When I was 15, my back went out one day and I was unable to stand at all. I later developed sharp pains in the lower back, and numbness and pain shooting down my left leg from the nerve pinching.

After going to the doctor and being examined, I was told that I had Degenerative Disc disease. The treatment at the time, as suggested and prescribed by my doctor, was to lose weight to ease the symptoms with time and steroidal anti-inflammatories were given to me when the pain flared.

The condition was maintained pretty well through high school, and I was able to stay active physically with minimal pain and few flare ups, but the condition was exacerbated by two car wrecks on two separate occasions.

The most recent wreck, in which I got whiplash, I saw a very helpful Chiropractor who alleviated my pain with physical therapy, neck adjustments, and massage/electro-stim therapy. I was also taught a variety of practical methods, exercises, and stretches to help my condition which have proven to be really wonderful.

Years ago, the only treatment they offered for the pain flaring up was a steroid pack and to compress with heat. I couldn't even sleep most nights, and could never lay on my back for longer than a minute. The pain progressed from my lower back to my legs/thighs due to nerve pinching. But after seeing the Chiropractor I was pretty much without pain for a while. I had to stop seeing him, because I have no medical insurance, but again, the stretches and home exercises they taught me during physical therapy were wonderful and still work to lessen the pain.