Spinal Problems Archives

Good summary of options for back pain. Archive in spinal.

Thanks, Misty.

Good summary!

Walt

----- Original Message -----
From: "Misty L. Trepke"
To:
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 10:23 AM
Subject: [S-A] [AltAnswers] Definitive Guide to Back Pain

>
>
> Comments?
> Misty L. Trepke
> http://www.searching-alternatives.com
>
> Good Morning!
>
> A Definitive Guide to Back Pain
>
> Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of situations such as too
> much or improper lifting, bending, sports activities and
> misalignments of the vertebrae of the spine. It can also appear out
> of nowhere with no obvious cause. A viral illness may possibly be a
> cause, or emotional trauma, such as fear or resentment. The pain may
> acute or it may develop slowly over a matter of hours or days out of
> a minor discomfort. In acute form, back pain can render a person
> helpless, enabling them to get up from a sitting or lying position
> or to even feed, wash, or dress themselves.
>
> In the vast majority of cases, acute back pain comes from muscle
> spasm. Many people with acute back problems think they are suffering
> from a slipped disc, pinched nerve, spinal subluxation, or a torn
> ligament or muscle, when in fact intense muscle spasm is the sole or
> primary cause. Spasm of back muscles is maintained by a nervous
> reflex through the spinal cord that sets up a vicious cycle: spasm
> and inflammation lead to more spasm and inflammation. Although the
> cycle can develop due to injury, the ultimate cause is often in the
> brain, which can interfere with muscle physiology through the spinal
> cord. Chronic (long term) and acute back (and neck) pain are common
> expressions of stress and emotional stress. This demonstrates the
> true complexity of the mind/body interaction. Many times it is the
> brain's distortion of muscle function that sets us up for back pain
> by preventing muscles from responding freely to physical stresses.
>
>
> Proper alignment of the head over the shoulders over the hips over
> the knees over the feet, are also imperative in maintaining a pain-
> free body. Firm abdominal muscles help to keep the back straight and
> strong. Bad posture habits can lock your muscles into positions you
> are not even aware your body is taking which can put unwanted strain
> on the lower back. WIthout a doubt, added stress and strains can
> take its toll on your spinal and nervous system. Maintaining a
> physically fit body, awareness of body positions, a clean and
> detoxified internal system, keeping fears, stress and insecurities
> in check and careful execution physically, through each day are all
> great ways to avoid that aching back.
>
>
> INDIVIDUAL HERBS
>
> Herbally, consider Wild Lettuce, Valerian, Skullcap, Vervain,
> Arnica, Lobelia, Cayenne. This special blend of herbs allows for a
> very powerful, yet natural relief when taken orally. Valerian is the
> equivalent to allopathic Valium. This natural muscle relaxer helps
> to relieve muscle spasm and helps induce sleep. White Willow Bark is
> the natural version of aspirin. This pain reliever can help with
> back pain.
>
>
> Aromatherapy can be utilized as an alternative. Muscle Spasms can
> benefit from Essential oils such as Allspice, Clary Sage,
> Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass, Rosemary . Blend 8
> drops of 3 of the above oils in a 4 oz. base oil of sunflower or
> vegetable oil and rub into the back and buttocks.
>
> Hydrotherapy has a number of uses. Warm water will relax spasm;
> thus, hydrotherapy has been useful in treating such conditions as
> muscular strains and sprains, muscular fatigue, and backache. Heat
> is often used in conjunction with massage or other manipulative or
> stimulative treatments, such as the whirlpool bath. Sitz baths
> (sitting in hot water) are effective in the treatment of many
> disorders. Water is also useful in physical therapy because patients
> who exercise in a buoyant medium can move weak parts of their bodies
> without contending with the strong force of gravity.
>
> Take a warm bath. Fill the bath tub with warm water. As the tub
> fills with water add 2 spoons of epsoms salts to the bath water.
> Soak for 15-20 minutes.
