Evidence-based approaches for pain management

Johnny brings caring, comprehensive and practical expertise to managing chronic pain, chronic fatigue and other complex health conditions. I have been working with Johnny for the past year and he has helped me manage my conditions and improve my quality of life through supporting my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), chronic fatigue, chronic pain and the associated challenges. It’s clear that Johnny keeps up to date with the most recent research and

and physiotherapy and having him as part of my multidisciplinary health care team has been invaluable.

Stay consistent with exercise!

After experiencing chronic neck pain for one year with deteriorating discs in C1,C2,C3,C4,C5 and spondylitis I received treatment from JK Pain Rehab in the form of exercises which were reviewed regularly.

I spent 60 years working on typewriters and computers – often long hours without proper ergonomic considerations in the early part of my career, and enjoyed reading propped up on pillows which didn’t help my posture. The final deterioration came after editing my friend’s memoir with sustained time on the computer and moving house. I was in severe pain for a year and could not sleep with a pillow or carry out ordinary housework like sweeping, and driving which required me to bend and turn my head. This was accompanied by acute cranial pain which was there 24 hours a day.

I received treatment in the form of radiofrequency ablation and cortisone – however the pain persisted. I found some medications highly addictive and not helpful in terms of pain, in fact they increased the pain. At present I take only anti-inflammatory medication for an overall condition of arthritis in many parts of my body.

Johnny Kang was able to study my pain distribution and devise exercises which could correct some of my movements. These were revised and upgraded with each visit and depended also on my compliance to carrying out exercises twice a day to build up the strength of my supporting neck muscles which took the pressure off my deteriorating spine. The results have been very satisfactory and I have not had any pain for several months now. I expect to continue the exercises regularly to mitigate stiffness in the neck and allow me to drive safely and carry out all my household activities. I have recently been able to use a pillow again which is amazing! I would highly recommend Johnny’s approach to pain management as a superior way of controlling and eradicating pain.

There are ways of dealing with and overcoming chronic pain!

In September last year my life changed, I was working at the time on a Superyacht in the Mediterranean slowly on my path to becoming a Captain. When I was sleeping on the top bunk, I rolled off the side and landed awkwardly on a bedside table nine feet below. Not knowing how much damage I had done, I continued working through the pain purely on adrenalin until I reached the next port in Barcelona.

Long Story short, after multiple misdiagnosis I finally received the correct scans which showed two serious fractures in my spine, I was then infected with an epidural shot and flown back to Australia (lying down) to finally receive the treatment I was in desperate need of. I was referred to Johnny by one of Australia’s leading orthopedic surgeons. This is when my rehabilitation finally started three months after my injury, by this stage my chronic pain had limited my life to the point I wasn’t even able to drive a car. 

My goal with Johnny was simple, I wanted to be able to live my normal life again, which included surfing and swimming. Seven months into my rehabilitation I am happy to say Johnny has given me the tools to mentally understand the pain I experience, and I am now back on a surfboard again!

There is still a long road ahead and I had to change careers to something less physical, but with the correct tools I have been able to overcome the lowest point in my life where the mental and physical pain felt like it had no end. 

One of the most beneficial things Johnny has shown me is that there is so much treatment out there and services available for people dealing with chronic pain daily. From where I was seven months ago to where I am now, feels like a different person. I am happy with where I am and excited to keep pushing to achieve anything I want without limitations. Chronic pain Is something that can make you feel like there is no escape, but there are ways of dealing with and overcoming it, Johnny and his team have helped me turn my life back into my control and I will always be grateful for that.