The Miracle Ball Method: Relieve Your Pain, Reshape Your Body, Reduce Your Stress [2 Miracle Balls Included] Paperback – December 10, 2003

Sorry this is so long. So many words for two little balls...they work for me! I have been using them now for about 9 months. I have Avascular Necrosis in my hips, bulging discs in my spine, a spinal fracture, twice broken tail bone and osteo arthritis. I need both hips replaced. Hopefully, I can begin the process soon. Every movement is painful now. I am on narcotic pain medication, which I don't like a having to take it but I would have absolutely NO quality of life without it, even though I still hurt even while medicated. It is just a little more tolerable. I had the onset of this at an fairly early age. I was always on my feet- "going", working long hours, raising children as a single mom, watching and participating in sports that caused injuries. Who was it that said: "Never stand when you can sit, Never sit when you can lie (down)"? Now... that finally makes sense to me!I began using 'the balls' and studied the book, last November and can't be without them now. Amazingly the air is still in them and I have not had to air them up yet. Just getting them underneath me on the bed (it's a Tempurpedic so real firm-I am not not able to get down on the floor) is painful but once they are in the right positions I can be mostly pain free while they are under me. For me, this is big. Nothing else does this for me. Pain free moments are not part of my life. I find many times it relaxes me so much, I have gone to sleep while on them which is not a good idea-too much of a good thing! Normally I cannot fall asleep quickly like that, it takes hours. They release some pressure on my spine and hips and it is just so wonderful how it relaxes me for just that little bit of time. The pain subsides some afterward, most of the time as well. I am an extreme case so I would think most people would get relief for a longer period.The thing I have noticed as far as improvement after use of the balls is that they help my posture. It is difficult to stand up straight now, no matter how hard I try, as it is terribly painful so I bend forward when I have to walk on my walker. I cannot walk at all now without a walker. Most, but not all the time, afterwards when I get up to walk, my posture is so much better. This is the ONLY way I can walk, for a little while, with better posture. Good posture was always a 'biggie' to me. My parents were always on to me about it and modeling, as I did, it was requirement. I am so discouraged and almost in disbelief that I find it extremely difficult to walk upright at all now. So, when after using these I can get up from the bed and walk to another room with almost erect posture, and, well, it helps me to know it isn't permanent and I will be able to walk erect again in the not-so-distant future!I can only sleep on my right side, usually, so use the balls to "brace" my back. I put them behind me, against my spine and hips, they roll in and stay there. I discovered this by accident when I left one in the bed and did not put it back in the box when finished. So now, both of them stay in the bed all the time with me. I know it may seem strange but it really does help so there is no 'pull' against me to turn back over on my back. Any movement causes me pain and to wake up. Of course don't try it if you sleep on your back, under you, for the entire night. That is too much pressure against your spine and hips for too long a period. It only works if the balls are Against your side, not under you.I use the balls also at the base of my neck for headache and tension. My son uses them for back and hip pain and headaches as well.I have had the injections (be aware, these can cause Avascular Nucrosis), narcotic pain medication and other, physical therapy, traction, Tens units and I still can't believe that the only time I have gone without feeling ANY pain is those minutes while I am lying on these balls! The best pain relief I have received for chronic terrible pain has come from two very inexpensive balls.If you are suffering, please give these a try. Just remember, you have to use them and they are no good to you sitting in a drawer! This society is such a hurried one and we all need to slow down, take some time to "be still" take care of ourselves and be good to ourselves. I have found that keeping the balls within reach and accessible causes me to use them more frequently. For me, they now stay on my bed where, unfortunately, I usually am. (But...not for long)!Blessings!UPDATE 9/21/11- My sweet 35 year old Amazon Parrot decided to play with my ball and guess what?! Now I have one ball left. I thought I could do with that one for awhile but then I got that pulled "something" back pain that seems to go right trough your lung and each breath hurts. The balls fixed that for me before. I can't do without both so am ordering another set now!

I have been in very good shape most of my adult life.After receiving an injury in my early twenties... I had learned to deal with the constant and annoying pain...nothing took it away. (A ceiling had fallen on my head and hurt my neck plus I had been kicked in the spine around age 17 which had started towards causing arthritis in the back) One morning in 2004, I awoke with a pain in my back that stayed for an entire year. I was only 28 years old and in good shape, it scared me so much! And it just wouldn't go away. It made my life miserable every morning around 5am. I wasn't getting enough sleep because I had to get out of bed so early to avoid the pain and I was too tired to chase my then 2 year old son around all day!Thank God... I found and started using this ball method and the pain is gone. Nothing had helped, I do yoga, see a wonderful chiropractor but none of that helped. ( I did also go to a wonderful certified cranial sacral therapist which I think helped the ball method also- if you are desperate like I was I highly suggest you google one in your area!)It was so easy. I read the short book...and did just what she said at first (which again was very basic and I think anyone who can read could understand her simple directions- my 4 year old could do this!), then I started to explore and just put the balls where I thought might help. For me oddly the best thing is lying on my side and putting them on the side near my ribs but below. My side muscles relax into the ball and the next day I awoke feeling long and pain free!She also mentions lying on the balls under each butt cheek (while you lie on your back) and watching TV (I lie on a mat since we don't have carpet).I am so glad I did this (about a year or more ago) in fact I am only logging in right now to buy more of these for christmas presents!)I wish this had been a class in high school or something!!!I know these is cliche for good reviews at amazon, but I can't imagine anyone regretting getting these. They are inexpensive and much more effective than ANY stretching class/dvd or yoga video I have ever taken or done.Even though I am now pain free. I still use this once a week, or once a month depending on how I feel, and it always makes me feel wonderful....so even if you don't have ANY pain, I bet if you try this method you will be surprised at how much better you feel. I really think every human being could benefit from using these. (Oh and by the way you don't have to roll around on these balls or anything, you just relax into the ball and breathe normally.) Thank you soooooo much Elaine Petrone!My life is back to what I wanted it to be...free of pain!Stephanie T.Cincinnati, Ohio