>
>
> Consider a relaxing bath with the calming, anti-spasmatic effects of
> a calming blend of Lavender, Geranium and Clary Sage essential oil
> makes this bath wonderful for creating a soothing, calm, relaxed
> feel. Helps with anxiety, stress, resentment and fear. (Safe for all
> skin types).
>
>
> Homeopathy. This medical system uses infinitesimal doses of natural
> substances to stimulate a person's immune system and body's natural
> defenses. Homeopathic remedies are named for the plant or animal
> ingredients they are made from. Homeopathy not only offers relief
> from temporary disorders but, can provide long term healing of a
> person due to its individual and "wholistic" approach. This often
> leads to a complete recovery from the dis-ease, as well as,
> providing an improved understanding of the patient's situation. This
> type of healing makes it easier and possible to avoid recurrence or
> relapses in the future and, homeopathy stimulates the body's natural
> defense system by reestablishing normal immune system and cell
> functioning.
>
>
> BACK PAIN:
> Bellis Perennis 30x: for symptoms of acute and chronic back pain
> Bellis is thought of as "Arnica for the lower back" and can bring
> relief .Rhus Toxicodendron 6c: if symptoms occur at first movement
> but improves after gently, continuous motion. Aching may be brought
> on by cold,damp weather and relieved with warm showers/baths.
> Actaea Racacemosa 6c: if symptoms occur such as severe aching during
> menstruation and extends down through the hips, buttocks and thighs.
>
>
>
> Massage Therapy. There are many different approaches to massage and
> applications of it. "Massage Therapy" is a holistic procedure that
> affects all systems of the body; digestive, elimination,
> respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine and nervous systems.
> Many of today's health problems arise from stress. Because stress
> upsets the delicate integral balance of all your body's functions,
> regaining this balance requires a holistic approach.
> Massage Therapy not only treats those parts of you which are a
> problem, but also affects the whole of your metabolism through
> normalizing your circulatory, muscular and nervous systems and their
> interdependent functioning. Massage is usually done with soothing
> massage oils or relaxing body lotions in order for the practioner's
> hands to "glide" over the body with smooth, relaxing strokes.
>
>
> Learn How to Give a Massage. Learning some simple techniques can
> make all the difference in finding relief.
>
> Hot Stone Massage Therapy. is recommended for this conditon. It is
> an ancient Ayurvedic therapy with river bed stones which draw out
> stress, tension and impurities from the body.
>
> Crystal Massage works on a deep esoteric level allowing not only the
> physical body enjoyment and total relaxation but the stones will
> enhance a positive, reconnecting flow of energy which will allow you
> to bring up, recognize and clear emotional blocks.
>
>
>
> Back Pain and Chiropractic Help
>
> Chiropractors specialize in the manipulation of joints and the
> vertebrae in the BACK and neck. Chiropractic theory holds that BACK
> PAIN is often due to subluxations, which are misalignments of the
> vertebrae. A misaligned vertebra can press on a nerve and produce
> PAIN not only in the BACK but in areas fed by the nerve. Thus, this
> referred PAIN can be felt in other parts of the body, like
> the arm or the leg, or can even affect the functioning of organs
> throughout the body.
>
> Chiropractic treatment has been found to be more beneficial to
> patients with persistent BACK and neck complaints than other forms of
> manipulation. Other research in Great Britain found chiropractic to
> provide worthwhile, long-term benefits for patients with low BACK
> PAIN in comparison to hospital outpatient management. This study also
> found chiropractic benefits to persist for a three-year period,
> indicating long-term benefits. For patients with uncomplicated,
> acute low BACK PAIN, chiropractic has also been found to be
> effective. Finally, a cost comparison study of BACK-related injuries
> showed the number of work days lost for patients treated with
> chiropractic to be nearly ten times less than that of patients
> treated under medical care. Also, average compensation costs for
> chiropractic care were $68.38, compared to $668.39 for patients
> treated with standard, nonsurgical treatment.
>
> Chiropractic physicians often use the symptoms of BACK PAIN as a
> diagnostic tool for determining other disorders within the body.
