February 2026

I am 54 years old and currently unemployed. Due to ongoing pain throughout my body, my activity levels have been quite low for some time. I enjoy walking and being active, but this has been difficult recently. I also previously experienced a leg fracture, which limited my movement for a while and seemed to worsen the chronic back pain I had already been dealing with.

Before starting treatment, I was experiencing intense back pain that significantly restricted my physical movement. Everyday tasks such as household chores became difficult, and even simple movements could cause discomfort. The pain also affected my sleep. Many nights I struggled to fall asleep because of the discomfort, and this left me feeling tired and fatigued throughout the day. The constant pain and lack of rest made it harder to stay positive, and at times I felt low and anxious about my situation and my ability to return to normal activities.

I was referred to physiotherapy by my GP due to the severity of my back pain and how much it was limiting my daily life. I was very glad to receive the referral. My difficulties sleeping and the constant fatigue made me realise that I needed professional help. I had also heard positive recommendations from other people about physiotherapy, and from previous experiences I believed it could make a difference, so I decided to go ahead with treatment.

During my treatment journey, my physiotherapist was very attentive and supportive. I attended around six sessions. The first session focused mainly on discussing my symptoms and understanding my situation in detail. In the sessions that followed, the physiotherapist provided some hands-on treatment as well as guidance and advice. She also gave me exercises to continue at home, which helped me stay involved in my own recovery. I found the hands-on physiotherapy particularly beneficial and almost wished the sessions could have lasted longer.

After starting treatment, I did begin to notice some improvements. While I sometimes felt a little tired immediately after the sessions, my pain levels reduced after several visits. This allowed me to move more comfortably and do a little more of my daily tasks. Emotionally, this made a positive difference and helped me feel more hopeful.

I am still working towards improving my pain and mobility, and I believe additional sessions would continue to support my progress. I look forward to hopefully returning to the service in the future to further improve my health and wellbeing.

My message to others would be simple: if you are struggling with pain and feel physiotherapy might help, do not hesitate to seek support. It can make a meaningful difference on the journey to recovery.

Thank you,

Shamshad