Back in Action

I wanted to be "back in action"!

I have tried surgery, physiotherapy and an osteopath, but the *one* thing that has given me hope of 'getting better' is Back in Action. A physio told me about the Bristol shop, but even when she said roughly where it was I did not actually spot it for several years - it is surprisingly reclusive! By then I was desperate for help and went in with the express intention of getting a memory-foam mattress, and possibly a computer chair. I was impressed with the vast range of products, and with the expertise, as opposed to "the usual sales pitch", of the rep we spoke to. We ended up buying a mattress, two pillows, and two rocking chairs.

Unfortunately it has to be said things went badly wrong with the supply of each and every item - to the extent that my regular phone calls to the shop excited an audible groan from the other end as soon as I mentioned my name! This did put me off for a long time.

I had hoped that these expensive purchases would be sufficient to improve my back, but once again it was desperation that brought me back in hopes that trying the Mobi (it really was my 'Last Hope') could do something to make me feel BETTER.

The rep who served me was again very good and I hired the Mobi for 3 months before deciding whether to buy one. It has still not 'cured' me but right from the start I felt it was having an effect, and by the end of the hire I knew I had to purchase, it was THAT good. I can now walk with freedom, and although sitting and bending is still painful I can last longer and in less pain, generally speaking, and I am sure it is thanks to this machine.

One problem I did find was the 'silence' during treatment! With an osteo., for example, you get a constant stream of "Oooooh, there's a bit of a knot THERE, sir, isn't there! ...." [the rest of the commentary being drowned out by my howls as he digs that elbow in] Even in the optician's, taking the field-of-vision test, there is a soothing voice saying "You're doing just GREAT.... Not much longer now..." etc. Not that I think I'd like the Mobi to utter such regular trivialities but I do think it is a really *excellent* part of the service having the ability to communicate 'progress' (or lack of it) and experirnce with a qualified person who can reassure or advise about alternatives. That human contact is VERY important.

When we went in the shop to pick up the brand new Mobi we ended up buying different supports for car seats and very nearly a whole 3-piece suite, it was SO comfortable! The latter idea has foundered, possibly temporarily, because of the sheer SIZE of the furniture - we can't quite see how it would 'fit' in our room.

Money is a bit of a problem with these excellent products - none of it is cheap. I am lucky in that I can prioritise my health as being THE major problem in life and it is worth every penny, but I can imagine a lot of people who would have real difficulties facing the prices.

On the other hand what REALLY bothers me is that the NHS system either doesn't know or simply doesn't bother(?) to make your services known. My doctor sent me to two operations (silicone injections), with all the attendant appointments. The second op certainly had some success, but the whole idea of having 'lubricant' pumped into you seemed mad to me. He later sent me to a course of physio, which achieved little, and may have made things worse. If ONLY the doc. could have put me on to the Mobi right from the start I can't help thinking they could have saved a LOT of money (AND got me 'back in action' years ago). And imagine that times thousands of back-pain patients. The problem with an osteopath was not just the money but the lack of daily routine - which is why the Mobi is so brilliant, you use it every day and several times a day, so it can have a much longer-term EFFECT. I have no idea HOW it could be done but I do feel doctors should not only be aware of this machine, as well as your whole range, but should actually own enough themselves to let 'poor' patients use them in the surgery even. Spending money to save money in the longer term.

Despite having a representative range of your products, and definitely feeling better now than BEFORE I had them!, I still find that whenver I think I am making progress something happens to remind me I still have a huge debility. Yesterday, for example, I did some gardening, with all the attendany bending and stretching. I not only found it very painful but VERY difficult to straighten up again at the end. I wonder if this might be an area you could address somehow? Some sort of (easy) bending machine (down-up, down-up), maybe? Or is this seen as something one should do simply as exercises for one's self? Maybe you already have a product I don't know about?! In the evening a fault developed in the smoke alarm system and all hell broke loose, involving my having to stretch up on steps to disable several alarms until at last they stopped. Yup, I have a certainly will be needing your products for a LOOOOOOONG time to come yet!

Keep up the good work.