Patient testimonial: Anonymous

"A year and half ago, I was injured at sea. Prior to coming to UBC, my treatment consisted of passive treatment (e.g. physical therapy, massage, chiropractic, and medication). Six months before I came to UBC, my claim wasn’t authorized for further treatment, so I did without. There came a point during that six-month period when I abandoned the notion of ever getting better. It was a dark time. So, when I got the opportunity to come to UBC, it was like a light at the end of a tunnel.

I learned a lot from each class I attended at UBC. Medically speaking, Dr. Sinclair really cleared things up for me. For example, I’ve learned that exercise naturally increases the level of endorphins in my body, which helps with the pain. Through Jean’s relaxation classes, I discovered that just because I’m feeling pain doesn’t mean there’s something wrong. In physical therapy, I was taught that a fitness routine isn’t for bulking muscles – it’s for endurance. One day I wore biofeedback leads while lifting, which showed me that I was jerking as I was lifting. Amber had told me that during my OT sessions, but it wasn’t until that biofeedback session that I finally realized what I was doing to my poor back.

Invariably, there’s a feeling of isolation after a person is injured. As the duration of my pain wore on, the feeling of isolation increased. However, I never gave up; I continued to have faith and continued to hold on to the notion that things could be better. I’ve always felt that I was destined for a more meaningful life than I had when I was in constant pain. Therefore, I came to UBC with the attitude that I’m going to give 110%. The clinicians taught me how to manage pain as it pertained to my specific daily life activities. I knew that they wanted me to succeed. As a result, I embraced the fantastic possibility of getting better.

I’m forming new habits, ones to keep me from feeling like life is crashing down on me. Most days I maintain a positive outlook. I’ve discovered that maintaining a routine gives me much needed structure, which then gives way to hope. I want to get better; life’s no fun when I’m in pain. I wasn’t able to do certain things for so long.

Getting physically fit also helps with my emotional state. Here at UBC,. I can see that people honestly care about me. The social interaction (both with the staff and the other clients) I get at UBC, both while I was in the program and now that I work-out here as a graduate [UBC graduates are welcome to return to the facility and use the exercise equipment], is extremely helpful. Two thumbs up!"