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FracturesFractured VertebraeIn the winter of 2008 I had a horse-riding accident. I was thrown off a horse, landing with all my weight on the top of my head. I instantly knew I had broken my neck. I spent 5 weeks lying in hospital with the top half of my body immobilised in a very uncomfortable and ill-fitting neck and body brace. I had compressed and fractured two vertebrae in my neck – C2 and C5. Very fortunately, I had escaped any nerve or spinal cord damage but my recovery was still an uphill struggle – the main challenge being learning to walk again. I spent a total of three months in that neck brace, all the time being aware that my neck muscles were all over the place. I began physio as soon as the neck brace came off. My head did not move left or right and I moved liked a robot, twisting from the waist whenever I needed to turn around. I had three months of physio. I felt that the exercises weren’t helping and that my body was working against itself. I was encouraged to lie on my back and push my head around to the left and right with each hand to stretch the muscles. My neck muscles were switched ‘on’ all the time and did not want to co-operate. I knew I had to find something else to help me. Then my Mum told me about a Bowen article she had read about how a rugby player with a similar injury had been helped with the Bowen Technique. I had never heard of Bowen but decided it was definitely worth a go! I was lucky to find a physio on the NHS who was also a Bowen Practitioner. He really turned things around for me. After only three Bowen sessions I felt my neck begin to co-operate. Slowly it became possible to turn my head left and right. I continued to have Bowen for another six months with incredible results. My brain was allowing my neck muscles to release and take the brakes off for the first time since my accident! My neck muscles returned to normal and my rotations steadily improved with each session. I was so impressed by Bowen that I decided to train to be a Bowen therapist so that I could help other people like myself. It is two years since my accident and in 2 weeks time I am due to sit my final Bowen exam! Therapist: Joanne Stevenson |
