“I Couldn’t Believe the Source of My Ankle Pain”

44 year old, Laura Roddy originally from Edinburgh, now living in Belfast found herself struggling with severe ankle pain that made walking difficult and stopped her going to the gym. With no clear injury, Laura booked an appointment at Apex Clinic where she discovered that her ankle pain was actually coming from her back all along. Laura shares how Apex Clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment using The Nelson Spinal Approach™ cleared her pain allowing her to return to her normal, active life completely pain-free. 

Laura, when did your ankle pain begin?  

Several months ago, I took severe pain in my right ankle. I hadn’t fallen or done anything that I could think of to hurt or injure it. The pain was so bad that I couldn’t really walk on my ankle and I was worried that if I did walk on it too much that I could be doing long-term permanent damage.  

How did the pain affect your life?  

I usually walk 10,000 steps every day and I love going to the gym regularly. The pain in my ankle stopped me doing this and really affected my ability to walk any distance. I tried to keep up my walking but for shorter periods or else the pain would get worse. 

What led you to Apex Clinic?  

I have been a regular patient at Apex Clinic on and off for years for other injuries that I have had. When my ankle pain wasn’t improving with time alone, I knew I needed to get booked in for an appointment. I was worried that I had done something to seriously injure my ankle and I was concerned that walking on it would cause further issues. My specialist physiotherapist performed an examination of my ankle and she was able to tell me straight away that the ankle wasn’t the issue. She told me that without an injury, it is very unusual that the area of the body that’s giving the pain is in fact the area where the pain is coming from. In this situation, the pain is most often referred from somewhere else. She was able to diagnose that my ankle pain was actually referred from my back, which I have had issues with previously, but I have never suffered with ankle pain before. 

How has your life changed since having treatment?  

My specialist physiotherapist carried out manual, hands on treatment on the specific area of my back that was causing the referred pain to my ankle. I actually couldn’t believe the difference straight way, it was unbelievable. When I walked out of the clinic to my car the pain had gone, it was honestly amazing! The pain in my ankle has gone completely and I am back walking 10,000 steps each day and going to the gym pain-free. 

What advice would you offer someone suffering from any ankle pain or other musculoskeletal pain? 

If you are in pain, book an appointment at Apex Clinic. While it is an investment of time and money, you can’t put a cost on your health if it’s affecting the quality of your life and stopping you doing the things you love! 

To book an appointment at Apex Clinic, call 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.