> Likewise, they believe that by clearing up the subluxation causing
> the BACK PAIN, they will also correct the nerve flow, which will in
> turn lead to the restoration of normal function of any other affected
> areas or organs of the body. Patients with chronic lower BACK PAIN
> who undergo chiropractic for some other problem like headaches or
> digestive problems often find that in the course of treatment the
> lower BACK PAIN goes away as well.
>
> Since lower BACK PAIN frequently has to do with basic misalignments
> of the pelvis and spine, chiropractic is a particularly appropriate
> treatment. Almost all forms of chiropractic would involve correcting
> misalignments which in turn reduce the stress on joints, help to
> reduce wear and tear on joints, and help to minimize joint
> deterioration.
>
>
> EXERCISE
> Be careful not to over exercise! Weekend warriors also have a
> tendency to "push" to hard to makeup for the time they have not
> exercised during the week. The two MOST BENEFICIAL exercises you can
> do to strengthen your back and relieve pain are the BACK
> STRENGTHENER and ABDOMINAL WORK.
>
> The Back Strengthener
> Do this exercise up to 4 times a day.
> Lay on the floor, stomach down. Slowly lengthen out the spine as you
> raise one arm and the opposite leg. Exhale as you raise up into an
> arch. Hold this as your take two deep breaths. Slowly release back
> to the floor. Inhale, as your raise up the other arm and opposite
> leg, exhale. Hold this arch agian for two deep breaths. Lower down.
> Inhale. Then raise both arms, leaving both feet on the floor.
> Exhale. Hold the arch as you take two deep breaths. Slowly lower
> down. Inhale. Raise both feet off the ground, leaving both arms on
> the floor. Exhale. Hold the arch for two deep breaths. Slowly lower
> down. Inhale. Lastly, raise both arms and both legs off the floor.
> Exhale. Hold this full arch for two deep breaths. Slowly lower down.
> Inhale. Repeat entire sequence one more time. This exercise should
> flow easily with the breath. (Always feel the energy pulling out in
> both directions from the top of the head and hands and out the
> bottom of the feet.) Try to arch up further each time. This amazing
> exercise will relieve back pain!
>
>
> Abdominal Work
> Ab work can be done on a daily basis. By strengthening the abdominal
> wall you are helping to support the lower back. 300, 400, 500 situps
> are not only a waste of time but allows for that many more attempts
> to injure yourself. It is the quality not the quantity of sit ups
> that makes all the difference. SLOW and controlled is the most
> powerful approach.
>
> Stretching a sore back will actually enhance the healing process.
> One good stretch for lower back pain is to gently bring your knees
> up to your chest. Once there, put a little pressure on your knees.
> Stretch, then relax. Repeat. Stretching will help the muscle calm
> down sooner than just waiting for it to calm down on its own.
>
>
> MANAGING YOUR BACK PAIN
> The best way to cool down an acute flare-up is with ice. It will
> help reduce swelling and the strain on your back muscles. For best
> results, put an ice pack on the site of the pain 15 or 20 minutes.
> Do this for a day or two.
>
>
> After the first day or two of ice, physicians recommend that you
> switch to heat. Take a soft towel and put it in a basin of very warm
> water. Wring it well and flatten it so that there are no creases in
> it. Lie chest down with pillows under your hips and ankles and fold
> the towel across the painful part of your back. Put some plastic
> wrap over that, then put a heating pad turned on medium on top of
> the plastic. If possible, place something on top that will create
> pressure, like a telephone book. This creates moist heat and will
> help reduce muscle spasms.
>
>
> For those of you who can't make up your mind which feels better,
> it's okay to use both methods. It may even have an added bonus. An
> intermittent regimen of heat and ice will actually make you feel
> better. Do 20 minutes of ice, then 20 minutes of heat, and keep
> repeating the cycle.
>
> Give yourself time. Time is the best healer, along with lower back
> and abdominal strengthening. The way we train our thoughts also has
> extreme control over our pain. Alternative Therapy from
> chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists, acupuncturists,
> orthopedists, and massage therapist can all be very beneficial in so
> many remarkable ways.
