Back pain affects millions of people each and every year. For many, they’re lives are never the
same.
Unfortunately, many people suffer for weeks, months and even years unnecessarily and one of the
reasons is a lack of good information.
Much of the information that is given to people regarding back pain is out-dated, inaccurate and
often dangerous!
So the purpose of this article is to educate you about many of the treatments that are available for
back pain.
But before we get started, it’s important you know that very rarely is one treatment the answer.
Back pain is often times a complex problem and it often requires treatments that address multiple
areas simultaneously.
Also, my experience working with tens of thousands of back pain sufferers has shown that, the people
who get lasting relief are the ones who are constantly researching and experimenting with as many
treatments as possible.
Ok, let’s review some of the many treatments that are available for back pain and sciatica:
Orthopedic Care
One of the first places many people go when they experience back pain is the orthopedic specialist
(surgeon) and a visit usually last 5-10 minutes. They will typically look at the problem/symptomatic
area and often fail to look at the body as a whole.
If you've been to an orthopedic specialist for your back pain, did they do a full body physical
evaluation (takes 30 mins. or more)??? Not likely.
Here are some of the common treatments used / prescribed by orthopedic specialists:
Cortisone Shots
Cortisone is a catabolic steroid which is intended to reduce inflammation by killing off the tissue
in the inflamed area… now let me ask you, does that make any sense to you at all?
Not only are these injections quite painful, but they rarely result in any pain relief and if they
do it is short lived, usually 1-2 weeks if at all. Plus, it does NOTHING to identify or address the
cause of the pain… it is only intended to treat the symptom. It’s for those reasons that we do not
recommend them.
Anti-inflammatory Medications
Just the name should scare you away… just like cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory medications do not
identify or address the cause of your pain and for many people, they deliver little pain relief.
These medications also deliver serious side effects! The main reason they are prescribed is money…
and if you don’t believe me, do the research and you’ll see for yourself. The drug industry is huge
and unfortunately, they have a huge influence on the whole medical community, including the doctors.
I challenge you to find a drug that will fix your back problem… you’ll be looking forever because
there is no way a medication can fix a physical problem so avoid medications at all costs!
Back Surgery
Surgery for back pain is very common and more often than not, the individual still has pain
afterwards (or it returns within weeks) and sometimes even new problems! Very rarely is a surgery
the answer...
For example, many people have surgery for herniated discs. The logic behind the surgery is if you
remove the piece/portion of the disc that is putting pressure on the nerve the problem is solved.
Unfortunately, the same forces that forced that disc to protrude or bulge will likely force more of
the disc out, or another disc out.
Surgery should always be the last resort... and even then I'd question it!
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy is traditionally the next step after seeing an Orthopedic Doctor. That is if
surgery is not recommended. So what should you expect?
The process will start with an evaluation and here may be the start of the problem… here is why….
the doctor has to write a prescription with a diagnosis on it.
You give the prescription to the PT and he or she will perform an evaluation... chances are the PT
will simply confirm the diagnosis from the doctor, however the hope should be that they take the
extra step to look for the root cause of your pain. They may but chances are they have several other
clients in the office at the same time and simply do not have the time.
So without a comprehensive evaluation to identify the root cause of you pain they will simply treat
your symptoms. We have just identified the second problem.
The health care industry is required to show improvement with each and every session so the push is
to reduce your symptoms to show progress in order for them to get paid. The long and short of it is
that yes your pain can be reduced but the root cause rarely gets addressed, meaning that the pain
and your suffering will return again and again.
So what should you do? When selecting a Physical Therapy office you may want to ask how many
patients the office sees in a day and how many PTs they have on staff... then ask how many patients
can a PT work with in an hour. Do not be surprised to hear that a PT can see up to three patients in
an hour. Do you think you will get the attention and proper treatments you need? I doubt it.
There is a little joke in Physical Therapy when treating patients and it has to do with what course
of modalities you will get. The joke is called Shake and Bake and it refers to the fact that
everyone gets the same treatment protocol… that way it can be timed so that your PT can see other
people simultaneously.
What goes into a shake and bake treatment? It may start with a spin on a stationary bike or a trot a
treadmill than you will get a 3 to 5 minute Ultrasound over the effected area followed by Electrical
Stimulation to the area with a little Ice strapped to your body and to finish off your session you
will get a hand out with exercises you should do at home. Certainly not a recipe for success!
Chiropractic Care
One of the most common treatments for back pain is Chiropractic Care. The approach consists of
physical manipulations of bones and joints in an attempt to line things back up and it's recommended
typically 2-3 times per week.
