As a child growing up, I was not encouraged by my mother or Doctor to participate in games or sport. However, I walked to school, loved to swing and later rode a bike.

Soon after my twelfth birthday, I woke up each morning with a sore back. This continued for about six months. My mother was advised to see two orthopaedic surgeons in Brisbane - they had no answer. The problem disappeared as quickly as it commenced. I know now that this was the first symptom of a tethered cord.

Being a strong willed person, I proved my physical skills by attempting to do more and more activities. I enjoyed hiking and swimming. I learned to drive. I married soon after my twentieth birthday and had a son seven years later. I was normal in every way until the age of thirty-eight when I commenced getting severe pain accompanied by a cold feeling in my legs at night. I was often kept awake by leg cramps. The pain was relieved by movement. I visited many neuro specialists who had no explanations and prescribed tablets to help me sleep.

For ten years the pain continued at this level and it was at the age of forty-eight that the pain and coldness in my feet, legs and back commenced during the day as well as at night. Because of this my lifestyle became restricted - I was unable to do simple chores and pursue my work and hobbies. I visited Specialists and General Practitioners regularly.

At the age of fifty-eight, I was referred to the Pain Control Clinic at St. Andrew's Hospital. Prior to being hospitalized I had had a myelogram, CAT scan and MRI. All these tests showed a tethered cord. I stayed in hospital for four days to enable the three specialists to observe and discuss their combined results. It was generally felt that because I had some days and nights entirely free from pain, that it was not related to the tethered cord. I disagreed on this point.

I was told that if I could learn to completely relax then the pain and muscle spasm would become manageable. I did relaxing sessions but the pain increased. I was then told that I would have to learn to live with pain for the rest of my life. What a depressing prospect! One of the medical team was a psychiatrist whose job it was to help me manage the pain. Many tablets were tried - all failed except valium, to help me sleep at night and dull the pain messages during the day. Life for the next two years was a nightmare. In despair, I asked the medical team if I could try acupuncture and they agreed.

After much investigation, I discovered the essential for successful acupuncture therapy was to find a fully trained Acupuncturist, that is one who is a member of the Australian Acupuncture Association and not a western medicine trained doctor who has completed a quick course in acupuncture. I found an Acupuncturist who had studied traditional Chinese medicine at the Australian College of Natural Medicine and had completed post graduate studies in China and had worked in two hospitals where both western and Chinese medicine were practised.

On my first appointment, I was told to expect a reduction in pain but the results would be slow as my symptoms were very long term. From the first treatment I had immediate relief from my most severe problem - my inability to sleep. It is two years since that first treatment and I can honestly say that I could count on my fingers the nights when I haven't slept soundly all night.

Other amazing changes included being able to stand up and walk quickly and without difficulty after sitting for any length of time, and to walk up stairs unaided. This gave me back my independence and ability to do things I had not been able to do for years. I have not regressed during that two years of acupuncture. I have reduced my medication and have complete confidence that I will keep on improving. It really is an answer to my prayers.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of stimulating our natural healing response. It does not rely on the use of drugs. It seems to be a common misconception that acupuncture is only a tool for pain management. It has been explained to me that acupuncture can be used for treating an enormous array of disorders apart from just pain. I am indeed in a position to declare this to be true as I have had some added bonuses since I started having acupuncture treatments. After years of being unable to do household chores as well as follow my hobbies of cooking, gardening and sewing due to painful shoulders and restricted arm and hand movements. This on top of my other problems! I have now returned to doing these much loved activities as I have full movement and no pain in my upper extremities. I can also get quick relief from sinus and headaches which have also plagued me for years. Initially my treatments were once a week and over the past year these treatments have decreased and I now have a treatment when my symptoms indicate.

I do not in any way want to convey that I am pain free - I still have days or parts of the day when the pain is evident. I feel that these days will lessen as I am able to walk more and build up muscular strength. I am certainly happy that I can combine the benefits of western medicine with this ancient form of treatment and all it has to offer. It is certainly good to see that acupuncture is becoming a well recognised and accepted system of treatment within our health care system with most health funds rebating claims from recognised practitioners.

I will be 63 years of age in October 1996 and believe that I am the oldest person with spina bifida in Queensland and possibly in Australia. I would be very interested to make contact and share experiences with others of similar age who also have this complaint.