>
>
>
>
> EMOTIONAL ASPECT
> There is an emotional aspect to every illness. Often times, it is
> the emotional thoughts or "excess emotions" that will lead to
> illness. The following therapies are utilized for calming the mind,
> help with stress relief and focuses on our mental powers over any
> situation. The ability to balance your emotional, mental, physical
> and spiritual self is up to you. Noted metaphysical expert and
> healer Louise Hay views back pain in a unique and powerful way. She
> equates lower back pain with having a fear of money and lack of
> financial support. Middle back pain with guilt. Stuck in all that
> stuff back there; "get of my back". Upper back pain she associates
> with lack of emotional support. Feeling unloved or holding back
> love. All metaphysical concepts that one should certainly consider
> when addressing back pain.
>
> Yoga poses can be good alternatives to "traditional" health remedies
> because they relax the body and mind, improve circulation and
> respiration, reduce tension and help the body through it's healing
> process.
>
> BACK PAIN:
> The Yogic breath exercise can be done without instruction, without
> danger, and with a good chance that your discomfort and stressful
> feelings will be reduced. Relaxation Breath is the most powerful
> tool for stress management.
>
>
> Sit up, with your back straight in any position.
> Place your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper
> front teeth and keep it there throughout the exercise.
> Exhale completely through your mouth.
> Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental
> count of four.
> Hold your breath for a count of seven.
> Exhale completely through your mouth, to a count of eight.
> Repeat this cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.
> Try to do this breathing exercise at least twice a day. You can
> repeat the whole sequence as often as you wish, but don't do it more
> than four breaths at one time for the first month of practice. This
> exercise is fairly intense and has a profound effect on the nervous
> system.
>
>
> Deep Diaphram Breath
> Sit with your legs crossed in a comfortable position. Breathe slowly
> and evenly from your diaphragm, through your nose. Fill your lower
> abdomen, lungs, then chest with air. Hold for a four count then
> slowly exhale the air out from your chest, lungs, then lower
> abdomen. Repeat 3 or 4 times. That's it! Just allow your shoulders
> to drop and your face relax as you breath, deep.
> Also consider Alternate Nostril Breathing, Bridge, Cat, Cow, Child's
> Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Fish, Head to Knee, Knee to Chest, Lying
> Down Twist, Plough, Spinal Twist, Standing Forward Bend.
>
>
> MEDITATION:
>
>
> Meditation is a time-honored technique that can take you into
> infinite dimensions of consciousness. One major principle to
> meditation is in the ability to completely quiet your mind. Quieting
> the mind comes as a result of meditating over a long period of time,
> but any time you are looking within, you are meditating. There are
> many meditation methods. Some are passive and others are active --
> not in the physical sense, but in the sense that you actually do
> something during meditation. Meditators learn to focus their
> awareness and direct it onto an object: the breath, a phrase or
> word: a mantra, repeated silently, a memorized inspirational phrase,
> an image in the mind's eye. Researchers have documented immediate
> benefits in terms of lowered blood pressure, decreased heart and
> respiratory rate, increased blood flow, and other measurable signs
> of the relaxation response.
>
> Meditation will calm an agitated mind, creating optimal physical and
> mental health, undo our sense of separateness, which is the common
> root of fear and misery, unify consciousness, putting us in touch
> with our higher self and connect us to higher consciousness.
> Meditation restructures the mind, allowing us to achieve our full
> potential as human beings.
>
>
> Fold your hands gently in your lap and close your eyes. Take a few
> deep breaths. Then just sit. If you have never meditated before, you
> will probably feel as if your mind is full of thoughts. Don't try to
> stop the thoughts, just watch them. Imagine that you are on the bank
> of a river and that your thoughts are the river going by. Don't try
> to stop the river, just watch it. Within a week, you will see the
> river begin to slow down. You may become impatient, or even bored.
> That's okay. If you find yourself complaining, just watch the
> thoughts pass by. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes. You may find that you
> fall asleep because you are so relaxed. That's good because, in many
> ways, you have begun to let go. Continue at this pace and each day
> allow just alittle more time for yourself to meditate. Doing this
> allows you to relax and forget about time.