The problem with this approach is that the same forces (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) will likely
pull the bones and joints right back out of place again. Also, most (not all) chiropractors will
spend 15 minutes with you if your lucky.
Ask people who see a chiropractor how long they’ve been going… I hear of people who have been going
for 10-15 years and still don’t have a healthy back. Look, the fact is chiropractic care is lacking…
Unless the chiropractor combines the two approaches, it doesn’t make sense…
The ONLY way chiropractic care makes sense is if you are addressing the muscle imbalances that are
pulling the bones and joints out of place to begin with and that requires strengthening and
stretching exercises that are chosen specifically to correct your muscle imbalances.
Alternative Treatments for Treating Back Pain
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy, if done correctly can work wonders for people with back pain. This is not to say
that it is the best choice and that it will work for everyone… however, most people will get great
results from it if the massage therapist has a good understanding of muscle imbalances and how to
work on them.
NOTE: Not all massage therapists are the same! Just like any profession, there are varying degrees
of training and qualifications. When selecting a massage therapist please check to see if they are
licensed and insured in the state where you will be seeing them.
You should also ask the massage therapist if they have training in one of the following areas:
Orthopedic massage, Medical massage, St. Johns technique and/or has a comprehensive knowledge of
muscle imbalances relating to back pain.
With that said the benefits are as follows. The root cause will be identified, your discomfort will
be addressed and you root cause will be corrected all in an attempt to make you pain free and give
you the tools you need to keep you that way. What to expect when you see a massage therapist.
All massage sessions are one on one allowing you the opportunity to converse with the therapist as
well as get the attention you need to get results. You can ask questions about how you compare to
other people.
Feel free to ask the therapist what approach they will be taking so that you know what to expect.
The massage therapist has many different techniques they can use when to dealing with you back pain
and some are better than others.
On the down side sometimes a therapist can get distracted with other problem areas, it is in your
best interest to keep them focused on you back and associated problem areas. Like anything else you
may need to try several different therapists before finding the one that works best for you and with
you.
Post-rehabilitation Fitness Training
Another overlooked form of treatment that is very effective is post-rehabilitation fitness training.
This includes targeted strength and flexibility work to correct / improve the individuals muscle
imbalances. This is specialized knowledge that very few fitness trainers possess and there are
certification programs designed specifically for this.
There are of course, limitations as to what they can do for you. For example, they can not diagnose
a condition, prescribe any medications take x-rays, etc… however, if they are well trained they can
pinpoint your muscle imbalances quickly and get you started on a fitness program that will restore
balance to your body and likely eliminate your back pain.
Often times this can be combined with massage therapy and/or manual physical therapy for a total
solution. If you decide to go this route, which I recommend you do, be sure to thoroughly check out
the fitness trainer and ask to see their certification, insurance, references, etc.
Manual Physical (muscle) Therapy
Manual Physical Therapy is NOT the same as regular physical therapy… there are some major
differences. Here are just a few:
• Manual therapy consists of hands on muscle work primarily whereas traditional physical
therapy consists of heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, etc
• Manual therapist will typically perform a much more thorough physical evaluation
• Manual therapists will usually be able to spend more time with each patient
• Manual therapy is more holistic in it’s approach and focuses the body as a whole unit…
something lacking from nearly all traditional treatments for back pain.
So before you say, “I’ve already tried physical therapy”… did you try manual physical therapy? They
are two very different treatment approaches and I highly recommend you consider manual physical
therapy.
Conclusion
As you can see traditional treatments are the main stay of modern medicine… not necessarily for the
patients benefit, but it’s just how the system works.
The system will not change until the system is confronted with a very powerful competitive force.
That force may well be complementary or alternative care from the likes of Personal Trainers,
Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, Manual Physical Therapists, and the like.
So that’s what we’ve tried to do… force change. The traditional treatments that people have been
receiving for decades just don’t work, and we have found a combination approach that not only works
the best, but it’s safe, natural, and inexpensive.
Check out our “Lose the Back Pain” system now… it will show you how to identify the cause of your
back pain and then show you the exact combination of steps to take to eliminate it.
If you have tried other treatments with little or no relief, you owe it to yourself to try this
approach… so take charge of your health and get started now working towards not only a pain free
back, but a healthy and balanced body! Only you can fix your back… all you need is the right
approach!
For more information on our complete healing formula and how to treat back pain effectively, read
the latest Back Pain Advisory from The Healthy Back Institute. You can get a free copy of it here:
http://www.losethebackpain.com
Submitted by:
- Name: Steve Hefferon, CMT, PTA
- Date: 01/18/07 at 16:12
- Email: hefferonarticles@yahoo.com
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