Case history: nursing herself back to health
Greta, a 41-year-old nurse, works on a surgical floor at a hospital in Indiana. Her doctor diagnosed her with lumbar radiculitis, meaning she had inflammation of a lumbar nerve root. She had lower back pain as well as leg pain going all the way to her heel. Greta had these symptoms for six months and they were getting worse. She had suffered no injury and had no idea why she had back pain.
The symptoms had begun in her left buttock. Her lower back pain was constant and her leg symptoms intermittent. She had limited range of motion in the back. She was unable to sit for long periods and unable to sleep through the night.
Using McKenzie postural techniques, including the use of a lumbar roll and the “slouch-over-correct” exercise, Greta was able to sit more comfortably and for longer periods. She also benefitted from Back Exercise 3, Extension in Lying. This greatly reduced her leg symptoms.
A week after starting with the McKenzie Method, Greta’s symptoms had centralized, so that they were only in the left buttock. That is, her leg pain was completely gone. She was able to sleep through the night. She had improved range of motion in the lumbar spine.
About 10 days later, she progressed to Flex-ion in Lying (Back Exercise 5) but kept up with Back Exercise 3 as well. A week later, Greta had no symptoms and full range of motion. She progressed to Flexion in Standing (Back Exercise 7) instead of in lying down, and kept up with Extension in Lying. She remains pain-free.