>
>
> Music Therapy: Taking your focus away.
>
> Vibrational medicine which validates that everything in the universe
> is in a state of vibration and the frequency at which an object or
> person most naturally vibrates is called resonance. The chakras,
> bones, and organs in the body all possess a different resonant
> frequency. When an organ or part of the body is vibrating out of
> tune or nonharmoniously, it is called "dis ease" or disease. A body
> is in a healthy state of being when each cell, each organ creates a
> resonance that is in harmony with the whole being.
> Music is a powerful tool that can be used in so many ways. It has
> been proven that the type of music that makes a person relax or
> become receptive is not any one kind. It all depends on the
> individual and their affinity with it.
>
>
> Metaphysical approach.
>
> The power of your mind and your belief system has everything to do
> with the condition, the speed and the way that you heal.
>
>
> * Our Belief System is one of the major factors that can get us
> through situations or can cause our life to crumble around us! I do
> believe that there is a lot of innate goodness and balancing our
> minds do subconsciously to get us through hard times. The other
> portion of this is how we "program" ourselves to deal with any given
> situation.
>
> * Our self-confidence and self-love are often the key to opening and
> strengthening this portion of our thoughts which in turn emanates
> from ourselves!
>
> * Energy follows thought. Program thought to be positive and your
> energy will reflect it!
>
> * Really appreciating what we DO have as opposed to what we would
> like to have, sometimes makes a signifcant difference. This is
> always
> an important element in healing that is often neglected.
>
>
> Most chronic (on-going) back pain is not due to structural injury
> but to unbalanced muscular contraction and inflammation resulting
> from an unbalanced pattern of nervous control of the muscular
> system. This problem, called (TMS) for Tension Myositis Syndrome was
> coined by John Sarno, MD. His record of clinical success based on
> just talking to patients and convincing them of the true nature of
> their pain. After hearing these talks, many of them report that the
> pain has disappeared for the first time in years. I have seen a
> great number of chronic back pain disappear as a result of people
> making radical changes in their emotional and mental life.
> Obviously, back pain can be in the form of real, physically
> distorted muscular pain,however, most often the pain is not all in
> the back. It is in the nervous system, and that system connects to
> the mind and the emotions.
>
>
> John Sarno, MD states "Most people with chronic back pain go around
> thinking they have a bad back and that the trouble is there. In my
> experience all chronic back (and neck) pain should be considered TMS
> until proved otherwise, and most therapeutic effort should be
> directed at your head: specifically at changing your patterns of
> thinking, feeling, and handling stress that lead the nervous system
> into this abnormal pattern. Of course, if you have any history of
> back injury, that vulnerable spot will be a perfect focus for TMS".
>
>
>
> STONE & CRYSTAL REMEDIES:
>
> Crystals have both piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. This
> means that the polarities of the crystal will change when subjected
> to pressure or heat (even body heat from the hands). This will
> radiate energy from the crystal due to this reversal of polarities.
> It provides the transfer, storage and transformation of energy.
> Offering a balanced energy field, energy modification, amplifies
> both energy and thought, clarity in thinking, and harmony and
> alignment with the chakra energy areas.
>
> BACK PAIN:
> Amazonite, Apache Tear, Azurite, Basalt, Chrysocolla, Diopside,
> Wonderstone, Zebra Rock.
>
>
> Piriformis Syndrome
>
> Sciatic pain can be caused by compression of the sciatic nerve by
> the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle extends from the pelvic
> surface of the sacrum to the upper border of the greater trochanter
> of the femur and, during running or sitting, can squeeze the sciatic
> nerve at the site where the nerve emerges from under the piriformis
> to over the gemellus and obturator internus muscles.
>
> Symptoms and Signs
> A chronic nagging ache, pain, tingling, or numbness starts in the
> buttocks but can extend along the course of the sciatic nerve, down
> the entire back of the femur and tibia, and in front of the tibia.
