Case History - Back Pain
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Lisa, a 49 year old female, came to Caring Medical suffering with low and mid back pain for about two years. She had tried chiropractic care and over the counter anti-inflammatories with only temporary relief. She also complained of eczema, gas and bloating, constipation, hot flashes, irregular periods, hair loss, PMS, history of endometriosis, and low libido. She was on no medications besides natural progesterone cream and some dietary supplements such as fish oils, digestive enzymes, and calcium.
Because of her extensive medical history, Lisa was in need of a natural medicine “tune up.” At the first visit, I (Dr. Hauser) gave her the option of doing the “simple” evaluation process or the more “involved” process. The simple one involved using Prolotherapy as the sole method of treatment. Ideally, we do the more ‘involved’ process because this process will improve her overall healthy so that she is physiologically healthy, in conjunction with doing Prolotherapy. The latter would involve at least hormone testing, but should also include Hauser Diet Typing and Food Allergy Testing. She decided to just receive Prolotherapy. We treated her lower back and she started some supplements.
She returned about 5 weeks later for her second visit to report a 10% improvement in pain. She was happy with this, but had decided not to do the lab tests I had ordered. She received her second Prolotherapy treatment to her lower back.
She came back a few months later and at this visit decided to do the lab tests that were previously ordered. She received another Prolotherapy treatment. A few weeks later, some of her lab results were reviewed over the phone. Her Testosterone level was quite low and she was prescribed a natural testosterone cream. We explained that this could have been the reason she had not made as much progress with Prolotherapy, thus far, as testosterone is very important in soft tissue healing.
When Lisa returned 2 months later, she was not that happy because she said her pain was awful. Upon further questioning, she admitted that her pain had been 95% gone, so because she felt so great, she decided to rake leaves in her yard for spring clean-up which set off that “nerve type pain.”
We explained to her again that the main activity which “injures” the sacroiliac ligaments and puts a tremendous amount of stress on the lower back are movements that involve flexing at the waist and twisting to the side. The lower back, for most of us, simply does not have enough flexibility and strength to do motions, especially fast ones that involve both flexing and twisting. Gardening and raking leaves, for instance, almost always involve both a twisting and flexing motion. The sacroiliac ligaments, in particular, are fine if you twist with a straight back or flex forward without twisting. Once you flex and twist, it puts such a great torque on the lower back, that in the end, I am sad to say, an injury eventually will likely result.
So what is the take home point? Even if you receive Prolotherapy, it is important to use proper back mechanics. The lower back was not meant to sustain a twisting motion while it is in the flexed position. Doing core exercises that involve flexing at the waist and twisting, will in all likelihood, cause you to develop a sacroiliac problem. If you experience a clicking sound in your lower back, it is too late for you. You already have an instability problem. Even if it doesn’t hurt that much, you already don’t have as strong of a back as you should.
So what is a person to do?
For the pain, get Prolotherapy. Yes, I know this is a shocker to you that I recommend Prolotherapy!
Always use proper form when doing activities. This means have your core muscles contracted (engaged). I think about keeping my chest up. When I do this my abdominal muscles are contracted, as well as my lower back muscles. This helps stabilize my sacroiliac joints. Yes, this posture is how I swim, bike, run, and do weight training. It is how you should be just sitting at your computer now reading this! Keep your chest up. This pulls your shoulder blades back also!
If you have a lot of other health issues besides pain, get them checked out. Lisa is a lot healthier because she is on a good natural medicine program. For her this involves natural hormones, supplements and the proper Hauser Diet. She knows what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. I suspect as the year progresses her health will just get better and better. What will be the end result? Well, the next time she injures herself by raking leaves, there will actually be a good chance she will heal on her own and not get Prolotherapy. Good for her! We wouldn’t have it any other way!
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