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:

• SIJ pain

• back muscle strain

• FAI in right hip

• plantar fasciitis and heel spur on right foot

• left knee meniscus pain

• shoulder impingement in both shoulders

• labral pain in left shoulder

• neck sprain from failed backflip

• numerous rib subluxations

• golfers and tennis elbow in both elbows

• chronic hamstring strain in left

• chronic thanar pain (thumb)

• shin splints

• 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, use code SHIRTLESSDUDE for 10% off our programs!