Topaz’s Recovery Story: From 14 Years of Pain to Full Recovery

When I first met Topaz at the Jersey Sports and Spinal Clinic, she had been living with back pain for 14 years. Her pain began at just 13 years old after a serious fall from a horse. She landed backwards through a wooden fence, and what started that day never fully went away.

Topaz's pain affected her upper and lower back

On average, her back pain sat around 5/10 on the pain scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable), but it could increase to 9/10 with the wrong trigger. Everyday tasks like lifting anything over 5kg, standing for more than an hour, or even just having a busy day would reliably wind up her pain. This was especially tough given her job at Hamptonne Farm, where supplying the island with free-range eggs means lifting, standing, and long days are unavoidable.

On top of this, Topaz had also developed neck and shoulder pain over the last five years, averaging 5/10 and often disturbing her sleep when she rolled over at night. As a keen softball player, shoulder movement was particularly important to her, not least when stepping up to bat.

Setting Clear Goals

When we began working together, our first goal was straightforward: to reduce both her everyday and wound up pain intensity by 2 points on the pain scale within three months.

During her initial assessment, we identified a few key factors. Topaz is hypermobile, meaning her joints have a greater-than-average range of motion. While flexibility can sometimes be helpful, it often comes with reduced baseline strength and stability, making it harder for muscles to support the joints. In Topaz’s case, her hip and trunk strength needed focused attention.

We agreed on a tailored strengthening programme and, crucially, Topaz was committed to doing her rehab consistently.

Understanding Her Pain

Over the first few months, we worked not just on exercises, but on understanding the biopsychosocial nature of pain - the way biological, psychological, and social factors all interact to influence pain. Grasping that pain does not equal damage is often critical for recovering from persistent pain.

👉 Pain Does NOT Equal Damage: The Neuroscience Behind Chronic Pain 👈

Topaz kept a pain diary, which helped us spot patterns: what increased her symptoms, what eased them, and how lifestyle factors played a role. This clarity allowed her to take back some control. Meanwhile, she made a plan with her doctor to gradually reduce her pain medication.

Breakthroughs in Recovery

By the three-month mark, Topaz had stopped all pain medication. She was lifting heavier loads again at work and had restarted softball training.

At five months, she was back playing in tournaments. Together we worked through a batting restriction, then tackled a few minor softball-related injuries as they came up. The highlight? She smashed the end of the season with her first ever home run.

Stealing Progress

Today, Topaz is almost pain free. She still carries a slight ankle niggle, but both her upper and lower back pain have completely resolved - a huge change after more than a decade of daily pain.

A Message of Hope

Topaz kindly agreed to share her story to let others know that even long-standing pain doesn’t have to be permanent. With the right rehabilitation approach, persistence, and support, recovery is possible.

If you’re living with persistent pain in Jersey and would like support with your recovery, you can book an appointment with me at the Jersey Sports & Spinal Clinic here. If you live outside of Jersey, you can book a virtual consultation here.