Pain Free by Peter Egoscue

I suffered from chronic back for pain most of my adult life and earlier – ever since my growth spurt in 7th grade when I grew six inches in a period of a few months. I have mild scoliosis to the right and am five feet, ten inches tall (179 cm). I have gone to chiropractors and massage therapists over the years to lessen the pain. Although chiropractic definitely has helped me with periods of acute pain and massage has many benefits that I enjoy, mostly they only provided short-term relief from my chronic back pain. Before I discovered Reiki, I discovered Peter Egoscue’s book, Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain.

Peter’s story is inspirational. In short, as an injured Marine he realized that if did not move, he would die. He developed exercises that restored proper balance to the body. His theory is that when the body is out of proper alignment, we overcompensate and cause havoc on our systems. Restoring correct posture eliminates the stress and alleviates pain. Have you ever been told that one leg is longer than the other? Well, it may be just that your hips are out of whack.

While most chronic pain treatment methods only address symptoms or try to deaden or mask pain, Egoscue corrects the postural issues that are at the root of your ongoing discomfort. From The Egoscue Method website, “What is Egoscue?”

I have always believed in the body’s ability to heal itself. I also believe that health is a wholistic process. As much as I love Reiki and believe in its ability to enact deep and profound healing, it doesn’t mean I can sit around all day eating cheeseburgers and expect to enjoy optimal health! Lifestyle and exercise are important components in how we feel and our ability to live life to the fullest.

The book, Pain Free, provides you with series of exercises to correct your posture. You can choose the series of exercises depending on where you are experiencing pain or go through them systematically. Because I had widespread chronic pain, not just in my back, I didn’t know where I should start. I opted to go to the clinic in North Seattle. It’s definitely pricier than the book – and a whole lot cheaper than surgery. Zach, the physical therapist who runs this clinic, analyzed my posture and showed me how far out of alignment I was. It was actually quite shocking! Even more shocking was that after just three days of doing the exercises, the pain in my upper back was gone. It’s a strange feeling when you realize that you are no longer in pain for the first time in as far back as you can remember.

What’s more, the relief is lasting. There have been times when I have neglected my exercises because of traveling or a demanding schedule. My body retains the postural corrections and I remain pain free during these times. I always go back to them, though. I still use the series of exercises that Zach prepared for me as well as going through the book when specific issues arise.

If you suffer from chronic back pain, knee pain – any kind of physical pain – I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Pain Free. At the very least, it provides you with an option other than pain medication and surgery. Ideally, you will find a solution to your chronic pain that is both affordable and natural.