460: My Back Pain Journey, and Why I’m Having Disc Replacement Surgery
Midlife Conversations with Natalie Jill
Natalie Jill
4.8 • 607 Ratings
🗓️ 27 June 2025
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After 20 years of living with degenerative disc disease, 13 surgeries, and waking up in pain most mornings, I reveal the raw truth about what it's really like to navigate chronic pain while trying to maintain an active, vibrant life. From the day my leg stopped working completely to the upcoming surgery that could change everything, this deeply personal episode exposes the strategies that actually work—and the ones that don't.
Discover why that persistent hip pain might actually be your spine crying for help, the three pillars that kept me moving for years when traditional approaches failed, and the shocking reality about what happens when your spine starts "auto-fusing" without your permission. I also reveal my plans for a specialized mobile disc replacement surgery in July. This episode is packed with practical advice for anyone dealing with similar issues, from movement and diet tips to the latest in surgical options.
If you're one of the 40% of midlife women dealing with back pain, or if you've ever felt like your body has completely turned against you, this episode will change how you think about pain, healing, and what's possible in the second half of life.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | And what I didn't know at the time is that that excruciating pain that I had felt that day |
| 0:04.8 | was because the actual disc was no longer just bulging. |
| 0:08.1 | It had fully ruptured out. |
| 0:12.5 | Welcome to Midlife Conversations. |
| 0:14.4 | I'm your host, Natalie Gill, and I'm passionate about having amazing conversations that matter to |
| 0:19.4 | us midlife women. |
| 0:20.7 | On this podcast, I do what I do best, taking complicated health topics and breaking them down |
| 0:25.6 | simply so that we can optimize aging together. |
| 0:29.1 | I share actionable steps to help you thrive in what I believe are our best years to come. |
| 0:34.4 | Join me as I interview the most inspiring people living their best midlife years and |
| 0:38.9 | dive into essential topics like hormone changes, health optimization, weight management, blood |
| 0:43.6 | sugar, emotional well-being, relationships, beauty, and so much more. Most people look at me and |
| 0:51.0 | think she's strong, she's fit, she's healthy, she can't possibly be |
| 0:54.6 | dealing with pain. And the truth of the matter is, I do deal with pain on a daily basis. |
| 1:01.5 | And today, what I'm going to share with you is my long journey with back pain. |
| 1:06.1 | I want to tell you all the things that I have tried, all the things that I have done, |
| 1:10.0 | what I've experienced, what I've learned about it. And the lessons that I have tried, all the things that I have done, what I've experienced, what |
| 1:11.1 | I've learned about it. And the lessons that pain has taught me, and I'm going to share some |
| 1:16.8 | very simple things that you too can do if you're navigating pain in your body to get out of pain |
| 1:23.2 | and start feeling better. And I'm going to tell the whole story around this journey. Now, |
| 1:26.8 | before I jump into this whole story, |
| 1:28.2 | I just want to make sure you know that 80% of adults experience lower back pain specifically. |
... |
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