A Message to Back-Pain Sufferers

If your struggling with another episode of aggravating low back pain, don't rush off to a spine surgeon for quick relief.  A "miracle, surgical cure" rarely happens.  In my upcoming book, Back Surgery – Avoid the Nightmare, you'll find out about some of the outrageous results of spinal surgery – results such as:

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Back surgery has failed so frequently, it’s been designated as a legitimate “disease” category.

Broken Hardware

Implanted screws, rods, and metal plates can bend, break and become dislocated, damaging adjacent nerves and blood vessels.

Faulty Placement of Artificial Discs

Improper insertion of an artificial disc can split the underlying vertebral body into dangerous, migrating fragments.

Wrong Site Surgery

Disastrous consequences result when the surgeon operates on the wrong part of the body, the wrong patient or uses the wrong procedure.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends a conservative program of medication (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen);  limited bed-rest (not to exceed 2 days); continued activity (move around as much as possible).  If the pain is mechanical in origin (without any underlying, organic problems), you should be over it within a week to 10 days.  Good Luck 

What Causes Low Back Pain?

The following is an excerpt from my soon-to-be-released book: Back Surgery – Avoid the Nightmare.

Most low back pain is triggered by some combination of overuse, muscle strain, and injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine.  Continued muscle strain can eventually lead to an imbalance in the structure of the spine. This constant tension on the muscles, ligaments, bones, and discs, makes the back more prone to further injury.

The causes of pain in the low back, or lumbosacral region, tend to add on to one another. For example, after straining muscles, you’re likely to walk or move in different ways to avoid pain or to use muscles that aren't sore. That can cause you to strain other muscles that don't usually move that way.  In addition, we all have to contend with osteoarthritis, shrinkage of our intervertebral discs and the “normal abnormalities” of our spinal columns.

In future blogs, I'll be talking about destructive changes (pathological processes or defects) that can lead to the conditions that cause low back pain:

Get Ready ... to Get Ready

In many competitive sports, there's always the "ready position" – the stance to return to after completing an athletic maneuver.  It's a position of readiness for the next attack or defense.  The tennis player, after a rally, returns to the center of the court, ready to change grips and move left or right at any moment.  The boxer, after blocking a punch, returns to his defensive stance, elbows tucked into his sides to protect against body blows, chin down, fists up.  Even the seemingly "passive" golfer is taught to assume an "athletic position" as he addresses the ball, weight evenly balanced, spine angle slightly tilted, grip firm.

As we grow older, life seems to become a series of athletic events – one after another.  Lifting the groceries or golf clubs out of the trunk, splitting and stacking firewood, busting up sod for new planting – they're all muscular maneuvers that require strength and flexibility.  They can be strenuous if you're out of shape or, as we say, "deconditioned."

When you engage in these activities, take them seriously.  Don't be casual.  Approach them with an attitude of athletic "readiness."  As my old football coach used to say, "Summon your muscles."  Stiffen your core musculature to stabilize your body.  Spread your feet apart.  Provide yourself with a solid platform to support any quick, evasive action you might have to take to avoid injury.

Life is a great sport and the hazards are out there.  So, get in shape and be ready for them.

Back Pain is Coming – Avoid it

People are reluctant to spend money, time or energy on prevention of illness or injury – especially when they're young, healthy and feeling good.  They're unable or unwilling to look down the road and face the inevitable changes that will alter the form and function of their bodies.

One such change is the gradual degeneration of our intervertebral discs – the hydraulic cushions that sit between the vertebrae in our spines.  As we get older, the circular fibers that surround the disc, and the entire disc itself dries out, cracks, shrinks and collapses.  This age-related process is called "degenerative disc disease."  It happens to all of us.

As the disc deteriorates, it can impinge upon spinal nerves and cause low back and leg pain.  In later years, this pain can become severe and chronic – especially in deconditioned individuals with weak back and abdominal muscles.

By adding only 10 or 15 minutes of core strengthening exercises to your exercise routine, you can reduce the frequency and severity of future episodes of back and leg pain.  You might even become one of the 20 percent of the general population who experience no back pain at all.

The Cure: A New Physician

Miriam – an old friend of the family – complained recently to her doctor about persistent back pain.  She was told not to worry.  "It's just part of the normal aging process."  Well, as it turns out, she was suffering from an osteoporotic compression fracture of two vertebrae in her lower, thoracic spine.  This is a common problem in many postmenopausal women, 50-years-of-age and older.  A deficiency of Calcium and Vitamin D can produce demineralization and weakening of bone – so much so that any small increase in stress can cause fracture and collapse of the vertebrae.

Miriam went to another physician who ordered bone scans, assessed her nutritional status and prescribed medication and weight-bearing exercise.  Her pain has disappeared, the fractures have healed and she's now feeling fine – and younger.