This was the year he finished his secondary school and was working as a banquet waiter. On one night, with little rest, he was carrying crazy amount of empty dishes back to the kitchen when it happened. He heard a POP on his lower back and could no longer work that day. He rested for the rest of his holidays to recuperate and get ready for school. It took him 6 months before he stop feeling any pain on the back.
Not feeling any pain or discomfort from his last injury, he did not declare his injury because he was afraid this will affect the posting of his vocation. After completing his basic military training, he was selected for the officer cadet school and was aspired to join the army. Little did he know that the training was lot tougher and he was required to carry heavy loads. His lower back snapped once more.
That was what the doctors said. On top of that, I was asked to limit any explosive movements. That also means that I cannot be playing any more sports. The MRI I took showed slipped disc on my L4 and L5, and it could continue to worsen if I am not careful.
I couldn’t believe my ears because I was still so young. I have another 40-50 years ahead of me. I set out to find my answer.
I did not know what I should look for in the first place. I started looking everywhere but in the end started to see a pattern and in the end revolve around a few words.
I wanted not just pain management, I wanted to go beyond. And it’s also the ability to stay strong and not be injured again.
Being graduate doesn’t bring me anywhere. Because the field has only started to grow, there were limited job opportunities. I got lucky to work with a reputable sports medicine physician, whom I also regard as my mentor. That was when knowledge meet experience.
I knew I needed to practice as much as I could so it would take me lesser time to get to where I wanted.
This was also the time I re-learnt about my own condition and treated myself.
The ‘old’ injury still persist because no one actually got to the root of my problem. I finally got myself out.
I understand how it feels because no one wants to be in pain. Whether you are an athlete, weekend warrior, homemaker, entrepreneur, business owner, banker, engineer, accountant….. IT DOES NOT MATTER.
If you are in pain, let’s get to the root of problem. Your musculoskeletal (muscle and bone) system and function is affected. It could be your posture, your mechanics, your habit, your lifestyle, and there could be many other more reasons.
Take the ownership to bring health back to yourself because no one deserves to be in pain. I did it. Now it’s your turn.
I do not believe in living in pain. Even if you can endure the pain, it does not mean you should. The initial problem may escalate and manifest into many other problems.
Now that I know what the root of the problem could be, I want to help more fitness enthusiast like myself to get to the root of the pain.
From here on, it is the achievement of a painless, functional, and stronger body to perform.