From Marianne Wright in Warks, UK, back sufferer and Clinical Reflexologist:

Hello, my name is Marianne Wright. I have just spent the last hour looking over your new website about Reflexology and Back Pain. I am a Reflexologist myself, and trained with the IIR. Having suffered with back pain I read with great interest.
 
I just wanted to say 'THANK YOU' for a greatly informative and inspiring website. It makes you feel positive about back pain, and that there is some genuine hope for sufferers. I have been told so many times in the past about not doing certain moves or exercises by my Chiropractor, when there is nothing structurally wrong with it. I felt depressed to be told I couldn't do certain moves etc. I have recently been doing Pilates which has helped a great deal with strengthening my back and stomach muscles, and I'm being told 'to move'! The exact opposite!
 
I look forward to the 'Reflexologist's page being available. Keep up the good work, and thank you for your time in creating a truly wonderful website.
 
Thank you, I wish I'd seen something like this 3 years ago.
 
All the best, Marianne.
 
www.foothold-reflexology.com

From Paula Reed, in the Loughborough/Leicestershire area, UK, Reflexologist, EFT practitioner, Thermo-Auricular Therapist, Reiki practitioner, and a member of the British Psychological Society:

I am a qualified reflexologist EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and Reiki Practitioner and I have had some excellent results with clients who have chronic back pain. Below are testimonials of two of my clients who have chronic degenerative back problems and whose quality of life have improved dramatically since having reflexology and Eft. 
"Under the direction of Ms. Paula Reed, I underwent a series of therapy treatments including: EFT, Reflexology and Reiki. At the time I had been suffering chronic back pain for two years and a deteriorating neuropathy condition that affected my hands and feet. Painkillers were my only means of relief and out of desperation, and on the recommendation of a friend, I sought the help of Ms Reed. Since undergoing these unique treatments, my quality of life has improved beyond words and my sense of wellbeing has benefited tremendously". A P Wilde - Derby
"I have been having Reflexology treatments for some time now. Although my back problem is degenerative, I find a definite benefit after having the treatment. My pain is less and movement is much easier. When I recently had a very acute episode of pain and was barely able to move, Paula tried EFT. I was amazed by the result. After a short time, my pain was bearable and I could move with ease. I am sceptical by nature and I don't know why these treatments work, but they do!" Andrew Moore - Leicestershire

www.reedwellbeing.co.uk


From Eugene in Ireland:

Down through the years I have suffered periodically from sciatica. This problem first manifested itself while playing with one of my children and because of the fact I was an active young father. I suffered on, applying various medical creams until the problem ceased. I have always been fairly active walking, gardening and various exercises however, my back pain invariably returned every so often. One of my daughters became interested and qualified in reflexology and since then due to having regular sessions, my sciatica has become a painful memory. I should advise people that the first two sessions were fairly severe but the result was definitely worth it. I would also advise people to keep exercising and practice yoga.


From Arnold in the Netherlands:

A few years ago, two herniated discs in my lower back nearly caused a great deal of nerve damage and the impairment of certain vital functions of the lower body. The bulge of the discs was so big that the spinal cord was not visible any more on the MRI. Both the Neurologist and the Chief Surgeon wondered how it was possible that I was still walking.

I had physical therapy both before and after surgery from a very experienced physical therapist. This prevented the damage from getting worse before the operation. Before surgery, I was experiencing foot drop on the left side and altered nerve sensations in the left leg. After surgery, most things seemed to become normal again thanks to physical therapy, except for the fact that I was simply not able to stand on my left leg. I had lost all balance on that leg. As an active sportsman, this was very annoying.

I consulted Florence. The morning following the first reflexology session I was amazed to discover that I had already regained partial control over the balance. Florence suggested to do 5 sessions that same week. I just could not believe how much my ability to balance on my left leg improved with each session. After 3 sessions, I was almost as stable as before if I kept my eyes open. Incredible! Particularly so because, although I had intensive first class physical therapy and strength training, the results were not overly promising. And I had come to accept the fact that my leg would never be the same again. After all 5 sessions I had recovered almost complete control. Within weeks of continued improvement I was even able to close my eyes and still remain standing on my left leg in excess of 40 seconds. Unbelievable! And it never regressed. It only kept improving after the reflexology sessions. To me, it felt as if the reflexology treatments had reconnected the nerves in my back with those in my leg and foot.


From Ruud in the Netherlands:

I’ve had a scoliosis and a kyphosis as long as I can remember. When I was younger doctors tried to correct these without any succes. In 2005 I began to feel unbearable pain in my lower back, my legs, and the genital area. Many months of testing and a great deal of pain finally resulted in a diagnosis: due to acute degenerative disc disease nerve roots were being compressed between L4 and L5 and caused an incredible amount of pain. After different treatments, Radio Frequency Rhizotomy was proposed as a last resort solution in the beginning of 2008 since nothing else worked and the pain was just getting worse. I met Florence right around that time. She tried to convince me that reflexology could probably help quite a lot and without all the risks of the operation. I was quite sceptical before the first session, but then again, I had nothing to lose. Within a few sessions I started feeling improvement. I found it difficult to believe but there it was: the relief which I thought was not possible. I continue having reflexology very regularly and thanks to these treatments between 60 and 70 % of my pain is completely gone and I can enjoy life and do the most things that any normal human being can do. I’m only 46 so it’s nice to be able to enjoy life all over again. Also, I’m glad I didn’t have to go through with the operation. Thank you so much, Florence. With your reflexology treatments you reopened doors for me which I thought would remain closed for ever.


From Maurice in Spain:

Hi,
My name is Maurice Cohen. I am the proud father of the owner of this website.
Obviously, I will not comment on Florence's skills and competence. As a father, I can only be biased. Instead, I will talk to you about my own experience with back pain.

When I was 25 years old, my wife and I moved from Paris to the charming town of Aix-en-Provence in Southern France. The small apartment we rented was located on the 5th floor and had no fridge! We were young and had little money to spend, so I went to an open market to find us a second-hand refrigerator. I found what I wanted, a beautiful white, yellow, tall and heavy fridge. The man who sold me the fridge had no delivery service. However, he agreed to bring the fridge to my house for a few extra francs on the condition that I would lift the fridge onto the small trailer attached to the back of his car. He had back problems, he said, and his sons were not there to help that day. I had no choice, so I did it, and it felt like I had pulled every muscle in my back. Then when I arrived back home, the elevator was not working. Luckily, a friendly man helped me carry the refrigerator all the way to the 5th floor. But it was too late, the damage was already done.

The following morning, I could not move. I lay on my bed all morning feeling as if a wall had fallen on my back. That day my chronic back pain began and was going to last for many years. I saw many doctors and had physical therapy on a regular basis. Nothing really helped. It gave me slight temporary relief but no solution. My wife used to massage my back almost every day to relieve some of the pain. Even Florence, when she was 2 or 3 years old, volunteered to do the job and I remember her tiny hands trying to press as hard as possible my aching muscles. I didn’t do any sports or exercise. I was always too busy working. And then one day in my forties, I decided I wanted to learn how to play tennis. I started noticing that after the lessons, I did not feel the pain in my back any more. This lasted for an hour or so. It was an incredible feeling. When you live with pain day-in day-out, you completely forget what it’s like to feel no pain. After 3 years of tennis lessons, I decided to join a fitness club. I felt ready for it... I was 50 years old! And then something amazing happened, the back pain went away, for good this time. The stress from work and other little annoying ailments I was suffering from also vanished.
I have never stopped exercising since...