Movement Intelligence, Scoliosis and Back Pain – Helen Rindsberg

Helen’s Experience

After four Feldenkrais sessions with Cynthia, I completed a trip to Japan where I lead an art tour over the course of two weeks. Before the trip, I was concerned about my capacity to pull this trip off, but through the work with Cynthia I was able to lead a group in a foreign country with greatly reduced pain levels. As you can imagine, I returned from the trip with new hope.

“I was able not only to navigate in Japan confidently but with less pain. And I’m happy to say that additional sessions have continued to reduce the pain significantly.”Helen Rindsberg

After a whiplash injury in 1975, my primary care doctor found mild scoliosis and gave me some neck exercises. Therapy for a pinched nerve in my back in 1990 sent me to an orthopedic doctor for treatments and relief. By 2001 I was having regular back pain, but was on my feet a lot as a high school assistant principal. In 2005 my gynecologist measured my height and we realized that I’d lost an inch. Arthritis pain in my knee started in 2008 after surgery for a torn meniscus. Swimming helped but things got worse in my back. My new primary care suggested glucosamine with chondroitin and Tylenol; again some relief.

By 2012 I’d lost another two inches and began seeing a chiropractor who treated me for scoliosis complicated by arthritis throughout my spine. The pain took a huge jump in early 2015. After x-rays and an MRI, a neurosurgeon said to never let anyone do surgery on my back as it would only make things worse. He sent me to a pain specialist. After nine months of a back brace, shoe inserts and physical therapy, there had been little to no relief. I told my therapist that I wasn’t getting any return on my investment of over 75 minutes of prescription exercises a day.

I was very discouraged. Then a friend of my mother-in-law’s told me that using Feldenkrais she had been pain free for a couple of hours at a time. I hadn’t been pain free for five years! You’ve already read that in just four sessions, I was able not only to navigate in Japan confidently but with less pain. And I’m happy to say that additional sessions have continued to reduce the pain significantly.

About the Author

Cynthia

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Cynthia is a certified Feldenkrais practitioner, a Senior Trainer in Movement Intelligence, and a co-creator of Integral Human Gait theory. By day, she helps children and adults find easier ways to navigate life challenges and thrive. By night, she is dreaming up new options for how we can all become more fully human through awareness, curiosity, elegance and action.