I have suffered from chronic pain since my early teens due to developing Bi-Lateral Osteochondritis Dissecans, a growth disorder where pieces of bone and cartilage separated from both femurs due to a lack of blood supply. In my case the damage progressed very quickly and I had to undergo a number of surgeries to each knee to

re-establish a blood supply and rebuild the joints with an experimental technique using bone grafting.

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This resulted in me being unable to bear weight during my teenage years, at times confined to a wheelchair, however on completion of my treatment I was told that with care my joints would last for many years. I chose a career in the theatre and after finishing my training as an electrician moved into the world of concert touring, working as a lighting and sound engineer with some of the prominent artists of the day.

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This occupation requires high levels of fitness as it involves the moving of all of the concert equipment from venue to venue and setting it up for use every night. It also places a very heavy toll on the human body and after a few years I was suffering from osteoarthritis in my early twenties.

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Over the following twenty years my career progressed to working in television and eventually being a partner in a production company producing events and media for many global brands. During that time I progressed through

most of the traditional drug therapies that became ever stronger help deal with the pain.

 

By the time I reached the age of forty, the deformation of my joints was so bad that surgery was my only option and I had both knees replaced. In my case the route back to fitness was arduous and painful but eventually I was once again able to walk without the need of aids, however my chronic pain remained.

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Both knees were revised with new prostheses around 5 years ago as the original joints had begun to show signs of loosening leading to painful joint instability. The procedures were partially successful and the joints themselves are mechanically sound. However, due to the number of surgeries I have had over my lifetime, I have considerable internal scar tissue which limits their range of motion and has led to severe tendinopathy.

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The years of moving heavy equipment have also taken their toll on the rest of my body and I also suffer from osteoarthritis to both hands and shoulders.

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However, I have never let my pain define me and have led an active, productive and enjoyable life.​ But like most people who live with chronic pain, I have become extremely adept at masking the effects that it has on my life and understand just how isolating this can be.

 

After spending the entirety of my adult life of relying on traditional treatments, I have now had the chance to see just some of the benefits that complimentary treatments can provide and relish playing my part in sharing them with my fellow community.