Whealth Co-Founder Andrew Overcomes 10 mm L4S5 Disc Herniation, Sciatica, and Chronic Pain from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Andrew DettelbachShare
Written by Whealth co-founder Andrew Dettelbach:
I have been in the pain relief industry since 2012. As of 2023, I have helped over 22,000 people overcome their pain in my programs.
How is my coaching different? I have experienced numerous bouts of chronic pain throughout my life as a result of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which has allowed me to understand the struggles that our members are going through and what is needed physically and mentally to overcome those struggles.
When I was 23 (2013), I experienced severe back pain and was diagnosed with a 10mm herniation at my L4/L5 in my lower back. This was the most severe chronic/persistent pain I’ve had, resulting in sciatica down both legs for 2 years straight.
My disc herniation was debilitating - I struggled to stand up straight, was unable to use the restroom without pain, barely slept, couldn’t walk more than 100 feet without needing to sit down, had to wear a compression brace 24/7, utilized lumbar support while seated and driving, and took a myriad of medications that numbed my mind more than my body. I did get a transforaminal steroid epidural injection that helped me for 1 week before all the pain came back.
Needless to say, I have experienced the physical and mental darkness of severe, debilitating pain. Persistent pain destroys your lifestyle and relationships and often sends you down a spiral of dark thoughts.
I was told by multiple doctors, surgeons, PTs, and chiros that I would need surgery to resolve my pain. I was told that I wouldn’t be able to lift weights again, that I wouldn’t be able to travel without a back brace, and that I would likely have to deal with back pain/sciatica for the rest of my life. I knew that my family member had undergone 6 failed back surgeries and I had worked with dozens of patients that also had failed back surgeries. I felt that surgery was a gamble and refused to do it.
Instead, I spent 2 years learning new movement patterns and strengthening my body in a new way. The result was overcoming my disc herniation without surgery and teaching others to do the same. A few years afterward, I started creating online programs to help people all around the world.
Aside from my disc herniation (which I’m most known for), I have experienced debilitating chronic/persistent pain in nearly every part of my body before age 26, including:
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SIJ pain
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back muscle strain
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FAI in right hip
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plantar fasciitis and heel spur on right foot
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left knee meniscus pain
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shoulder impingement in both shoulders
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labral pain in left shoulder
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neck sprain from failed backflip
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numerous rib subluxations
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golfers and tennis elbow in both elbows
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chronic hamstring strain in left
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chronic thanar pain (thumb)
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shin splints
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Achilles pain in both Achilles
I have overcome all of them and kept the injuries at bay. The methods I have come up with have helped over 22,000 people worldwide overcome their persistent pain.
I am grateful for every struggle that I have had because it has allowed me to help someone else through theirs.
What are my qualifications? I have a Kinesiology degree with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy. I decided not to go to Physical Therapy school after having spent 4 years in the clinical setting working with thousands of people hands-on. The cost of schooling was unreasonable to me for the low salaries that PTs received. I also have my FRCms cert and Onnit durability cert. I have gotten several other training certifications, including CF-L1.
Lastly, I have tremendous experience working with people in person and online. I have seen thousands of different diagnoses, and my programs have helped all of them.
Today, I continue to push my body and mind to new limits, and I encourage YOU to live to your fullest potential.
When you’re ready to live a life free of pain and enroll in our programs