At every event with The Outsiders, we share our wins of the month. This time, I had a win OF A LIFETIME.

And I couldn’t have done it without this wonderful man Ed Giles.

For many years I suffered with chronic pain. Pain in my hand and wrist, which extended into my arm, elbow and shoulder. And then down my back and into my leg.

I worked with 7 different physiotherapists, a chiropractor, a spinal surgeon, NHS GPs. None of them could get to the route of the problem.

I made major adjustments to my working position with specialist equipment, standing desks, more regular breaks, yet nothing would solve it.

Eventually I got an xray, which I never saw, but they told me I have scoliosis. They wanted to prescribe me pain medication. I was awfully suspicious. Firstly, what about all the other pain I had, how is that related to a curvature in my spine? Also, many people go their whole lives without realising they have scoliosis. Unless it’s a very severe case, it’s usually not a problem.

I was told my pain wouldn’t get better. I was told my condition would only get worse, and it’s just a case of managing it.

Through all of my hours spent researching, trying to find the cause of my pain, I was telling my body and my mind that something was wrong with me.

I had accidentally strengthened my pain receptors, after so much time spent resisting and in fear of my pain.

After learning about my story, Ed knew it sounded all too familiar. Someone too young to be in so much pain, struggling to find an answer and suffering without a clear cause.

In just 10 sessions, me and Ed dug deep into the psychology behind pain, where mine originated from, how I can observe it, and he taught me the tools to be free from it.

Although my pain was very real, the cause wasn’t physical. It was a disconnection between my mind and my body.

Ed is the single only person throughout my entire experience with learning about my pain who has genuinely listened to me, sympathised, and proven to me just how passionate he is about helping me be free from my pain.

His approach is incredibly calming, the sessions were tailored to me specifically, and he always offered support outside of the sessions in case of flair ups.

I still sometimes have pain – that’s very human and normal, but now I react with compassion, and calm myself down, rather than panicking, trying to remove my pain and creating fear.

My win for life? I no longer have chronic pain.

There was never anything wrong with me.