Treatment at Apex Clinic has been life changing
For 74-year-old retired Civil Servant Ronnie McAleese MBE, from Comber, life was a struggle. Lower back pain and leg pain was having a devastating impact on his life and his ability to walk was severely limited. Desperate to get some relief, he visited Apex Clinic, Belfast. Apex Clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment, called The Nelson Spinal ApproachTM in combination with manual techniques to his left ankle cleared Ronnie’s pain and stiffness and has given him his enjoyment for life back.
Ronnie, when did your back and leg pain begin?
Over the last few years, I noticed that I was having difficulty walking with severe lower back pain and leg pain. Simple things like stepping off a curb were difficult, I felt weak and off balance. My walking distance was severely restricted.
How did the pain and limited mobility affect your life?
A real passion of mine in my retirement has been dog training. I have my own business, Patch Dog Training. Due to my pain and difficulty walking I was struggling to take my classes. I also compete in dog agility competitions, and I was the first person from Northern Ireland to represent Team GB in dog agility at the world championships. This is something I have always enjoyed but I was unable to continue with my dog agility training and competitions as you need to move quickly to guide the dog around the ring and I was unable to move as quick as needed to get myself in the right place to direct my dog around the course. On a recent holiday with my wife, I found myself unable to keep up and I was always walking several paces behind her. I found this frustrating, I was always someone who had been fit and active. I started to think that I was never going to be able to do the things that I used to enjoy and I was worried that I would end up in a wheelchair.
What led you to Apex Clinic?
A good friend of mine recommended Apex Clinic to me when I was suffering quite badly one day during a training class. In the past I had tried other treatments, but I really wanted to get to the root cause of the problem and not just try to treat the symptoms. I booked an appointment at Apex Clinic and I was so impressed with my specialist physiotherapist especially the time and genuine care given to me. My specialist physiotherapist discovered that severe stiffness of my left ankle was the primary cause of my poor walking pattern and was also triggering my lower back pain and leg pain. She worked on both my back and ankle joint and she was extremely determined to get me back to doing the things I enjoyed.
How has your life changed since having treatment?
Treatment at Apex Clinic has been life changing! Along with my physio sessions and the home exercises I have been given, I have been able to get back into my dog agility training. I am getting stronger and walking better and more confidently.
What advice would you offer someone suffering with back and leg pain or difficulty walking?
I would recommend Apex Clinic. I am glad I took the advice from my friend and booked myself in for an appointment. It is very special to meet a team of people who really care about those who come to them for help. I was so pleased with my experience that I offered to do this interview in the hope that it will help others who are also suffering like I was.
To book an appointment at Apex Clinic, call 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.