I’ve dealt with back pain since I was 15 years old. A basketball injury left me with chronic lower back issues, and for years I cycled through chiropractors, stretching routines, and physical therapy without lasting relief.

In 2020, I wrote an article talking about how daily stretching and flexibility helped me feel “99% pain-free.” It was true at the time, but it didn’t last.

Fast forward to 2023. My back pain resurfaced after a hectic travel schedule and renovating my apartment. All the stretching that previously helped suddenly did nothing. This time was different. The pain was intense, constant, and mentally draining.