BODY MECHANICS

"When l first met Carole l blurted out all my mental, emotional and physical anguish. I had a burning tongue, aching painful hip and inner thigh, sore and painful feet and my head was so heavy it felt like it was going to fall off my shoulders, as well as feeling blank and fussy in my brain. I felt like l was in the biggest darkest hole with no light at the end. Through having some visits to Carole's bright and safe rooms l found that she didn't only put my body back together but my mind and ailments disappeared from her explaining how the body takes things on literally and how to find peace within myself. Carole listens with no judgement and continued to tell me l needed to love myself before l could love anyone else or attempt to help anyone else. I have attended Carole's life skill classes over the last 12 months and found l have grown and found a happier me both physically and mentally. l not only found a therapist and life educator, but more importantly a friend."

Pam Gordon, 51. Mother, wife and businesswoman, Merimbula.

"In Aug 2005 I had an accident at work where I was squashed by a large engine housing and the doctor said I had bulged 2 discs in my lower back, gave me 5 weeks off work, some pain killers, some physio none of which seemed to work. So I went to Carole and she started repairing the damage.

Not long after the accident I started to go down hill. My back was coming along but I didn't feel right. I thought it was the pain killers so I stopped taking them but it got worse. It started with my right arm losing strength, not being able to control it and then forgetting things, leaving things loose and not knowing whether I'd done something or not and as a diesel mechanic that's not good. 

Finally I started to lose my speech. I'd get these delays of roughly 10 seconds where I'd get the words out, then nothing - my speech was broken, I couldn't complete a sentence. This was happening 50 times a day. 

I went back to the doctor, had scans and tests, I even went to a brain surgeon who said I had a form of epilepsy even when the tests said I didn't. He wanted to put me on epileptic drugs. I went back to Carole and she said she would like to help fix me, but she couldn't guarantee anything as she had never had someone with this complaint before but she would have a go, but I had to make sure all the tests were clear. At that stage I think everyone had run out of tests.

Carole wanted 6 visits to try and do something, on the 1st visit she found some damage to the right hand rear base of my skull where I must have hit my head in the accident. After that visit I started to feel much better. My speech and my strength were coming back. By the 3rd visit I was nearly back to normal and now 3 years later I haven't had one attack, I see Carole about every 6 months for a tune-up. I believe that if it wasn't for Carole I would have ended up physically and mentally in big trouble so to her, me and my family owe her a great deal of thanks."

- John Cummings, 48. Diesel mechanic, husband and father, Merimbula.

"As a typically accident-prone kid, accidents from trampoline traumas to motorbike mashings, had seen me with multiple strains, torn ligaments & many broken bones - including a couple of quite painful compressed vertebrae. But as a youth, you heal quickly and don't really feel the pain for long (until later in life).

Then in my early 20s an aggressive arthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis ) invaded what wasn't already knocked about in my spine. I had a permanent limp from a lumbar misalignment that was something to see (it was as if my body had been moved across 2 inches from the waist up - I looked deformed). I was in a high level of contract, nagging pain that was clouding my thoughts and decisions. I was sleeping little and waking up in agony. My medication was taking over my life, ie ruining my gut and adding to the clouding of my thoughts/emotions and decisions. I was forever fatigued - absolutely exhausted from the endless battle that was going on for the domination of my being (it was war).

I felt I had exhausted pretty much all of my options. I'd been to all the doctors, specialists, pain counsellors and physios I could see. They gave me a handful of pills, some insight into what was going on and a few handy snippets that helped me with my daily living - stretching, exercise routine etc. However, even with all their pills and my "stretching like the devil was after me", I was gradually getting worse.

My situation had become desperate. I was in extreme pain, I was scared to give up work and really pushing myself beyond my limits to stay there (I knew I couldn't afford to stop moving - either financially, physically or emotionally). My job is physical - maybe too much so - but I needed that routine and above all, I knew I had to keep moving. You stop - you drop! I also needed daily time off to get my sh*t together. And in this regard, I'm fortunate and grateful for having an understanding boss, workmates too!

I'm a down to earth, quite practical person. I'll try almost anything. Open minded, but a vigilant sceptic too. I've come across more than a few "quacks" - both alternative and mainstream not to be wary.

I was introduced to Carole by a level-headed fellow who had his own story of pain and redemption to tell. When Carole first looked me up and down, she promptly announced that she wasn't sure if she could help me. However she was prepared to give it a go, no guarantees (I was a mess). I think we both went through uncharted waters together. Carole's different ways worked on my body and my attitude, toward a common goal of less pain both physically and emotionally and to break that self-reinforcing downward spiral that can occur if problems aren't arrested early. I'd go home feeling quite battered and exhausted (I'm sure Carole felt the same way sometimes) knowing that when it all settled down, I'd be a little better each time.

Carole looked after me for quite some time, helping rebalance my muscle system and giving me plenty of food for thought as well. I still see her occasionally for a maintenance visit and I see she is working on other unusual cases now - I'm pretty sure they will have their stories to tell as well.

Me now: The war never ends but the real life difference is easy to see. My body is not crooked, my muscles are in place and are much more balanced with each other. I'm more at peace with myself and my body. I move normally. My face isn't pale and drawn and pinched with pain, I'm not stressed and locked up constantly battling pain and angst. I still take medication, but not as much. I actually have time to live a little and get things done for myself, other than work and come home to collapse, to do it all over again the next day. No more Ground Hog Days for me! I'm not really sure where I'd be today if it weren't for Carole's expertise. But I was a mess and heading for a breakdown.

Testimonial? Well I've read a few of those. What's in it for them? Yes - I can be a sceptic! What's in it for me writing this one? I can honestly say, nothing. I can only hope that you take this as a sincere story of what helped me turn around a hopeless situation to a far better outlook for my life. What's in it for you? That depends on your situation and your attitude."

- Colin Twigg