> Pain is usually chronic and worsens when the piriformis is pressed
> against the sciatic nerve (eg, while sitting on a toilet, a car
> seat, or a narrow bicycle seat or while running). Unlike piriformis
> pain, disk compression of the sciatic nerve is usually associated
> with lumbar pain, particularly during lumbar extension.
>
> Diagnosis
> Thorough physical examination is essential for diagnosis: Freiberg's
> maneuver (forceful internal rotation of the extended thigh)
> stretches the piriformis muscle, causing pain. Pace's maneuver
> (abducting the affected leg) elicits pain in a sitting patient. For
> Beatty's maneuver, the patient lies on a table on the side of the
> nonaffected leg. The affected leg is placed behind the nonaffected
> leg with the bent knee on the table. Raising the knee several inches
> off the table causes pain in the buttocks. For the Mirkin test, the
> patient should stand, keeping the knees straight, and slowly bend
> toward the floor. The examiner should press into the buttocks where
> the sciatic nerve crosses the piriformis muscle, causing pain that
> starts at the point of contact and that extends down the back of the
> leg. Pain can also occur with pelvic or rectal examination.
>
> Treatment
> The patient should stop running, bicycling, or performing any
> activity that elicits pain. A patient whose pain is aggravated by
> sitting should stand up immediately or, if unable to do so, change
> positions to raise the painful area from the seat. Stretching
> exercises, although often recommended, are rarely beneficial, and
> any movement that raises the knee forcibly often aggravates
> symptoms. A corticosteroid injection into the site near where the
> piriform muscle crosses the sciatic nerve often helps, presumably by
> reducing fat around the muscle, making it less likely to press on
> the nerve.
>
> Acupuncture. The body functions as an entity through 12 channels
> called "Meridians", that distribute Qi. "Meridians" or channels are
> pathways of energy flow. Very often pain, numbness, soreness,
> sensations of heat or cold, and other sensations along the course of
> a meridian will be an important clue to problems in that particular
> system. Each meridian connects to an organ. It is through these
> meridians that organs receive nourishment and stay in balance
> (function properly). There are also 8 extra vessels that store
> energy and help regulate the flow of Qi in the meridians. In
> addition there are gates through which the inner Qi communicates
> with the environment, to help regulate the body. It is a natural law
> that energy flows in wavy lines like the breeze, mountain ranges and
> streams. On the land, Qi moves in dragon-like lines along the
> terrain. In people, Qi flows in the meridians. This undulating flow
> is beneficial and natural and is relative to how Qi of people
> interacts with Qi of nature.
>
>
> A study was conducted on Piriformis Syndrome with Acupuncture and
> different needling techniques. In the multidirectional acupuncture
> group, patients were mainly needled at Huan Tiao (GB 30), Zhi Bian
> (Bl 54), and a shi points on the buttocks. These were needled with
> three inch 28, gauge needles which were inserted and manipulated
> with both hands. The heads of these needles were directed toward the
> site of the pain. Then the needles were twisted causing relatively
> strong soreness, numbness, distention, and pain which radiated down
> the sciatic nerve and up into the back. Then these needles were
> withdrawn and reinserted into the muscle with the tip of the needle
> pointed successively up, down, right, left. After this, three cones
> of warm needle moxibustion were burned on the handles of the
> needles. At the same time, needles were inserted into Yang Ling Quan
> (GB 34), Wei Zhong (Bl 40), Cheng Shan (Bl 57), Fei Yang (Bl 58),
> and Kun Lun (Bl 60). These were manipulated with even supplementing-
> even draining or draining hand technique. These needles were
> retained for 20-3 0 minutes and then removed. Treatment was given
> once every other day or once per day in acute cases, and 10
> treatments equaled one course of therapy. The members of the
> conventional or unidirectional acupuncture group received
> acupuncture at the same points for the same amount of time.
> However, the points on the buttock region were not needled with the
> multidirectional technique but were simply inserted perpendicularly.
> Both were deemed affective for Piriformis Syndrome.
>
>
> Andrew Pacholyk, L.Ac. MSTOM
> Peacefulmind.com
> Therapies for healing
> mind, body, spirit
>
>