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Common
Lower-Back Pain Cause and Treatment
TYPICAL
SYMPTOMS:
hip pulled left or hip pulled right
inability to readily straighten up
general ache (somewhat like a tooth ache between the hips)
sharp pain when trying to straighten up or bend over
pain running down the leg due to irritation of nerve
pain when coughing
shooting electric pain of under a second when moving
stiffness and pain following being in a sitting position
worse upon rising--the back muscles are rested up
WHAT
OCCURS:
There is a muscle cramp or cramps which produce all the symptom in 80% of the cases (herniated
discs and bulging discs though present are often not involved)[i][i]. Most of the other cases involve spinal stenosis
(narrowing of the opening in where the nerve exist the spine) or other spinal abnormality.
This is marked by pain going down the leg and has been labeled sciatica. Often
a muscle cramp can be involved in sciatica. Muscle cramps cause the accumulation
of metabolic waste products such as lactic acid which when in sufficient amount causes the death of muscle cells, capillary
cells, and connective tissue in the cramped area. The healing process results
in a replacement by tissues that do not function as well as the original tissue (this leads to a condition called fibromyalgia). This new tissues which includes scar tissue causes--after the cramp has ended--persistent
soreness which effects the ability to bend and rise after sitting. It also results
in an increased frequency of the back going out.
WHAT
MATTERS LITTLE:
Chiropractors and physical therapists
So called muscle relaxants (tranquillizers)
Heat pad
Jacuzzi
Taking an NSAID[ii]
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[i][i] This is why so many people have these
disc problems without back problems. Second. for those elect surgery at end of
the first years following surgery their incidents of back pain is almost the same as the control group, and is by the end
of the 2nd year. The first year results occur because the best treatment
for back pain is sufficient dosage of an opiate for at least a half day so that no pain is felt (a condition met following
an operation); thus most of such patients are much improved not by the operation but by the medication. | |
JK’S TREATMENT:
1). Stretching: Regaining
mobility comes first. When sitting wiggle from side to side in the chair or car,
get up every few minutes and stretch, and touch your toes. Lay down on the floor
or bed when the back is getting stiff and stretch out. Try lifting one leg held
stiff and straight and slowly move it to the left and right so as to get your lower back to pop (like cracking a knuckle). Most important is the wiggling in your seat about once a minute for 5 or more seconds. Second most important is getting up and straightening up before it become too difficult.
A hot shower provides an ideal location for stretching and hip wiggling.
2). Sleeping: on the back is usually best; second best is putting a pillow under the belly unless fat.
3). Begin to stretch as soon as the back starts going out. It is most important to being such treatment within the first six hours. If the back does not respond and
the restriction in movement is major, then turn to opiates. Take enough opiates
so as to eliminate all pain for a minimum of 6 hours. With the first signs of
the pain returning take another pill. Opiates are much more effective when awake.
While pain free do the various stretching and wiggling exercises so as to regain
full mobility. For example in my last episode, I begin the drug at 8 AM, after
stretching failed, and had lost my mobility, and would soon be in too much pain to stand.
Once free of pain I began doing chores around the home, gardening, cooking, and cleaning the car. I even ate breakfast standing. By 2 PM I stopped taking the opiates. My own experience of over 30 such treatments
is to ward of chronic incidents over 80% of the time.
4). Abdominal muscle building. I
do 15 minutes daily (5 days a week average) of crunches and lateral bends holding a 65-70 lbs.
The lateral bends: hold the dumb bell in the left hand, leg apart about
one foot, and to bend slowly to the left (without twisting) so the weight is lowered (while being stiff-legged) as far as
possible, then slowly straighten up and lean as far to the right as possible (that is one cycle). I do as many of those cycles as possible in a set. (No pain;
no gain.) I want to work the muscles. I
then put the weight down and do the same on the right side. I do three sets on
each side. An alternative to this is to use, if your gym is so equipped, a machine
which allows you to sit hold on to 2 hand grips and swing to the left side. I
set the weight at 150 lbs and do 50 on each side, for a total of 4 sets. Sometimes
instead I do add 4 sets of 25 at 190 lbs. A second machine I use is the hyper-extension
stand. I do bends on it, but also hold my self in the straight position for as
long as possible. This mainly tightens my gluts; however, it does work the muscles
in the lower back as well. I time my sets, and near the end, at about 2 min,
30 sec, I can feel it in the lower back.
HISTORY OF THIS DRUG TREATMENT:
I discovered this treatment in 1974 when I my back had gone out as my wife and I were preparing to go to Vancouver for a rock concert from Galliano Island. I took Phenylcyclodiene (an incredible powerful analgesic) so that I could travel
to the concert in Stanley Park. Without pain I did just fine, and the next morning
I was as good as new. In subsequent years, I started saving medication
from my dentist for such emergencies. By 1981, I developed fibromyalgia, and
had chronic stiffness and several times a year my back would go out. The frequency
of back incidents slowly increased through to 1993. I had done since about 1981
the stretching in 2 above, which helped. By 1992 I was unable to play sports
an average of 3 months a year. There was always back pain: stiffness in the morning, and mild pain with bending forward or getting up from sitting. In 1993, I began doing the exercises describe in 1. At the
same time doctor had proscribe 2.5 grams of aspirin a day, and suggested that I sleep on my back—which I did. My back felt much better within a couple of months, which I attributed to the aspirin. I still had morning stiffness lasting two hours. I would during
the first hour walk with a noticeable bending forward and to the left side. In
1995 my dosage was cut to a half gram a day, and I thought my back would go out—but it didn’t. I still had as usually the morning stiffness. By mid 1998
I stopped taking aspirin. By 1999 morning stiffness was minimal. I had one set back following a serious car accident on Boxing Day 1999, when an SUV doing over 50 MPH drifted
into the bike lane. My back went out about 2 months later, but only moderately. I had just been taken off opiate medication for the broken bones. After that I would call my back bullet proof. I would
do all the things I shouldn’t do, and if my hip was displaced, due to my muscle training, I could simply force it back
in place, and within a half hour and I was fine.
