Merrilyn Irvine
I am the owner of Winnipeg Pain Treatment Centre and have suffered with fibromyalgia for over fifteen years. The chronic pain from this arthritic condition was very debilitating. I had severe muscle tightness that caused a multitude of other musculoskeletal issues, including excruciatingly painful muscle spasms and muscle weakness. As well, an MRI had revealed that I had ostearthritis in my right shoulder and disk herniation in the lumbar area of my spine. On many occasions, I had difficulty walking because of the extreme pain radiating into my legs.
My medical doctor prescribed muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication and over-the-counter pain medications. This hardly alleviated the pain and I was very concerned about the health risks associated with talking these medications over the long-term. I also visited my physiotherapist, chiropractor and massage therapist on a regular basis. Although these therapies were very beneficial, they did not provide long-term results for the pain I was experiencing.
I became interested in low intensity laser therapy two years ago after my sister, Hazel, started treatments for a rheumatic disorder. Managing so much pain had reduced a normally high-energy person to severe exhaustion. Her medical doctor prescribed painkillers, which hardly alleviated her pain and symptoms. She also had spent thousands of dollars on alternative therapies in search of a solution. After questioning whether she could even continue to work part-time any longer, Hazel heard about low intensity laser therapy. She began travelling two hours away from her home to receive low intensity laser treatments in Regina. Initially, a friend drove her to the treatments, as the trip was too exhausting to drive on her own. Today, Hazel is now functioning normally and working full-time hours after having her qualify of life almost completely destroyed by pain for over 10 years.
Because of the results I saw with my sister, in January 2007, I travelled to a laser clinic in Steinbach to begin treatments. After receiving only 6 treatments I experienced incredible relief from the chronic neck and shoulder pain that I had suffered with the past 15 years. I then began treatments on my back and other areas of muscle tightness, which also yielded the same excellent results.
My belief in the benefits of low intensity laser therapy and an intense desire to help others who live with chronic pain led me to resign from my 15-year career with the provincial government to start Winnipeg Pain Treatment Centre. In August 2007, I hired two registered massage therapists and we travelled to Meditech International in Toronto to receive certification in low intensity laser therapy. Our clients are so thrilled with their results that they are telling their friends and family about this incredible treatment. The demand for treatment has been so great that I have now hired a third registered massage therapist and we are continuing to gain more new clients every day.
Today, I am living free of chronic pain and my energy levels have increased dramatically! Low intensity laser therapy has given me my life back!!
Merrilyn Irvine