Here’s Something About Me You Probably Don’t Know
May 3, 2011 
17 Comments
I want to share something really personal with all of you today. I’m going to share a side of me that many of you don’t know and would not expect.
I sometimes feel like I’m 98½ years old. I have a blown disc around L4-L5. Fragments kind of came out, and I have been trying to heal it on my own.
The thing about trying to heal something like this on your own, is that you have good days and bad days. Lately, I’ve had a few bad days in a row where my back totally tightened up on me.
I don’t know how it happened. I literally was just walking (like the little guy in the movie Up), and it just locked up. I crunched over, slow as can be, in pain.
I’ve tried massage, acupuncture, hot baths, and ice pads. Nothing worked.
The other night I had to go out when my back was out, and I decided to get some Indian food. I walked into the restaurant really slowly, and everyone in the restaurant was watching me walk completely hunched over.
Of course I started thinking to myself, “Man I don’t want anybody seeing me like this.” I started getting in my head.
Does this sound familiar to any of you — getting inside your head? As this was happening to me and I was having those thoughts about not wanting people to see me like that, it made me think about so many of my clients.
Back Pain Sucks
I always preach to my clients that they need to stop worrying about what other people think. It’s not important. I tell them to love yourself, respect yourself, walk with pride and talk people with pride.
So I walked right into the restaurant hunched over like the little guy from Up, and got my food — all the while letting people look at me. Then I walked into Walgreen’s and did the same thing. I didn’t care what people thought.
What I realized is a very powerful feeling, because that experience allowed me to get deeper inside some of you and what you experience. That really helps me coach you even better and help you even more.
My back going out made me realize something else too. It has made me appreciate the little things in life — things like walking, being able to sneeze without hurting and, most importantly, being able to get up when I’m sitting on the toilet. It’s the small things in life that you take for granted, until your back goes out and you really, really learn to appreciate them!
nicely said and so true..
btw- start going to a swimming pool…swimming will help your back.
Dave,
GREAT POST! I’ve been a fan of yours for years! I wanted to leave a bit of advice for you since I work on spines and have since I was 21 years old. I’m a chiropractor and (as you can guess) promote my profession: I hope you have a good chiropractor. But, don’t rely on one treatment alone! Use all those different treatments together, even drugs when needed (yeah, there is times when that pain is just toooooooo much to handle without good old fashioned drugs). Keep your skeleton in as good a shape as possible with ALL those different treatments. That is the most effective thing you can do! Sure there will still be good and bad days, but the bad days will be less and when they hit they won’t be as painful! I know about the fragmented discs, they heal slowly if at all. So my sympathies and admirations to you, dude! If I can be of help, just let me know! And thanks for the great advice over the years!!
BIG AL
Have you gone to the doctor about this?
Dave, Have you tried Egoscue Method?
Just a thought.
I haven’t used it myself but know people who swear by it after having long term bad back pain.
There’s also a chapter somewhere in Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Body illustrating a couple of Egoscue’s basic exercises and stretches – you could probably flip through it at Barnes & Noble if you’re at all interested.
Sorry to hear that, David.
Eddie
I go to Egoscue everyday.
Just started about 6 weeks ago and it has really helped!
Al
I do it all.
Chiro..accupuncture..workout.
And man do they heal slow it at all:)
I hear you on that!!!
I have been doing Egoscue, been the best thing i have done.
I can relate to alot of what you said, once you decide to stop caring about what others think you get a powerful feeling, not only that but your real personality comes out.
It kinda looks like the best way out of your back pain is to get surgery; all the technology they have today could take care of about any problem. Iv’e heard that doctors can replace bone discs with plactic bone shaped discs and they work like a charm.
Hang in there David
@David: that’s why you have my respect! Especially to the fact that you’re always thinking about us and what our experiences are like. Having a good grasp on this… getting inside your own head can be brutal if you let it get to you.
Real men know they’re human and have no reason to mask it, they embrace it. I hope you get better and heal!
David I hope your back heals up and starts feeling better. It’s so important to take care of our bodies. When something isn’t feeling right, it can cause everything else inside us to magnify that feeling of pain. It’s great you can take a negative experience and turn it into a positive lesson. That’s your gift man.
I read your posts daily and this is one of the strongest posts that I have read on your website. This post really resonates with me because it showcases that we all –even David Wygant — can succumb to the monkey chatter that causes one to “get in their mind” and out of their bodies — thereby killing one’s energy and magnetism.
The pain and stiffness that you experience with your back has the tendency to cause you to “get into your head.” What a fantastic example, since everyone has a physical trait that they perceive as a shortcoming — be it shortness, baldness, fatness, etc.
I learned a great deal from this post. Great job.
Awesome David, I hope you recover soon. Have you checked out resources by Stuart McGill?
I knew a guy that slipped a disk in his lower back while doing heavy leg presses. He said that his recovery was largely due to following what McGill teaches.
Hey David sorry about your back issues. I love how you still stand strong, well kind of. Hah well I am no doctor or chiropractor but I found something very interesting on how to make your core stronger and I believe might help out your back. Google search: vacuum exercise and look at the YouTube video. What it does is tighten your core and tighten everything in. I dont know if it will help in your case but take a look.
Bryce
Also the more helpful video is by the guy: Elliot. Good luck!
David, my mother suffered from slip disc.Though she did not find permanent cure, she’s able to get on everyday with mild pain, by practicing yoga, which strengthens your spine ( please do it under the guidance of a yoga teacher who knows how to handle slip disc problems ). I highly recommend it.
And, know what ? can’t thank you enough for your great blog.
I’d REALLY recommend reading the MindBody Prescription by John Sarno. His approach completely cured me of my back pains and I’ve since recommended it to friends who have had the same results. Like you I tried everything but this was the one resource that really came through for me.
Hey FRankie
THat is one that I dont know….
I will grab that book.