JK’S TREATMENT:
1). Stretching: Regaining mobility comes first. When sitting wiggle from side
to side in the chair or car, get up every few minutes and stretch, and touch your toes.
Lay down on the floor or bed when the back is getting stiff and stretch out.
Try lifting one leg held stiff and straight and slowly move it to the left and right so as to get your lower back to
pop (like cracking a knuckle). Most important is the wiggling in your seat about
once a minute for 5 or more seconds. Second most important is getting up and
straightening up before it become too difficult. A hot shower provides an ideal location for stretching and hip wiggling.
2).
Sleeping: on the back is usually best; second best is putting a pillow
under the belly unless fat.
3). Begin to stretch as soon as the back starts
going out. If the back does not respond and the restriction in movement is major,
then turn to opiates. Take enough opiates so as to eliminate all pain for a minimum
of 8 hours (I usually continue until I go to sleep at night). While pain free
do the various stretching and wiggling exercises so as to regain full mobility. Do
such movements for a minimum of 10 minutes per hour. It is most important to
being such treatment within the first six hours. My own experience of over 30
such treatments is to ward of chronic incidents over 80% of the time.
4). Abdomen muscle building. I do 15 minutes daily (5 days a week average) of crunches and lateral bends holding a 65-70 lbs. The lateral bends: hold the dumb bell in the left hand, leg
apart about one foot, and to bend at moderate speed (or it could be slow) to the left (without twisting) so the weight is
lowered (while being stiff-legged) as far as possible, then slowly straighten up and lean as far to the right as possible
(that is one cycle). I do as many of those cycles as possible in a set. (No pain; no gain. I want to work the
muscles). I then put the weight down and do the same on the right side. I do three sets on each side. An alternative
to this is to use, if your gym is so equipped, an ______ machine by ______, which allows you to sit hold on to 2 hand grips
and swing to the left side. I set the weight at 150 lbs and do 50 on each side,
for a total of 4 sets. Sometimes I add two more sets of 25 with 190 lbs. When the set is completed, adjust the machine and swing to the right side. A third machine I use is the hyper-extension stand. I do bends
on it, but also hold my self in the straight position for as long as possible. This
mainly tightens my gluts; however, it does work the muscles in the lower back as well.
I time my sets, and near the end, at about 2 min, 30 sec, I can feel it in the lower back.
HISTORY OF DRUG TREATMENT:
I discovered this treatment in 1974 when I took Phenylcyclodiene (an incredible powerful
analgesic) following rising one morning with extreme pain sufficient; so extreme that I would be able to travel with my wife
to a rock concert in Stanley Park Vancouver. Without pain I did just fine, and
the next morning I was as good as new. In subsequent years, I started saving
medication from my dentist for such emergencies. By 1981, I developed fibromyalgia,
and had chronic stiffness and several times a year my back would go out. The
frequency of back incidents slowly increased through to 1993. I had done since
about 1981 the stretching in 2 above, which helped. By 1992 I was unable to play
sports an average of 3 months a year. There was always back pain: stiffness in the morning, and mild pain with bending forward or getting up from sitting. In 1993, I began doing the exercises describe in 1. At the
same time doctor had proscribe 2.5 grams of aspirin a day, and suggested that I sleep on my back—which I did. My back felt much better within a couple of months, which I attributed to the aspirin. I still had morning stiffness lasting two hours. I would during
the first hour walk with a noticeable bending forward and to the left side. In
1995 my dosage was cut to a half gram a day, and I thought my back would go out—but it didn’t. I still had as usually the morning stiffness. By mid 1998
I stopped taking aspirin. By 1999 morning stiffness was minimal. I had one set back following a serious car accident on Boxing Day 1999, when an SUV doing 50 MPH drifted
into the bike lane. My back when out about 2 months later—but only moderately—when
I was taken off opiate medication. After that I would call my back bullet
proof. I would do all the things I shouldn’t do, and if my hip was
displaced, due to my muscle training, I could simply force it back in place, and within a half hour I was fine.
SUMMARY:
A). Back goes out try
stretching to get it back in place.
B). If that fails then
take enough opiates for 12 hours to block all pain. Then do frequent stretching
so that you are averaging over 10 minutes per hour.
c). Long-term fix of
doing muscle strengthening in the abdomen and back area. Sit ups, crunches, and
various sorts of weight training.
HEALING PROCESS:
1) Limit
acute pain for this indicates severe cramping which results in tissue damage. It
will take from 3 months to a couple of years for the re-absorption of fibrous tissue.
As it is re-absorbed, the general stiffness and mild pain will be less and the frequency of the back going out will
be less.
2) Exercise
promotes healing by giving you the ability to stretch out a cramped muscle, much like when at night you are woken from sleep
by a calf crap. You get out of bed and walking on it and the cramp goes away. Walking with a cramped calf muscle is like stretching when you can straighten up. As your abdomen muscles strengthen through following the weight-training program in
3; your ability to force the offending muscle out of being cramped by use of adjacent muscles will increase.
MOST OF THESE ABOVE CONCLUSION ARE SUPPORTED BY CONTROLLED STUDIES.
A number of studies have show (1), that about half the people with herniated discs do not
have back pain. (2), that an operation for a herniated disc while reducing pain in
the first couple of years (possible the placebo effect), further out that group is no better than the control group. (3), that most conscientious doctors put of operating on the back for at least 3 months,
for in most cases the pain will subside without treatment.
For instructive, medical article on herniated disc
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