Question
In 1984 while standing on a 6 foot stump I was hit with a 100 foot log around the right hip area. Imagine a bat hitting a baseball. I was off work for 4 month,s. In 1991,1992 my back started hurting while I was twisting and lifting a bath tub. I went and got a MRI and found out I had a old 25% wedge fracture at T12/L1. I have had severe to mild back pain at that area for 15 years now. After 12 to 13 years like I said in my last email, I started to get severe nerve pain, then the muscle spasms started. I have had every type of med, 13 years of chiro, tons of massage, and been to 2 pain clinics. I still get worse with movement, even in light pool therapy I start getting muscle spasms. The burning pain in my left butt happens sitting and sleeping. When moving the pain shoots around from T12 to my rightside rib area and also into my right testicle. Thats also the side I have the muscle spasms on. My personal care is suffering also because I cannot twist or bend at the T12 area, it seems to be stuck. My back also hurts more when I try to stand up straight or suck in my tummy. I get sharp small pains with very little back movement. Sneezing and coughing are excruciating painful. I also suffer from depression. I hope this explains my injury a little better. I did read up on the information you gave me and it was helpful. It,s just that I have tried everything , even trying to pretend I was a different person to get rid of the pain, but it is always there driving me nuts. Any advise of whats wrong I would greatly appreciate. Thanks Again. Milton Coulombe

Answer
Hi, Milton.

What's wrong is that you have chronic Trauma Reflex activity -- muscular contractions set into action by the pain and shock of your injuries.

Please read my article, Completing Your Recovery from an Injury at somatics.com/page4b.htm -- or get the book, Somatics, by Thomas Hanna (see amazon.com).  Then, act upon what you learn from your reading!

None of the methods you have tried duplicate what happens in sessions of somatic education.  You haven't tried "everything" because you haven't tried somatic education!

Let me know how it goes.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold