Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies of The Bad Back Guy

This is Why I Am The Bad Back Guy!

NOT because I have a “bad back!”

While I have suffered with a bad back for years, I no longer suffer from the consequences of a bad back.

As many of you know, once you have a bad back, there are certain strategies, bad back strategies, you must apply to your day-to-day life in order to get through the day in one piece.

However, it is possible to reclain your life and live pain free!

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain do not have to be your constant reality…or a life sentence…I am living proof!

After 14 major spine surgeries, surviving advanced and aggressive osteomyelitis, almost 15 years of pain medication addiction (yes, addiction!), everything from T12 to S1 fused, a herniated disc at T7-8, and compressed vertebrae at C5 and C6, I live pain free. If I can live pain free…you can too!

Meaning, I now longer suffer from:

• Neck Pain
• Back Pain
• Sciatica
• And the myriad of other consequences associated with a “bad back”

You can apply the same strategies I have and reclaim your life! No spam, no scam, no B.S. Just common sense bad back strategies combined with a neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain relief program that works!

Ultimately, it is up to you!

But this is why I do what I do…this letter from “Bill,” and a follow-up, is why I am The Bad Back Guy!

NOTE: Even with Bill’s permission to sue these, I feel funny about using his name on the Internet…so I am using “Bill.” If “Bill” wants to reveal himself in a comment or in some other way, that is entirely OK with me. He is a great guy!

This is just one example of the letters, emails, Skypes, phone calls, and emails I get daily from people all over the world…people reclaiming their lives…as I have:

Hi John-

I was up to 281 and now am 233. I need to get to around 195-200ish. I seem to have a lot of muscle imblances I am working on.

I had back surgery in 1988 for a synovial cyst removal. Hemilaminectomy and made a full recovery after 5 yrs of pain.

Fast forward to 2004 where i was throwing heavy logs and pop. I thought it was lumbar because my back and leg were killing me. 2 MRI’s and many docs later no back injury. However, i continued to get worse and eventually could not work. It had what they call pubalgia. It is where the adductors and rectus abdominis tear off the pubic bone causing massive pain in the pelvis and back. I had surgery in May 09 and it is finally healed, however now i am left with opposite side back pain and burning in both hamstrings throughout the day. I am extremely tight in the legs and psoas muscles which they say put me into an excessive lordosis. I work out hard but it is hard to because I flare up so easily. i go for massages as well. I am loads better than i was but still have pain daily. I must foam roll and stretch daily. I have blown through my life savings pretty much except 50k of my retirement left. I hope i can go back to work again. By looking at me you would never know but the pain has beaten me down.

That is why your story is important to me. (emphasis added)

Cheers!

“Bill”

“Bill” also sent me the following after a recent blog post, a blog post in which I mentioned some of the attacks from people looking for ulterior motives in my message:

John-

Great work. We believe and are not naysayers. I think many people > doubt because they are afraid…same with the fact that some of Dr. Sarnos work has validity. Many can just not grasp they can get better and sometimes it comes out as anger, doubt and jealously.

Keep up the inspirational postings. It means more than you know. (emphasis added…and it is “Bill” who inspires me!)

“Bill”

For the FTC, I have these emails, and others, on file and have “Bill’s” permission to use them!

JOHN-

you can use anything i post

“Bill”

This is why I do what I do! This is why I am The Bad Back Guy!

I said a long time ago, in Bad Back Guy years, not in geological time (a little paleo-humor there!), I would continue to offer assistance and inspiration as long as one person was inspired to reclaim their life…and I meant it!

What has happened is remarkable!

You have inspired me!

On my way to helping others with their neck pain, back pain, and sciatica?

My readers and viewers have helped and inspired me! In fact, you have given me many times more than I have have given you!

You have inspired me!

So, I want to thank all of you for your emails, letters, Skypes, phone calls (yes, phone calls! How cool is that?!), and comments.

Comment more!

Keep your inspiring stories, questions, and comments coming and I will provide as much useful information as I can, information you can apply to your lives, as I have, to reclaim your life, a life free of neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain (sciatica).

Contact me any time!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526 (home)
216-539-7412 (office)
Skype: johnzajaros1
Bus email: johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com
Personal email: excellencepaidforward@gmail.com

PS, Any advice I offer is anecdotal, I am not a medical practitioner, I am a physical anthropologist! Before beginning any sort of a neck pain, back pain or sciatica relief strategy make sure you are cleared by a medical practitioner, preferably one specializing in orthopedics or neurology. Disclaimers are the essence of CYA, and a necessity, in today’s world…unfortunately!

Overcoming Chronically Acute Neck, Back, and Sciatic Nerve Pain: A Life Reclaimed!

First and foremost, I would like a apologize for not posting in a month! I had no idea it had been a month, time has flown by!

There was a time, not too long ago, when the days crawled and were filled with horrible, debilitating neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain. In other words, my life was consumed with pain!

Fast forward a year and a little but and I am literally pain free!

How great is that?

More importantly, what does that mean for you?

Well, if you listen to some of my attackers, and yes, everyone has them on the Internet, particularly if you have been around for any length of time…nothing!

I think the attacks have been almost as painful as the neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain were…almost!

The attacks on my character, attacks for trying to help others reclaim their lives as I have, are quite perplexing.

Have some people become so jaded, so cynical they cannot imagine someone dedicating themselves to encouraging others to take the first steps toward a pain free life, as I have?

The attacks come about once a week, usually on YouTube, and usually by someone who has had an account for quite some time, an anonymous account.

Interestingly, most of the attacks come from people who do not use their names online at all…and they have never contributed a single video, good or bad!

So, I should consider the source, right?

I guess so!

The world has indeed changed and most people are still good, I know that. Most people simply want to get through the day unscathed, contribute to the lives of those they love and care about, and make a living. beyond that, most people don’t have time to attack anyone else…much less think about doing it!

So, why do they do it?

Who knows?

Perhaps they have a different sort of pain, the sort of pain that comes from frustration, negativity, depression, self-loathing, and self-hatred!

Again, who knows?

Ultimately, I can’t be concerned with them.

I block them and move on…add another post, another video, and another article…perhaps helping someone else.

I want to thank those of you who have commented, emailed, and even phoned or Skyped to tell me how much you like, and have missed, my posts….it means the world to me!

I made up my mind when I started down this road that if I helped one person, that would be enough, I would keep going and continue contributing.

I know I have helped more than one, you’ve told me so!

Again, thank you so much!

TuffGuy and I have missed our walks and telling you about them. The weather in the Cleveland area has been rough. We might get a walk in tonight…the sidewalks are clear and I miss saying hello to all the doormen along Detroit Avenue here in Lakewood.

I have ventured out a few times in the snow over the last month to do my 5 to 7 miles but it is not the same without TuffGuy. The doormen seem to agree, they always ask where he is!

Life has been busy. I started a new company and made a big sale my first week! I love it because it is one more way to help people.

Over a year ago Tony Robbins did something nice for me. I was at my lowest point in years and he offered a kindness, asking only that I pay the kindness forward. Tony does a lot of that, it seems!

Well, I have been honoring that request ever since. In fact, the kindness he offered was never “cashed in!” The fact that he offered was enough.

Others were just as kind while my family struggled, struggled just to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. I can never repay the many kindnesses, many would never accept repayment!

So, I Pay it Forward!

Funny how things work out, isn’t it?

So, I will continue to write, suggest, push, and prod as long as one person reads my posts and is encouraged to do as I have, take back your life.

Living pain free is amazing!

After so many years of terrible, debilitating neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain?

To be pain free is wonderful! I have a new life. You can too!

You can live pain free if you take the first step.

The first step is the toughest one, every one after that gets easier until it is finally wonderful.

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica do not have to be a permanent reality, you can overcome them!

Just give it a shot! What do you have to lose?

Just the pain!

Best wishes and thank so much for being a reader.

Please, leave a comment!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526 (home)
216-539-7412 (bus)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, Start down the road to a neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain free life today: http://TheBadBackGuy.net

How a Very Special Group of People Made a Huge Difference at Christmas Time: Paying it Forward and Being Your Brother’s Keeper

1994 and I stepped off a curb in Manhattan.

I had done it thousands of times on my way to my office at the American Museum of Natural History, to China Town for lunch, to teach my class at Hunter College, meet with a student, or on my way to Grand Central to catch the train back to Dobbs Ferry, my escape from the city at the end of each day.

On this day, I did something different, wasn’t paying attention and stepped off a curb higher than normal, the result was instantaneous. As I landed I felt a sharp pain, then a spasm that took my breath away, and finally, when I regained my composure, I knew I had been caught not paying attention, something all “bad back” sufferers learn to do early on.

All back pain sufferers know to be vigilant and prepare for the unexpected.

The second wave of back pain came next, almost as immediate as the first, immense and black. I almost passed out. I knew I was in trouble and barely remember making it back the Grand Central, caught a cab from the station in Westchester, and within a few days was back in Vermilion, Ohio, on my way to see my surgeon, one of the best in the world.

The results would not be good.

The vertebrae were compressed, something that happens as spines are fused and left to deteriorate over the years. The bolts that had invaded the vertebral bodies had taken their toll on my spine’s integrity and overall strength, more surgery was the answer.

Fast forward to 1998 and my introduction to pain management, at first a blessing…I could work!

1998 was an amazing year, leaving academia had been the most difficult decision of my life, it had taken me so long to get there and I love it, but I was heading for serious six-figure country and our lives were back on track, we were traveling, the kids were going to go to a great high school and on to college, all was right with the world.

Then? I had this pain in my lower back.

At first the back pain was a dull throbbing sensation, it came and went. I thought I’d pulled a muscle. The low back pain was a sort of burning, searing pain but there was that voice in my head, the signal that things weren’t quite as they should be…I ignored it and kept working.

By January of 1999 I knew I was in serious trouble.

I was barely making it through the day and I was running out of pain medication before the end of the month, not because of abuse but because the pain was bordering on horrific…I had a real problem.

I made an appointment and it took four months to get in to see “my doctor.”

Four months!

Then, I got the run around. “Scar tissue,” he said. “Get into the pain management program at the Cleveland Clinic and get off the narcotics,” he advised. I was definitely not getting what I needed from this expert, my buddy, my doctor, “my back guy!”

So, I went to see a doctor who was highly thought of in the area, and up and comer.

He said, “You have arachnoiditis, there isn’t much I can do for you.” Then, he confided, “I really don’t want to take you on as a patient, your condition is simply too complex for me to handle.“

Well, at least he was honest!

The first guy, my doctor, “my back guy,” was simply judgmental and, to my way of thinking, lazy.

I had to find someone else…but who?

By the fall of 1999 we had gone through everything, our savings having been built back up was now gone, my retirement that had been fully funded was first borrowed against and then totally depleted using emergency provisions; and, finally we sold the vehicles, we were at the end of our rope.

I felt doomed!

By this time the back pain was so acute it would bring me to tears, throbbing and burning would have been an improvement. We were using a urinal and a bed pan by then, the trip to the bathroom impossible to make, and I still didn’t have a doctor, other than my pain guy who kept upping the dosage to no avail.

It was coming up on Christmas 1999 and we were destitute.

By now, the city agencies in our small town were helping us with utilities, food, and other necessities; and, I couldn’t get out of bed. Thanksgiving had come and gone with volunteers coming in to drop off food and day-to-day living supplies, and I was on the recliner, covered with blankets, and wanting to die.

It was December 23, 1999 and I got a call from the kindest woman on the planet, she had personally adopted my family, directing us through the maze of programs and agencies in order to keep us afloat, Adele said she had something for us and wanted to know if she could stop by.

I said, “Sure, of course!“

It was the afternoon of the 23rd and I was out in the living room, my usual perch in the recliner, when she knocked. Adele came in, took one look at me and tears started welling up in her eyes, she looked away.

I felt naked, laid bare.

She smiled and handed Connie and envelop, Connie looked at the envelop, and then at me, then back to Adele.

Adele explained that the junior women’s organization had a raffle and auctioned off a custom painted bench…they had adopted my family and wanted us to have the $1700 they had generated!

Connie cried and I tried not to.

Adele smiled and cried, hugged Connie, smiled at me, gave my hand a squeeze and left.

We had Christmas, we had food, we had a little more time thanks to some very kind women, women who didn’t know what “Pay it Forward” meant, the movie hadn’t become folklore yet…they simply wanted to help someone in need, we were that.

April of 2000.

I found an amazing doctor through a friend, truly one of the best, and he and his associate saved my life.

You see, there was this staph infection, a staph infection they think was introduced back in 1994 when “my back guy” fused my spine after the argument with the curb.

It was not over after the first surgery, it took four more and massive amounts of Vancomycin to clean out all of the infection and save my life…but I had hope.

The next year, as we were about to be evicted, truly at the end of our rope, having found a doctor by then, and having started the road to recovery, it still a bit like being close to drowning, being able to see the rescue boat in the distance but not knowing if you could tread water long enough to hold on.

Enter the good neighbor program in our city, Catholic Charities, and the Junior Women again, they hadn’t forgotten.

Christmas of 2000 they adopted my family again and we made it, we had Christmas and we weathered the storm.

Three days from homeless, no food, no Christmas, and the women of Bay Village entered our lives again and made a difference they will never fully understand…or perhaps they do?

Another check, more food, and Adele, surely heading for Heaven, a true saint, saved us one last time…and it was enough!

In the end, I survived…obviously!

There were more health consequences, to include congestive heart failure and another major illness, to overcome. Yet with the help of some amazing people in our darkest hour, people who had no idea what “Pay it Forward” means but knew everything about being their brother’s and their sister’s keeper, we made it.

Now?

Christmas is upon us and life is improving daily, life is good!

You can make a difference this holiday season, it is not too late!

Call your United Way or Salvation Army and get the name of someone who registered too late to be helped, there are always a few, and adopt a family this year, make a difference and be your brother’s and sister’s keepers.

Pay it Forward!

You never know, you may get there just in time to keep someone from drowning!

Merry Christmas regardless of your belief or affiliations!

Happy Holidays!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526 (home)
216-539-7412 (bus)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz#ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

Understanding Back Pain: It’s Symptoms and Treatment

We have been discussing neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at length over the past year or so. It is time to define what back pain is, at least in the broadest sense.

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are often lumped into one category and very often defined, as noted above, in the broadest sense, meaning all spine-related pain is often referred to as back pain.

In fact, back pain can range from a slight twinge to a dull ache, a deep throbbing sensation to chronic and acute levels of sharp and often debilitating pain in which activity is all but impossible, tingling to numbness, and everything in between.

Back pain may originate as a consequence of a single act, like picking up a heavy stone the wrong way or bending over the pick up a child, or it may emerge gradually and, while imperceptible at first, may build in intensity, growing steadily worse over time until it is life altering and profound.

Unfortunately, it is usually the case that an individual will not seek the assistance of a medical pracitioner until their back pain, in any of its manifestations, is debilitating and even totally disabling.

Back Pain may be caused by any number of events or conditions and it may affect almost anyone regardless of age, race, sex or national origin. In other words, back
pain affects millions of boys and girls, men and women all over the world every year.

Back pain generally emerges in one of three categories or classifications:

1) Conditional. This refers to a specific condition an individual is suffering with and/or through, not a disease process but more a consequence of behavior combined with structural breakdowns due to weakness, abnormality, and/or an event leading to or revealing a structural failure.

2) Situational. This type of back pain is generally traced back to, and resulting from, a single, isolated event. The situational category of neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain (a.k.a., sciatica or leg pain) is like those described above, picking up a heavy object or a child, some one-time accidental occurrence, and the next thing you know, you can’t move!

3) Systemic. Back pain of this type refers to neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain emerging as a consequence of disease.

Interestingly, back pain is often classified in terms of intensity, usually either acute or chronic pain events, instead of etiology (cause).

It seems apparent we are more interested in the presentation of pain, how it affects us and the effect it has upon us, than on its location or cause.

Interestingly, it is the etiology that will lead us to a resolution of the pain, otherwise we are simply chasing symptoms. Ultimately, back pain, and I am referring to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, is a symptom of an underlying condition and it is the condition we must understand if we are to deal with it effectively.

In the next article we will get into the various aspects of spine-related pain and how to deal with it.

The first step in neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain relief is understanding.

For more information on neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, go to my Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies Blog!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
216-539-7412
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, To begin a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief program today and have relief in days, often hours, just click this link!

This is part two of a series on choosing a gym and a personal trainer! One more on selecting a personal trainer and why…perhaps an additional one on chronic back pain and supervised exercise programs!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr, The Bad Back Guy
216-539-7412
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebackstrategies.com

PS, Don’t forget to get started here for the best overall program for relief of neck pain, back pain, and sciatica…it takes a decision!

Choosing the right neck pain, back pain & sciatica exercise program goes hand in hand with selecting the right gym. Choosing the right gym is second only to choosing a doctor!

Dealing with neck pain, back pain, and sciatica includes choosing the right gym, health and fitness, or wellness center…particularly as your needs change and the weather changes.

However, regardless of the weather, there comes a time when choosing the right workout facility will make or break your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief exercise program.

Evolving from stretching and walking to exercise and from seeing your medical practitioner on a regular basis and going through the prescribed physical therapy program, there comes a time when one must chose the right gym in order to take your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief exercise program to the next level…ensuring and assuring real and lasting long term chronic pain relief.

As a chronic and/or acute back pain sufferer you have certain considerations that must be accommodated for and, unless you thoroughly evaluate the gym or health and fitness center being considered, your neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief exercise program may fail.

Consider the various factors described at length in the article and video at:

Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies of The Bad Back Guy

Best wishes for real and lasting neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief!

Professor John P. J. Zajaros., Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-539-7412 (office)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, Contact me anytime! For a program designed to deal effectively with your chronic neck, back, and sciatic never pain issues contact me directly!

From The Zajaros Family to Yours: Across the USA and Around the World!

John Zajaros and Family

PS, Join me at my person blog, The John Zajaros Blog!