Eric Madis

This book has changed my life, as did Johnson's book Treat Your Own Hand and Thumb Arthritis. As a professional musician/guitarist I came across that book at a point at which I was told by a hand surgeon that I might not be satisfied with the results of surgery for my CMC joint arthritis and, having friends who had gone through it, I knew that I would be at least 18 months without income from my profession. I found Johnson's book and it not only helped me to manage my condition, but to continue to function at a professional level. Regarding stenosis, I have struggled with it (particularly when I was teaching my martial art) for 3 1/2 years, and in the past six months, I had constant, daily pain in my buttock, thigh, calf and back and I had gotten to the point at which it hurt me to walk and I was hunched over and limping. I had three MRI's, saw four different orthopedic doctors (all of which were very good) and physical therapists, the latter who were more than willing to take my money and hand out sheets of paper with exercises (that I already knew and had already been doing or that were ineffective) over weeks and months. I was getting ready to have epidural injections to relieve the pain, but I knew that they are a temporary fix and, if not done carefully, can result in complications. In addition, I was taking NSAIDs (like ibuprofen and later tylenol) daily, trying my best to keep them to one/day. I did not want to continue doing that! Because of my previous success with Johnson's hand arthritis book, I discovered that he had written one on spinal stenosis. I bought it and, within a day or two of doing his exercises, had immediate relief and progress. I am looking forward to continuing in the progressive manner that he has prescribed. If I have to change my lifestyle, I will. But I am very hopeful now that I will be able to continue doing the two things that I live for (besides my family and my country). Don't let the size and simplicity of Johnson's books fool you. They are innovative, extremely well-researched and include exercises that are designed (if you do them according to directions) to get real results. Like someone else said in another review, "this guy deserves an award" for his work. I hope that Jim Johnson reads this review. I would like to personally thank him for giving this 65 year-old professional musician and martial arts instructor back his life.