How I Recovered from Chronic Back Pain

The best argument for any product is based on personnel experience. This is the story of how I used the Nautilus lower back machine to overcome chronic back pain.

In the late eighties I had a serious back problem, as I could not even sit on a chair without getting debilitating back pain. I went to see a doctor, tried to improve my posture and completed stretching exercises at home. All these efforts had little effect and I continued to live in severe pain until I was introduced to the Nautilus lower back exercise machine.

Each individual is responsible for their own health care. We live in a society that seems to believe the exact opposite. Doctors are seen as all-knowing bastions of health related wisdom who are just about infallible, and always give us the best available treatments money can buy. I learned the hard way that this is not not always true. When President Carter's former chief of staff, Hamilton Jordan, was battling cancer he advised everyone to take command of their health care, as there is no guarantee that you will receive the best possible treatment.

Although I never met Mr. Jordan, I learned a great deal from the man. Just as he took control of his health care when battling cancer, I had to take control of my health care when I was suffering from chronic back pain. I was treated by an orthopedic surgeon who sent me to a physical therapist, sold me a back support to help when sitting down, and gave me some back muscle stretching exercises to do at night. These treatment helped a little bit, but the chronic pain continued. The nurse at the building where I worked brought in a physical trainer who I was eager to talk to. He gave me a weight lifting program to go along with my muscle stretching exercises.

The trainer' s program consisted of stretching exercises which I did on a mat on the floor, riding a stationary bike and exercising on the Nautilus lower back machine. The trainer told me the key to success on the Nautilus machine was to use a lot of weight and to exercise slowly. The Nautilus lower back consists of a padded bar which is attached to weights. I sat on a chair with my back slanted forward and the padded bar behind my back. I had to continually raise and lower my back in a very slow up and down motion. I completed three sets of fifteen repetitions and I exercised three times a week.

After completing this exercise program for about six months my back was completely rehabilitated. I was completely pain free and able to live the life of a normal healthy person.

From talking to the trainer and from doing some of my own research I discovered the problem. My muscles where too short and too weak to support my back. I had to combine the stretching exercises with the weight lifting to build the bulk, size, and flexibility of my back muscles so they could support me. This program led to my recovery and the end of my back pain. My doctor either did not know this or did not bother to tell me. If I relied totally on my doctor, I would have suffered with back pain for the rest of my life.

You may be in a similar situation. If you are not totally satisfied with your health care, then remember that you are in command and responsible for your health care. Take the ball and run with it. Do research on the Internet, read books from the library, talk to as many health care professionals as you can. Many insurance companies offer a toll free telephone number so you can talk to a health care professional for free. Take advantage of this opportunity if it is available to you.