This month’s patient success story is about a retired NHS nurse from Peterlee, who needed help with sciatica. Our patient Barbara is now again able to get back to her day-to-day life without depending on prescribed painkillers, after receiving expert health advice and physiotherapy treatment from Paul Gough Physio Rooms.
“After months of waiting for healthcare and being allocated to the ‘best practitioner’ after 4 sessions, I was told there was nothing else they could do. I wasn’t back to square one, more like I never actually left it.
Then I found Paul Gough and his team. To describe the treatment, I’ve received over the last few years there as ‘the best’ would be a massive understatement.
Which is precisely why I still go.”
If You’ve Been Struggling With Sciatica, Lower Back Pain, Or If You’ve Struggled With Any Injury That’s Caused You To Resort To Pain Medication, Please Read Barbara’s Story…
Barbara Greenhaff from Peterlee found gardening and decorating increasingly difficult after suffering with sciatica for over 50 years – but physiotherapy treatment at our clinic has helped her get back to doing what she loves.
Barbara originally went to the NHS after suffering with a bad back from lifting a bed during her career as a nurse, but was given the wrong exercises which ultimately made her condition worse. She was discharged from the system after just 4 sessions as they said to her there was “nothing else they could do”.
To begin her journey to better health, Barbara joined one of our ‘tea and cake’ sessions where she was given the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about our services. And she soon found other people in the same position. This is what ultimately made her decide to bite the bullet and give private physiotherapy a try as she ‘had nothing to lose’.
“When I first went to the Paul Gough Physio Rooms, I was incredibly sceptical. I had no goal, no expectations, other than to get some help. I’d been written off by the NHS – twice. I didn’t know what I needed, but knew I couldn’t continue on the rollercoaster I was on.
My sciatica is never going to go away, but I can now manage it. I do things differently. I buy a block of sessions and use them flexibly. I know my limitations, and can continue to do the things I enjoy doing. I’m no longer prescribed strong painkillers, I only take over the counter medication when I need it and I also have an ice pack ready in the freezer.”
A year into Barbara’s ongoing treatment with us, the NHS got back in contact with her for a consultant appointment where she was given the correct exercises. Barbara refused nerve blockers and wouldn’t consider surgery. After a review appointment, she was soon discharged...
Barbara purchases block bookings of sessions with us and uses them flexibly when she needs them. Through receiving treatment at the clinic, Barbara is able to get back to gardening and decorating, and she has even learned how to ballroom dance, what an achievement!
“The staff at the physio rooms are friendly and professional. The physio listens and works with me, he knows exactly which area to concentrate on. The cost of the block bookings has been money well spent, and I’d recommend anyone in pain to try at least one session.”
Does Barbara’s Story Sound Like You, Or Someone You Know?
If the answer is yes, we can’t emphasise the importance of seeking out the correct diagnosis and treatment.
We really do sympathise with the government and the current situation, but with waiting lists on the NHS at record lengths and GP surgeries under increasing pressure, our advice is quite simple: Don’t allow the pandemic to delay your physiotherapy treatment and let an injury that you think might seem ‘trivial’ now, whether it be a big or small injury, turn into something more serious. Read our blog post ‘Why should I choose private physiotherapy over the free health service?’.
It’s no exaggeration to say that what may seem like a trivial matter, like elbow pain that you think will go away, can lead to a bigger problem.
If you’re reading this now and feel like you can relate, or if you want to get back to fitness and good health now lockdown measures are eased and to get yourself fit to enjoy the rest of the summer, we are here for you and we are currently offering free taster sessions (read below for more information on our taster sessions).
Clinic Update: We Can Provide An Appointment Within 7 Days, And Your First One Could Be FREE.
Our patients tell us the average time to wait on the NHS for back pain is now 16 weeks +. We can provide an appointment within 7 days, and your first one could be free.
If you can relate to Barbara’s story and you are looking for some help, we offer FREE taster sessions, which give you the opportunity to come in and meet us and see for yourself how we can help you.
If you’d like one of our limited taster sessions, please click here to complete our enquiry form or CALL us on 01429 866771 to make a no obligation enquiry.
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
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