Jack’s Journey: From Debilitating Pain to Peak Performance
I am pretty confident that there are a few clients in every personal trainer's career who, in large part, shape who they are and they way the work/think.
Over the past ten years, I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds (maybe even thousands) of people who are dealing with pain or unrealized fitness in a variety of environments
It is truly amazing to think that a complete stranger will give me their trust. It is not something that I take lightly.
A few years back, I decided to go all-in as an online coach, helping fitness lovers and adult athletes overcome back. A transition inspired by my own 4+ year battle with lower back pain. One that, at times, completely overhauled my life.
I Went “All-In” on Pain
My journey from spending every day consumed by pain to being able to deadlift 500 lbs and run 40 miles was no easy feat. It’s a great story to be able to tell, but I would never wish that pain on anyone— physically, mentally, or emotionally.
As my client Jack Burton so graciously stated, “At its worst [the pain was] completely debilitating. It's so difficult, I think, to impress on someone how difficult dealing with low back pain is.”
Let me be clear— being in pain (chronic pain at that) is no badge of honor. It’s a dark and cold room that you can’t escape because you don’t know how to unlock the door. It’s a recurring dream in which you fall and wake up after the ground (instead of just before). You then spend all day hoping you don’t have the dream again. It’s the type of chapter in life that will change who you are, just like the people dealing with those battles have helped to shape who I am and how I serve my clients.
One of those “cornerstone clients” was (and still is) my man, Jack Burton.
When The Pain Took Control
Jack and I first crossed paths on Instagram while he was working with another online coach, focusing on improving performance and building muscle. Unfortunately, Jack was dealing with a few nagging aches and pains that were becoming too much of a distraction. As much as he enjoyed focusing on getting jacked, getting rid of these pains was slowly becoming the main priority. So, Jack reached out, and not long after, our partnership began. Months passed, and those nagging aches and pains started to fade. Then, the universe threw a curveball Jack’s (and my) way.
Slowly but surely, Jack’s lower back became more than a random pain.
It started affecting his fitness and found its way into every facet of his life. I asked Jack to explain what his pain was like at its worst, and he said…
“Imagine not being able to lie on your side for more than 15 minutes at a time or being able to sit without discomfort for more than 15 minutes - it truly felt like I was at war with my body. I remember feeling such profound grief (especially as a previous coach and athlete).”
I can recall multiple Zoom calls where Jack and I worked through problems, made adjustments, and simply talked about what he was going through mentally and emotionally. One call specifically, when Jack’s lower back pain was at its worst, he had to lie on the floor to talk because he was unable to sit in his ergonomic desk chair for more than 5 minutes.
“There was nothing that it didn't affect. It consumed my thoughts constantly,” Jack explains when asked how his pain affected his life.
The Turning Point
Jack’s lower back pain journey wasn’t simple. Overcoming his pain required more than just clever programming and corrective exercises. Jack was a fighter. He didn’t give up. As with most of our individual lives, Jack dealt with major stressors that stole his time, energy, and emotional capacity. And for a while, neither of us truly understood how much his life and struggles outside of the gym were affecting his ability to heal.
We learned together.
Over time, through tactful program design and support from me, personal growth, relentless grit, and adaptability from Jack, and outside professional guidance, we began to win the battle with Jack’s back pain.
But the comeback was not a smooth ride, and it was certainly not without hardship, confusion, and doubt. As Jack recalls, “There were moments where I was certain that I would be in pain the rest of my life.”
An “aha” Moment
As I insisted earlier, being in THIS much pain for THIS long changes who you are. I think Jack would agree that many of those changes are actually for the better— invaluable lessons that you carry with you for the rest of your life. We just can’t see the “benefits” until after the fact.
One of Jack’s greatest “aha” moments was finally understanding that his lower back pain was a sign of how much stress he could handle.
“Instead of seeing it as solely an issue to resolve, I started to view it as a friend whose counsel I should consider,” Jack explained. “After that realization it was much easier to meet myself at where I was instead of bemoaning my perceived deficits.”
He finished by making sure you understand that his pain became a voice at the table—not the dictator of his life.
This is what it means to move beyond pain. Taking back control.
A Rise To The Top
Today, my man Jack has moved beyond the lower back pain that controlled him for so long and is now in the best shape of his life—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Not only is he back to deadlifting close to 2x his body weight and squatting close to his body weight, but he is also no longer afraid of exercises and daily tasks that could trigger a flare-up.
Jack Crying tears of joy after heavy deadlifts without pain.
Jack has gained a strong understanding of what triggers a flare-up and is able to navigate those issues without letting them derail his life. “The sense of impending doom is shorter in those instances,” said Jack. Now, Jack can focus on what he cares about most instead of being consumed by pain.
“I am back to pushing the limits of what I consider altheticism”
Take jack’s Advice…
When I asked Jack what advice he’d give someone going through the same pain he did, he said…
“It sometimes feels hopeless, and that's okay. Allow yourself to grieve how difficult this is, explore what your values are surrounding exercise/health, and use this as an opportunity to reaffirm them or amend them if you need to! You're strong, resilient, and capable!”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
If you are dealing with pain that’s taking over your life, remember that you are strong, resilient, and capable.
Take it from Jack and me: there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With the right support, you will find that light.
Move beyond it.
