Find a Neuromuscular Massage therapist that is very experienced in your area. Have him asses you posture and tell him your history. If he is good he should be able to fix you up in no time. Have him teach you about exercises and streches that you ould do to get yourself back into good condition and have him help you with your overall lifestyle after he figures out some things that he can help you with. I am guessing you need some work on your obliqes, quadrates lumburdum, piriforms for sure, all hip and leg muscles. You most likely don't need the surgery. I have seen many people with the same problem....just find someone good that is genuine, not expensive ( he might be), but experienced and referred, and cares about the people. That person will work wonders for you. Good Luck

Hi LCB,

Thank you for your reply. I had given up hope of someone replying!

I did actually visit a physio but she suggested my pain was not the result of the numbness in my muscle and skin. However, the pain has only been there since the accident and has become worse over the years and can be determined by changes in temperature too.

Is a neuromuscular massage therapist completely different to a physio, who really didn't seem to know what was wrong with me?

Thanks again,
Joanna

First of all if you live in CO I know someone that works miracles. When you get in a major accident like that it throws your entire body off, your posture and all you muscles. Your body is like a sweater vest, if you hook it on something it pulls and everything pulls with it. When you hurt your pelvis and back everything is going to shift for that injury. Certain muscles will be tight and contracted and others lengthened. So, your knee could be that your hamstrings or calves are pulling up on them because your pelvis could be elevated. You need to get you posture analysed, muscles tests done, a full report on your history, your daily activites, and get it corrected through deep deep neuromuscular massage. The muscles, fascia, tendons can cause entrapment ( compression) of you nerves or you bones, ligaments, and intervetebral discs can cause the impingement of your nerves and cause lots of pain. Easily fixed with someone that knows what they are doing. As you are getting these things fixed you should get exercises to do, Then possibly when feeling much better get a physical therapist that can work on endurance weights ( light more reps) and eventually work on a little more weight. I do this kind of work, but there are so many different factors and it takes a bit to pin point the problems, feel your muscles, look at your posture, ask questions. I am telling you though if you can find the right person it will probably work for you. I would also get a doctor release to do this kind of work as well and let him know you are trying it, just because you might need one. It is also good for them to exchange notes. I think you just have what many people have, and I believe this will work for you. I think you also need glutes ( the piriforms, the lateral 6 rotators), and illio psoas. These muscles play a big role with the hip and back problems. Many times the pirformis ( in you butt) get off centered and squish the siatica nerve causing pain all the way down the leg..... I could go on and on with this stuff all day but anyway, let me know what is going on I would love to help you with any questions or try and help you find someone good in your area. Good luck.

Hi again,

Thank you for your reply. You're extremely comprehensive in your answers. I believe this is why I have numbness and pain. Unfortunately I live in Australia so I don't think you'll be able to find someone good in my area. I don't know if the therapist would be called a neuromuscular therapist down here because I've only ever really heard of physios. I should do some searching. When doing the massage would they do it on my leg or back or both? The physio massaged my leg very deeply last time I went and it was extremely painful to the point I thought I was going to be sick. I guess I have to experience the pain the experience the gain though.

Do you think hydrotherapy or swimming could help me at all? I do a lot of walking but because of work and study I don't get much time for anything else, or have a lot of money either.

Thanks again for your help,
Joanna