My pain isn’t getting better, no matter what I do! Marianne Richmond thought to herself as she tried to stand at her desk, frustrated and saddened by how much her back pain and sciatica were negatively affecting her daily life.
I wish there was another answer for me besides surgery, but what can I do to relieve my agony?
Marianne had first noticed the persistent pain after a long flight from a yoga retreat in 2019. She brushed it off, blaming it on prolonged sitting, but the pain worsened, radiating from her lower back through her hip and down her leg.
An orthopedist told her she had sciatica (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) and lower spine instability. But even with physical therapy, pain medication, chiropractic care, steroid injections, lumbar support pillows, a standing desk and exercise, Marianne was still suffering.
The last straw was her visit to a neurosurgeon, who told her she needed spinal fusion surgery.
What if this isn’t the right thing?
Marianne worried, her discomfort with her upcoming surgery growing by the day.
A surprising answer
This story is from the May 29, 2023 edition of Woman's World.
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This story is from the May 29, 2023 edition of Woman's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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