sharing about them.
00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:07.519
And with this, I was like, I want to share as I'm going through it.
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:11.920
So I've got videos, I interviewed my KT, like when I was still seeing him.
00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:15.280
Um, so I've not forgotten.
00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:16.480
That's a short answer.
00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:18.559
But how am I dealing with the fear?
00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:24.800
I mean, I think it comes and goes, I think it depends, but I've done a lot in the last few months to really like face my fears.
00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:29.920
Like I went on my first plane ride since my injury, and it was like five.
00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:31.440
I'm like, hey, you know what?
00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:33.360
Great, that was great.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:42.400
Um, I will say I have gotten and gotten over my first stomach bug since getting better and I survived.
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:45.760
Yeah, um, I'm able to sneeze now in peace.
00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:52.880
Um, but yeah, I I think it it I can see that I can see a year from now having totally forgot about this.
00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:57.679
But like right now, I still feel myself like, you know, there's still a little bit of fear there.
00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:01.920
So I actually woke up from surgery throwing up.
00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:09.199
So they rolled me out of the surgery room, and just a couple of minutes later I said, uh, I'm gonna throw up.
00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:12.559
And of course, you think I'm gonna pop.
00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.679
But I did not rehearn you.
00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:16.960
But you survived.
00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:17.440
Yes.
00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:18.000
Wow.
00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:20.880
Did you wake up like your nerve pain was gone?
00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:22.320
Mine was not.
00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:23.360
Oh, really?
00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:33.039
Yeah, I had a little bit of a complication that some people get where my um my disc was glued to the spinal cord with scar tissue.
00:38:33.360 --> 00:38:35.679
Okay, and they couldn't remove it all.
00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:39.920
So there's still a chunk of herniated disc on my nerve.
00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:42.639
Uh, so technically I'm still pinched.
00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:49.039
Uh, they did the laminectomy as well, the bone removal to kind of to give my nerve freedom of movement.
00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:49.760
Yes.
00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:56.639
But yeah, for the first six months, I I thought it was a waste of time, the surgery, but it slowly got better.
00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.360
Yes.
00:38:57.519 --> 00:39:02.800
And that's the thing with nerves, is like, first of all, I did not know that was an option.
00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:07.039
Um, that we could leave a little bit there, but that's kind of crazy.
00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:08.000
See what I mean?
00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:10.000
That's that's me with my medical stuff.
00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:13.440
Is like if there's like a 1% chance, like it's it's gonna be me.
00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:15.840
Um, and it sounds like you're that you're like that too.
00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:19.280
It's like you're the weird one percent person that got that.
00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:23.920
Um, but yeah, nerves are funny, and nerves it it's exactly that.
00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:29.280
Like it can take a few months after surgery for your nerve to be like, oh no, I'm fine and get moving.
00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:33.920
Were you able to strengthen your core after having a C-section?
00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:35.199
Yes, yeah.
00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:44.639
I actually am way better now, but even back then, some of my exercises were like wall planks.
00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:52.320
So, like literally just leaning against the wall and just like waiting for my core to kind of wake back up.
00:39:52.639 --> 00:40:09.360
Um, I don't know if you're familiar with the McGill Big Three, but that is also again very like you can do it in bed, but you're just laying there and you lift one leg and you kind of lift your chin to kind of get your core like waking up and talking back to your brain again.
00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:12.079
Um, now my core is great.
00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:14.480
Um, but yeah, it it took a while.
00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:15.920
That was probably the last thing.
00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:20.559
I mean, that my glutes are just took a little while to wake back up.
00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:25.119
Did you ever come across the Bob and Brad physical therapist on YouTube?
00:40:25.679 --> 00:40:26.559
No, okay.
00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:30.400
Two physical therapists have a YouTube channel.
00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:36.559
They have an uh video called Seven Bed Exercises to do after a laminectomy.
00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:41.199
Uh, and it's a video I wish I had seen while I was injured.
00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:41.599
Yeah.
00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:44.639
Just to keep your low back muscles moving.
00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:47.760
The my best way of describing it is muscle activation.
00:40:47.840 --> 00:41:00.159
But if you can wake up, like your core, your glutes, your all these other muscles, then your back and the the muscles on your back are like, oh, I can relax for a second because everybody else is working.
00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:03.199
Um but yeah, I it's probably for you too.
00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:07.599
It's like that's immediately my thought is am I rehear am I re-herniated?
00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:10.079
And that fear is still there for me.
00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:12.400
Um, sometimes too, of like, uh oh.
00:41:12.719 --> 00:41:13.280
Yeah.
00:41:13.519 --> 00:41:29.199
Uh what people don't realize is that with physical therapy, you are trying to strengthen not just your spinal muscles, but also your supporting muscles, like your butt and your abs, your thighs, everything works together to support your spine.
00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:31.360
Exactly.
00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:33.360
Yeah, that's what I realize too.
00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:43.599
And that's why I say it's like muscle activation more than I think I use the term strength training, and people immediately think like weights in a gym, but I think I need to use muscle activation more.
00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:48.480
Do you have anything else that you think is important for you to share?
00:41:49.280 --> 00:42:00.559
Well, I mean, follow my page and follow my story because I'm always talking and always sharing in real time, um, like how you know what's going on and what my thoughts are.
00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:05.360
But yeah, you'll hear me say it muscle activation, find good practitioners.
00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:18.480
And uh, you know, there's some lifestyle changes, no matter what you decide to do, if it's surgery, if it's injections, even if it's payments, that all of that, even physical therapy, these are all kind of temporary things.
00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:30.239
But then when you go home, that's when you have to make the right choices, and that's when you have to really focus on just changing your habits and changing your lifestyle so you don't get re-injured again.
00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:32.719
And what is your TikTok account again?
00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:34.719
Sorta wellness.
00:42:38.079 --> 00:42:40.159
So I love a sorta wellness.
00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:48.320
Oh, Katie, I want to thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule, out of your mom's schedule to come talk to us on Bed Back and Beyond.
00:42:48.639 --> 00:42:50.719
I'm thank you so much for inviting me.
00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:53.599
And like I said, I I will talk about this.
00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:57.199
I could talk about it till the end, you know, two weeks from now.
00:42:57.280 --> 00:42:58.480
We would still be talking.
00:42:58.559 --> 00:43:00.400
So I love that you invited me on.