I hadn’t realised how long it had been since my last post. I’ve been busy writing, researching and working with volunteers to try and find a self-treatment approach that works well for everyone. Finally, I am on the home stretch and feeling very happy with how the book has taken shape. I still have diagrams to draw and photographs to shoot – I want all the concepts and exercises to be illustrated clearly. I’m setting myself a target of 5 weeks to get the book completed and published. If you haven’t already done so, Join my mailing list to receive email notification when the Self Help guide is available.

When it came to documenting my cure I realized I didn’t really know in detail what had worked for me. My approach to treatment was not an exact science! A few of the people I tried to help last year did really well using my approach – so well that two cancelled hip replacement surgery and are still pain free and enjoying life to the full. However, it was only working for a certain type of person – those with good body awareness. Most people needed something much more detailed and specific. It’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but I think the Self Help Guide now provides this.

The Self Help Guide will be of most use to people with hip Osteoarthritis as that’s what I was diagnosed with and have most experience of. I provide a detailed explanation of the underlying muscle imbalance and a suggested 12 week treatment plan. The basic principles will apply to all types of Osteoarthritis and the guide has a section with joint specific information.

To give you an idea of what’s included in the book here’s the contents page:

Introduction : How to Use This Book

Section One : Challenging Assumptions

– Is Cure Really Possible?
——– My Story – Beating a Hip Osteoarthritis Diagnosis
——– Can You Be Cured Too?
——– The Importance of Self Efficacy

– Evaluating the OA Diagnosis and Prognosis
——– How Reliable is your Understanding of your Condition?
——– Evidence Based Practice vs Evidence Guided Practice
——– Evidence Based Practice – Clinical Guideline CG177 (NICE)
——– What is Osteoarthritis (According to NICE)?
——– How is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed (According to NICE)?
——– An OA Diagnosis Does NOT Mean you cannot be cured (According to NICE)

Section Two : An Alternative Diagnosis – Muscle Imbalance

– An Introduction to Muscle Imbalance Theory
——– What is a muscle imbalance and how does it lead to an OA diagnosis?
——– Muscle Imbalance – an Introduction to the Concepts
——– Pathological Muscle Imbalance and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
——– Are All Cases of OA and Joint Pain Caused by Muscle Imbalance and RSIs?

– Why Are Muscle Imbalances Often Resistant to Treatment?

– Why Don’t Doctors Rule Out Muscle Imbalances Before Diagnosing Incurable OA?

Section Three : A Common Imbalance that Can Lead to a Hip Osteoarthrits Diagnosis

– The Significance of Gait
——– What happens when a left/right muscle imbalance develops?
——– Why Does One Side Become More Dominant?

– The Significance of the Sacrum

– A Detailed Look at What’s Really Wrong
——– The Sacrum During Normal Gait
——– The ‘Stuck’ Sacrum
——– A Self Re-enforcing Cycle
——– Chicken or Egg – What Starts the Cycle?
——– Breaking the Cycle

– Diagnosis

– The 12 Week Treatment Plan

Section Four – Treating Other Types of OA

– Hip OA
– Knee OA
– Hand OA
– OA in Other Joints

Section Five – Getting out of Pain

– Pain caused by stressed and unhappy soft tissue
– Pain caused by Repetitive Stress Injuries
– Nerve Pain
– Pain in the Mind – Don’t Discount This!!
– True Joint Pain

Section Six – Work, Sport and Exercise

– What Sports and Activities are Safe for OA Sufferers?
– Pros and Cons of Continuing with Work/Sports during treatment.

Section Seven – Getting More Help

– Getting your GP or Family Doctor on Board
– When to consult a Physical Therapist
– Resources on the Impossible Takes Longer Website
– Contact Me!