I met a young man after he had spent years of trying to recover from a devastating injury at work. He had suffered a brain injury and spinal injuries, resulting in migraines, dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, loss of proper function of pelvic organs, pain in the mid back, PTSD, nightmares, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and depression. The list goes on, believe it or not. This injury had not only robbed him of his career and body, but also of his identity.
When I met him, he had healed and was better, but still not where he wanted to be. He still needed to use multiple prescription drugs to manage his symptoms and to manage the side effects of those drugs. Still experiencing pain, depression, headaches, brain fog, PTSD and more while trying to work and live a normal life.
Through our work together, he made progress with lasting results in relieving pain in his low back and neck, and we achieved some success with managing migraines and sleep issues. However, as time went on and through the awareness and connection he built with his body, he began to understand that the majority of his pain was rooted in his mid back. I attempted to access this area from both the top and bottom of the spine, but could only achieve temporary relief. Although periods of relief grew longer, the pain always returned.
He was tired of feeling stuck, living in constant pain while suspecting that there was potential for further healing. And he was worried about what his future would look like if he had to live that like forever. What if he couldn’t resolve these injuries fully?
As a practitioner who believes in the body’s ability to heal, and someone who wants to be of service it was difficult to see these symptoms linger for so long.
Each year I continue my education. Taking classes to learn new concepts that have practical applications for my clients. Always looking for more ways to facilitate healing. After my Brain class last fall, I was very excited to work with him once again.
This time I was able to directly access his spinal cord in the area that had suffered collateral damage. We found the adhesions and tension there that had been limiting our progress all along. Once that area released, remarkable changes occurred—his body became more free and capable of healing.
He was able to drastically increase his capacity to work and live with significantly less pain. In a heartfelt conversation, he shared that he felt hope for the first time in years. This was a transformative moment for him—and for me. He could envision a future where he could choose the work he wanted to do rather than settle for options that minimized his discomfort.
Along this journey, he learned an immense amount about his body—what it needs, how it communicates to him, and developed a deep sense of gratitude for its capacity to keep moving forward, even when it is injured. But most of all it’s ability to heal itself. This journey not only led to physical restoration, but also facilitated a mental and emotional changes. And although his journey is not complete yet, he is feeling the fortitude to keep going and a willingness to try new things.
This story of recovery serves as a reminder that the body and mind are connected and both need to be addressed to heal. It highlights the importance of having hope and embracing holistic approaches to recovery.
He is working to rediscover his identity, build back his physical strength and endurance, and you can too. If you are facing any challenges in your healing process, remember that hope can be a powerful catalyst for change. And Craniosacral Therapy may be a tool that could facilitate healing in a deep, powerful and long lasting way.