“I have got my life back thanks to Apex Clinic ”

For 65-year-old Valerie Hamilton from Ballygowan, life was a struggle. The onset of back and leg pain was having a devastating impact on her life. After trying many different treatments to get to the source of her pain, she visited Apex Clinic, Belfast, desperate to fi nd a cure. Here, Valerie describes how the clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment, called The Nelson Spinal ApproachTM, cleared her back and leg pain, meaning that she could fi nally get her life back on track.

Valerie, when did your back and leg pain begin?

The pain in my back and right leg started originally in June 2020 and then suddenly it worsened in the summer of 2021. The severe leg pain came on very suddenly and I couldn’t think of anything that I had done to cause it. I attended my GP who gave me medication which didn’t help and I also saw an orthopaedic spinal surgeon privately who carried out various tests including an MRI scan. He didn’t recommend surgery but instead sent me for spinal injections. Unfortunately, there was no significant relief with these and I was still in constant pain.

How did the pain affect your life?

The pain I had was horrendous and it had an awful impact on my life. I couldn’t stand up straight and I had to use 2 crutches to help me walk around. I tried physio elsewhere which didn’t help either.

What led you to Apex Clinic?

A friend of mine attends

Apex Clinic herself and she could see how much pain I was in. She spoke about my condition with the Director of Physiotherapy, Rebecca Nelson, who is a Spinal Physiotherapy Specialist and she said that it was likely that they could help me from the information that she had. I had nothing to lose, so I made an appointment for an initial assessment as I was willing to try anything to help my terrible pain.

How has your life changed since having treatment?

The change has been huge. I no longer need to use crutches for walking which allows me to take my dogs out for a walk again as I wasn’t able to do this for months. My back and leg pain are now 99% better and I’m thrilled! I feel like I have got my life back. I now attend Apex Clinic once every 6 weeks for maintenance treatment.

What advice would you offer someone suffering with leg pain or back pain?

If you are suffering with spinal problems I would definitely say book an appointment at Apex Clinic as the relief I’ve got from my treatment there is wonderful.

To book an appointment at Apex Clinic, call 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.