Heather Austin has always been passionate about her morning run. Running energized her and helped her balance the emotional demands of working as a clinical social worker. But three years ago, she began experiencing increasingly severe nerve pain that felt like “electric shocks” traveling from her hips to her knees and later to her ankles.
Over time, she could barely walk without excruciating pain. Running was impossible. Physical therapy offered only temporary relief. She tried steroid medications, anti-inflammatory treatments, muscle relaxants, ibuprofen and even epidurals. Each time the symptoms returned, the pain was worse, making even basic chores and activities difficult for the mother of two busy teenagers.
