Pippa Crowther could have used her “bad back” as an excuse not to exercise but, despite the odds stacked against her, Pippa not only conquered her serious back problems but went on to build a successful personal training business. This is Pippa’s inspiring story… 

I’d had a bad back for as long as I can remember. Even at school I remember having to lie on the floor during lessons. In 1989 I qualified as a nurse however by the mid 1990s it got to the stage where my back would just ‘go’ every few years and I would need six months off work to recover and have rehab.

In 2001 my back ‘went again’. This time however it kept deteriorating despite medical intervention and this culminated in an emergency admission to hospital. I was discharged and put on strong pain killers but, despite medical care, the deterioration continued over the next few months. I was eventually referred to a specialist unit in Central London (the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery) for further investigation and Pain Management. By this time I was only able to travel by ambulance and stretcher and then only because of vast amounts of pain medication. The treatment helped a little but I was still in almost constant pain and unable to move about easily.  

In 2003 I was offered and granted “Ill Health Retirement” from the NHS. I was told that I could never expect to walk again unaided and as a consequence was registered disabled. By 2004 my house was adapted and I required a full time carer to assist with day to day life.  My bedroom became my ‘home’. If I went out it was by ambulance and stretcher. I could walk VERY short distances with my crutches and with support. However I was a zombie on a massive amount of medication. I was provided with a wheelchair but I declined to use it. Needless to say, as a result of my inactivity I gained a significant amount of weight.

Things changed in 2004 after seeing several different Doctors. I was referred to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore where I met with my new consultant. I had long since been diagnosed with ‘crippling spinal instability’.  He looked at my current quality of life and felt I was far too young to be so dependant and housebound and offered me surgery. He stated VERY CLEARLY this would not cure me but might improve my quality of life. It was palliative or pain controlling surgery. I had to undergo several very unpleasant investigations first but then in early 2005 he told me he could go ahead with the main surgery BUT I would have to lose more weight. I had already lost four stone and he suggested I needed to lose another four – not easy when you are immobile. However at the peak of my medication I would try and do simplest things like steps ups on my landing at home. The tears would be pouring down my face but I did it because I knew the potential payoff could give me back my health and my life.

By June I had lost the necessary weight and was admitted for the surgery in July. The surgery had just finished its trial period and was considered incredibly risky. I was told that death or paralysis were very real outcomes. I did not care – I had missed so much of life I was prepared to risk everything to some form of normality! My stay in hospital involved a 24 hour admission to ITU post surgery for close 1 to 1 monitoring. The surgery was done via the abdomen and was very close to the area where the aorta and vena cava (vital blood vessels) branch off to run down the legs. Nerve damage, spinal shock and permanent incontinence were now added to the risk factors. I had a prosthetic disc inserted into my spine which was made up of two cobalt chromium metallic endplates and a polyethylene core. Despite damage/disease to other discs this seemed to even my spine out and my old pain was gone.

I went into hospital by ambulance and stretcher and went home 10 days later by car. I was able to sit upright for the first time in a long time albeit with the aid of a spinal brace.

Six weeks later I returned to the hospital for my first check up with no crutches and having travelled again by car. Six months later I travelled back by tube with no assistance and a year later drove myself. My consultant could not believe the outcome and asked if I would advise any of his patients that were considering this surgery as an option. I have since learned it is incredibly rare to achieve this level of function after spending so long disabled. I have a Physiotherapist friend who says he has never seen this level of recovery and activity.

 

On the down side, after my surgery, no rehab was offered. I was told do what was allowed and not allowed to do and that was it. I discovered my local hospital did a six week back and core class in their physiotherapy department so I asked my doctor for referral. I attended each session and by now was able to walk almost a mile uphill to the class and then home again. Once the course ended I took up Pilates and started to swim.

Six months later I wanted to challenge myself even more and joined a gym for the first time in my life. I was still technically rehabilitating throughout this time and my rehab was largely self-prescribed. I would practice Pilates and Core training daily for an hour when unable to attend the gym and I continued to swim when possible.

Sadly during this time by father had a massive stroke and was also diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was now able to travel from London to Norfolk on a regular basis to nurse him which I did until he died. At the end of 2006 I was discharged from the pain clinic and from Stanmore and by 2007 I had started to run. Later that year I entered my first 10K race. I completed several 10K races before entering a completing the Royal Parks Half Marathon last year.

After years of pain and disability I now felt fantastic but I wanted more than to feel well myself – I wanted to help other people feel better too! I wanted to help people who had never exercised before, who had back or weight problems and introduce them to exercise. I had also discovered how good the gym made me feel and I wanted to share this passion.

I spoke to several people who said I would need to become a Level 3 Personal Trainer to do this. I had a lot of self-doubt as, in spite of losing a vast amount of weight, I was still a “big girl”. I had this stereo type in my head of how an instructor should look but I knew it is what I wanted to do and I went for it despite my fears. I chose a course I could do in my own time and embarked on a Diploma in PT with an Exercise Referral Module attached with Lifetime Health and Fitness and in 2008 I qualified as Level 2 Fitness Instructor. By the end of 2009 I had completed all of the modules of my PT Diploma and was a fully qualified personal trainer.

I wanted to give something back to the community so I started working at my local gym as they had supported me during my return to fitness. Soon after I also began work at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa – the home of England Rugby. This allows me time to work as a freelance PT. I train clients in their own homes and outside with minimal equipment. I have since worked with clients recovering from back, knee and shoulder surgery and I hope to study the Level 4 back Pain pathway in 2011 so I have a formal qualification in Back Pain and Exercise Management. In addition to post operative and weight loss clients I have also successfully prepared people for army entrance fitness tests, 10K races and half marathon runs and I have lost track of the number of people who I have worked with to help relieve their back pain. Core training and flexibility training is fundamental to my programming.

My outlook on life has changed completely. Every day, clichéd as it sounds, is a bonus. I want to pass on my passion for exercise. I know you can lose weight while in tremendous pain but also how easy it is to put it on in the first place - pain was the cause of this too!  My clients tell me that they can relate to me as I am a ‘normal’ person who understands how challenging exercise and rehab can be. My personal experience means I know about the ‘dark times’ you may have when in so much pain but also know that in many cases, exercise and diet can be very effective in helping people overcome enormous barrier to adopting a healthier lifestyle. 

You can contact Pippa at or by visiting her at tp://www.facebook.com/pages/PipFit/161601327204262?ref=ts&v=wall 

 

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