I first went to see Dr. Benjamin in May, 2000, with problems relating to a torn cartilage in my right knee and to osteoarthritis in various joints, most notably in my neck. For a couple of months I had been experiencing pain in the knee when walking and more severe pain when going up or down stairs, so that I had to walk slowly and had to go up stairs one at a time, starting only with the good knee. For 10 years I had suffered chronic pain in the neck and relied on a chair with a head support to get through the day. I had in recent months also been aware of occasional pain in my right hip, and of course in my lower back.

In my assessment, Dr. Benjamin found that I had severe muscle tension and injuries to the muscles and ligaments in my neck and back and to the tendons, ligaments as well as the cartilage in my knee. He recommended treatment twice a week. Interestingly, as he was examining the muscles in the back of my head, he commented that most people with that much tension there have headaches. To which, I laughed and said oh, yes, I have mild, chronic headaches every day, as well as tiredness and the need to rest my neck constantly during the middle of the day. I had not previously connected the headaches with my neck pain.

I was particularly concerned about these problems because I was scheduled to go to Japan four months later for 6 weeks to work. I knew that in Japan I would not have my head-rest chair every day, and I would have to use the subway system in Tokyo, which would require walking and going up and down stairs.

After a few weeks of therapy, I noticed gradual improvement, and after 3 months, significant improvement. Regular walking, not too fast, was no longer a problem at all, and going up and down stairs in the normal manner was possible with only mild discomfort. It seems that the torn cartilage is still torn, but that there was little or no pain in the surrounding muscles, tendons or ligaments. I may still have to have injection therapy or surgery to take care of the cartilage itself. The improvement in my neck, back and hip was more impressive. The hip pain, which Ben said was most likely related to the strains in the lower back disappeared rather quickly, and the lower back pain was soon ameliorated to the point that it seldom bothered me at all. And most happily, my headaches went away altogether! After years of chronic headaches, I felt liberated! I also found that the fatigue in my neck in the middle of the day also disappeared, and my general energy level went up! I could do my work without longing to rest or relax my neck.

I should add that Ben also gave me exercises to do for my knee, back and neck, which I am sure helped. Especially noteworthy was Ben's block which I used at home daily to relieve the tension at the back of my head and neck. In the beginning it hurt my head to use it but after a few weeks, I gradually moved to using the sharpest edge without that much discomfort.

By the time I went to Japan, four months later, I was able to sit all day in conferences with straight chairs, and was able to cope pretty well with subways and stairs. I continued to do my exercises, and I continued to be free of headaches.

-Suzanne Vogel
Clinical Social Worker