McGill Method Testimonial
I am in my early forties and have been living
with chronic lower back pain for almost fifteen years. The level of pain has
increased slowly every year, however during the last few years it’s gotten bad
enough where I realized I had to do something about it. I can’t even begin to
recount all the things I’ve tried… Doctor’s visits, physical therapy,
chiropractic adjustments, aerobic and core strengthening exercises, Pilates,
even a holistic healer, deep tissue massages, electric impulse therapy, iced
and hot back braces, a kneeling chair and sit/stand desk for work, etc. I also
tried a couple of different prescription medicines, even though I’ve never been
in favor of painkillers. I couldn’t understand why nothing worked! I am a very
conscientious “pupil”, so whenever I’d be prescribed a new routine or
exercise regimen, I’d make sure to follow it to a tee. Little did I know that
the vast majority of these things actually hurt my back instead of healing
it.
Early in 2018, I heard of The Back Mechanic by
Dr. Stuart McGill and promptly purchased the book. By that time, I was very
skeptical of everything and anything, yet desperate enough to keep trying new
things. I remember reading the introduction and bursting into tears. I could
immediately tell this was not just another “fix your back in ten
steps” kind of book, fast to grab your attention, but incapable to deliver
up to its promises. For the first time in a very long time, I had found renewed
hope. I could relate to so many of the patient experiences described in the
book, and realized I had for a long time believed in so many myths about the
back pain that I was now discovering were not true… I read the book four
times, performed the self-prognosis, and started doing the Big 3 exercises
twice a day, every day during the work week, with breaks on the weekends. Yet,
for some reason, I was still in pain. I couldn’t understand why, yet I was
nowhere near ready to discard this book as yet another source of false hope.
The scientific findings and methods described here are the results of over
three decades of work Dr. McGill had dedicated to the issue of back pain, and I
totally trusted this amazing research and expertise. I had to conclude I was
missing something. That is when I started looking for a certified clinician,
only to discover there are only four in the United States! To my surprise, one
of them, Dr. Kai Tiltmann, was only three hours away from where I lived!
Honestly, I would have flown or driven anywhere to meet him, that’s how
desperate I was. By this time, my pain would keep me awake at night, so I was
very close to feeling hopeless and had started battling depression… So I made
the call. A call that has completely changed my life.
I left a message asking for an appointment, and
got a prompt call from the office manager, asking if I had half an hour
available to chat with Dr. Tiltmann himself. I was already blown away. Instead
of simply scheduling the appointment, they wanted to make sure I was a good
candidate for the McGill Method, and Dr. Tiltmann made time in his busy
schedule to talk to me! I mean, I can’t even see my primary care physician for
more than ten minutes, and now I was going to get a free thirty-minute
pre-consultation?!
I teared up for a couple of seconds, talking
with Dr. Tiltmann that day. That’s because I could tell he knew what I was
talking about and actually understood me! My own doctor, whom I love and
respect very much, having been in his care for over 12 years, had exhausted all
the avenues with me, and honestly, I had started suspecting that he thought
this pain was all in my head! And now, I was talking with someone who not only
knew what I had been going through, but told me he could definitely help! The
three weeks waiting for my appointment felt like a kid feverishly waiting for
Christmas. The time went by painstakingly slow… But the appointment day
finally came, and my husband and I drove to a San Francisco for my three-hour
appointment.
I can’t even begin to describe how life changing
these three hours were for my life! Dr. Tiltmann had done a lot of preparation
work for our appointment, having analyzed my MRIs, X-ray, intake forms, and
even a video my husband took of me performing the daily farm chores (which we
knew could have been taxing to my back, if not done with proper form). At the
office, we went over all these things, as well as my medical history, after
which Dr. Tiltmann performed a series of thorough physical tests. Some of these
were the ones I had tried by myself, only now I was realizing I had performed
most of them incorrectly. Obviously that’s why I had not been able to identify
my own triggers before! With Dr. Tiltmann’s help, I now have a very clear
understanding of what triggers the flare-ups, what relieves and what aggravates
my pain. This entire part of the evaluation was such a great eye opener for me
and my husband!
Next, I demonstrated for Dr. Tiltmann how I used
to perform my exercises, and surprise-surprise, I had been doing most of the
motions all wrong! No wonder I was not getting better! Having read The Back
Mechanic again, after my appointment, I realized the instructions were all
there, clear and written for the layperson, yet for some reason I had not
properly translated them into my personal exercise routine! Not to mention, I had
been trying to do too much too soon, due to my “conscious” nature,
something Dr. McGill does warn his readers about. With Dr. Tiltmann’s guidance,
we found the right balance for me, and I learned the proper way of performing
these exercises. He was kind enough to let my husband film each routine, so I
could have this resource available if ever in need for a refresher course.
Aside from the main exercises, I learned how to properly sit, stand, lie down,
and get up, as even in these areas my posture was seriously flawed, despite my
thinking that I was always keeping a straight back in these activities.
We finished the session with Dr. Tiltmann
answering my various questions about the spine, it’s anatomy, some of the myths
most of us grew up believing, that are in fact detrimental to our understanding
of the back and the associated chronic pain. Both my husband and I left the
office extremely hopeful, re-energized, knowing I did not need surgery, and
that I will indeed get better. Of course, this depends on my commitment to it,
but as I have already told you I am the type that goes above and beyond when
putting my mind to something, especially since this is for my husband’s and my
own well-being and, ultimately, happiness. I keep mentioning my sweet husband because
the truth is, my chronic back pain has been impacting him almost as much as it
has me. He has been so supportive and loving all these years, that my getting
healthy will equally affect him, and our marriage. He deserves this as much as
I do!
A few days after the appointment, Dr. Tiltmann
sent me a comprehensive report with everything we discussed during our session,
impeccably organized in main sections, including the exercise routines
prescribed in detail, with recommendations of when and how I could progress to
the next level of endurance training. He has also indicated he’d check up on me
and my progress six months after our appointment.
All these things demonstrate the highest level
of professionalism, knowledge and expertise on the subject of chronic back
pain, as well as compassion and understanding that I have ever encountered in
my long quest for finding answers in order to get better. The fact that Dr.
Tiltmann is also a very personable, fun, and easy to talk to professional is
just a bonus. He possesses this great ability of explaining complicated medical
jargon in laymen terms, while making his patients comfortable asking questions
some might be afraid to ask on the account that they could be
“stupid” or “silly” questions.
I have not stopped talking about this amazing
experience to anyone who’s willing to listen to me, and would highly recommend
Dr. Tiltmann and the McGill Method to any chronic back pain sufferers like
myself. I have already started my journey towards a pain free life, and am
already seeing results. I am once again hopeful and I feel empowered. I have no
doubt that in one or two years I will be one of the “successful
stories” in Dr. Tiltmann’s portfolio. I wish there would be more of him
all throughout the country, as I know there are a lot of back pain sufferers
out there, tired of having tried everything but this method, and feeling
hopeless and helpless. Dr. Tiltmann, I will forever be grateful to you, as well
as to The Back Mechanic and Dr. Stuart McGill!
Sincerely, Amalia
