How Cambodia Solved my Back Pain

For the last five years…

I’ve experienced chronic lower back pain to varying degrees. This past year it was particularly bad. I finally went to a non-narcotic pain clinic, where they prescribed physical therapy exercises and trigger point injections (which basically amounts to getting stabbed with needles where your muscles are tight).

The injections helped some, and I was disciplined about my physical therapy. I also started a stretching routine to try to loosen my hamstrings and lower back. All of this helped to reduce the pain, but only so much. It never went away. A friend of mine who has experienced similar issues for years said to me, “Once a back patient, always a back patient.” That was not what I wanted to hear.

I also had an MRI done, from which I learned that I have two slightly bulging discs, and I’m missing a vertebra in my lower back, but none of that was concerning to the doctors. “Some people just have one fewer,” they said, and “the bulging discs aren’t bad enough to press on the nerves, so that’s not what’s causing you pain.”

When I went to my annual check up with my family physician in October, he suggested I try an anti-inflammatory medicine similar to ibuprofen. Much like the physical therapy and injections, it helped a little, but the pain definitely didn’t go away.

I was really worried about the long flights and disrupted sleep during our planned trip to Cambodia, both of which have the potential to make my back terribly painful. And for the first few days of our trip, I was indeed experiencing quite a bit of pain.

But then something happened.

I started to relax. I was so far away from my daily routine—halfway around the world—and so caught up in the exploration we were doing that my mind and body just let go of all the stress I didn’t even realize I was holding. My back pain disappeared.

I slacked off in my exercise and stretching routine. I didn’t try very hard to eat healthily. We had desert at almost every meal, including breakfast. I normally don’t even eat breakfast! But how could I resist when there were so many delicious food options every day?

Also, in Cambodia you can get an hour-long massage—even right on the beach—for about $10! I did that twice, and let me tell you, there’s not much more relaxing than getting a deep tissue massage while listening to the real-life waves crash on the beach.

For the rest of the trip, my back was fine. I realized that none of my previous pain was related to any kind of physical weakness or musculoskeletal defect. It was all caused by stress, and once I got into full-on vacation mode, I finally relaxed enough for it to go away.

Now that I’ve been back a couple months, I do still get back pain. Alas, my life is not a permanent vacation! But now I know what I need to do to ease that pain. It’s pretty simple. I check in with myself and practice a little mindfulness. I tell myself that it’s okay if I let things go and don’t get everything done that I had hoped to accomplish. I make time for fun! I listen to what my back is telling me, which is usually, “Chill out, dude!”

I got a lot out of our trip to Cambodia, but learning this about myself was an entirely unexpected bonus.

About the video

Speaking of things I had hoped to accomplish, I took along a very nice camera for filming while in Cambodia. The first day we were there, I somehow smudged the sensor while changing lenses, so it was basically useless until I got back to Phnom Penh (the capital city) where I could purchase a sensor cleaning kit. Sadly, it was out of commission on the day we visited the ancient temples near Siem Reap. (I was so irritated with myself, because those temples were the main thing I wanted to film!)

Luckily, we all carry around fairly capable cameras in our pockets these days, so I could still capture footage with my phone. I hope you enjoy this little video postcard. I’ll have another one from Tonle Sap Lake sometime in the near future.

Next week is Christmas!

I hope you have loved ones to enjoy this holiday season with. The older I get, the more aware I am of how many people are especially missing someone they love during this time of year. If that’s you, please know I’m sending you love and good vibes. If you get lonely, you can always reach out or send me a message. I promise to respond!