When you’re struck by lightning, you tend to remember the date.

For me, it was Feb. 23, 2012.

OK, that technically didn’t happen. But I woke up that morning, rolled out of bed, stepped my left foot down, and – BOOM! – I hit the floor like a bag of dirt.

An MRI revealed two compressed discs in my lower back, one of which was bulged out and pressing on my sciatic nerve. Those who’ve suffered with sciatica know my lightning comparison isn’t far from the truth.

My doc wrote me a prescription for physical therapy.

After my first session with Andrew Walquist at Spooner & Shaft Physical Therapy, I knew I was in excellent hands.

The intake evaluation was thorough, and although it was clear what my physical diagnosis was, part of the intake process was Andrew figuring out what I could do immediately without pain. As in, “Yup, we’re starting now.”

Much of my pain was a result of my core being weaker than it used to be. A stronger core can support a compromised lower back, basically.

Andrew started me with core stretches. Next, he added lunges to help build my strength. As we went along, he gave me plenty of core-strengthening exercises, but always reminding me to listen to my body and back off if I needed to.

Weeks turned into months and I kept with Andrew’s program. And, not surprisingly, I got stronger, more flexible and my sciatica went away.

I later incorporated running into my regimen, continued to improve, and on Feb. 23, 2013 (a year to the day since my “lightning strike”) I completed the Tough Mudder, a 12-mile obstacle run designed by British Special Forces.

Thank you to Spooner & Shaft, and to Andrew, for helping me get my life back!