Physical Therapists

5 Comments

• #1 by Izziwiz on February 16, 2010 - 11:32 pm

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  Hi Aaron
  I also have 2 disc prolapses (Im 27) so I understand how frustrated and in pain you must feel. I could not get mine to heal properly for years until I had to admit that I was unable to carry on the way I was and I changed my lifestyle dramatically. Although it was difficult at the time, now I am used to it and although I still have some pain and sciatica on bad days, my spine is definately more stable than it was……
  To start I had to stop the gym completely (not easy when your vain!), I did no excercise for about a year and then started swimming for just 20 minutes twice a week. I stopped wearing shoes with thin unsupportive soles like pumps or high heels (not that you wear them Im sure, but perhaps you do wear thin soled trainers?? lol) I moved house so I had to drive less and walked slightly more, this helped. I stopped riding my bike too as this puts you into extension which is bad for discs. I did drift away from some friends as I suddenly wasn’t into the same things as them, but you know what, I have found new ones and at least Im not in so much pain.
  I don’t know about your lifestyle/occupation, but you need to look at everything and make sure that you are not doing anything which could slow down the healing process. I also see a Chiropractor once a week and I have done for years. this helps alot with the muscle spasms and sciatica which I get from the discs and also for advice. If you do go to a Chiropractor, (which I recommend) make sure that they take x-rays and also give them a copy of your MRI scan on disc to look at, with a copy of the report, so they can see your disc injuries.
  With regards to the operation – I agree, I also do not want one. Even if you do have an operation, you still have to be careful and limit your activities as you have a weakness in that area for ever. I sincerely hope that you sort out these issues with your discs, you are young and can heal and you will, but I think that once a disc injury perhaps always some discomfort – in my experience anyway.
  Eat well, rest, drink water, not tea or coffee and you will set yourself in good stead. Take Glucosamine Sulphate (you can get this in health food stores) as it helps to strengthen your intervertabral discs. At night get a large pillow and sleep with it between your legs, on your side. This will help to keep your spine in better aligment allowing the disc to retract better and rehydrate as you sleep. When you are driving, put a cushion behind your back. Do not lift weights either. During acute phases, take anti-inflammatories, painkillers and wear a sacro-illiac belt.
  Good luck with everything, I hope you feel better soon.

• #2 by mistify on February 17, 2010 - 2:01 am

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  What approach to physical therapy did you receive? Stabilitzation exercises? Heat massage and ultrasound. Although these are common practices, there is essentially no evidence to support their use.
  Rather, have you seen a PT who is certified in mechnical diagnosis and therapy? This is the single most researched method of treatment for low back pain. Yet, most PTs do not know or understand it’s principles because it is not taught at the entry level education.
  You are right that your HNPs are quite large…the question is: how does your pain and motion repsond to particular movements.
  If you cannot be helped with this method, it will be know very shortly.http://www.mckenziemdt.org

• #3 by Observer on February 17, 2010 - 7:52 am

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  1) Acupuncture
  A study conducted at Sheffield University in the United Kingdom looked at the long-term symptom reduction and economic benefits of acupuncture for persistent low back pain. An average of 8 acupuncture treatments were given to 159 people, while 80 people received usual care instead.
  After one year, people receiving acupuncture had reduced pain and reported a significant reduction in worry about their pain compared to the usual care group. After two years, the acupuncture group was significantly more likely to report that the past year had been pain-free. They were less likely to use medication for pain relief.
  How does acupuncture work? According to traditional Chinese medicine, pain results from blocked energy along energy pathways of the body, which are unblocked when acupuncture needles are inserted along these invisible pathways.
  A scientific explanation is that acupuncture releases natural pain-relieving opioids, sends signals that calm the sympathetic nervous system, and releases neurochemicals and hormones.
  An acupuncture treatment generally costs between $60 and $120. Acupuncture is tax-deductible (it’s considered a medical expense) and some insurance plans pay for acupuncture.
  If you want to try acupuncture, plan on going one to three times a week for several weeks initially.
  2) Capsaicin Cream
  Although you may not have heard of capsaicin (pronounced cap-SAY-sin) before, if you’ve ever eaten a chili pepper and felt your mouth burn, you know exactly what capsaicin does. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers.
  When it is applied to the skin, capsaicin has been found to deplete substance P–a neurochemical that transmits pain–causing an analgesic effect.
  In one double-blind study, 160 people were treated with capsaicin for 3 weeks, while another 160 people used a placebo. After 3 weeks, pain was reduced by 42% in the capsaicin group compared to 31% in the placebo group. Investigators rated capsaicin significantly more effective than placebo.
  Capsaicin cream, also called capsicum cream, is available in drug stores, health food stores, and online. A typical dosage is 0.025% capsaicin cream applied four times a day. The most common side effect is a stinging or burning sensation in the area.
  If possible, wear disposable gloves (available at drugstores) before applying the cream. Be careful not to touch the eye area or open skin. A tube or jar of capsaicin cream typically costs between $8 and $25.
  3) Vitamin D
  Chronic muscle pain can be a symptom of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is found in fish with small bones, fortified milk and cereal, and exposure to sunlight.
  Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency are:
  * darker pigmented skin (e.g. Hispanic, African American, Asian) does not convert UV rays efficiently to vitamin D
  * digestive disorders, such as celiac disease
  * use of glucocorticoid medications for conditions such as lung diseases and allergies
  * minimal sun exposure (elderly, institutionalized, homebound, veiled or heavily-clothed individuals)
  * latitude and season – for example, people in Boston do not produce vitamin D from sun exposure between November and February
  A study by the University of Minnesota looked at the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in 150 people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Researchers found that 93% of patients had vitamin D deficiency. All people with darker pigmented skin (African American, East African, Hispanic, and Native American origin) had vitamin D deficiency.
  Another interesting finding was that the majority of people with severe vitamin D deficiency were under 30 years of age. Season was not a significant factor.
  The researchers concluded that all people with persistent, non-specific musculoskeletal pain should be screened for vitamin D deficiency.
  4) Music Therapy
  Music therapy is a low-cost natural therapy that has been found to reduce the disability, anxiety, and depression associated with chronic pain.
  A study evaluated the influence of music therapy in hospitalized patients with chronic back pain. Researchers randomized 65 patients to receive, on alternate months, physical therapy plus 4 music therapy sessions or physical therapy alone.
  Music therapy significantly reduced disability, anxiety, and depression. Music had an immediate effect on reducing pain, although the results were not statistically significant.
  5) Vitamin B12
  Vitamin B12 has been found to relieve low back pain. A double-blind Italian study examined the safety and effectiveness of vitamin B12 for low back pain. People who received vitamin B12 showed a statistically significant reduction in pain and disability. They also used less pain medication than the placebo group.
  Besides pain, other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are numbness and tingling, irritability, mild memory impairment, and depression.
  Risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency are :
  * pernicious anemia
  * medications (stomach acid-blocking medications)
  * inadequate intake of meat or dairy products
  * infection (small intestine bacterial overgrowth, parasites)
  * Digestive diseases (stomach removal surgery, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease
  Vitamin B12 muscle injections are the standard treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency.
  Studies have found vitamin B12 sublingual tablets (placed under the tongue for absorption) and nasal gel are also effective.
  6) Magnesium
  Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. It’s involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body.
  Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
  Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include muscle spasms and pain, premenstrual syndrome, irritability, depression, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and heart disease.
  A German study found that mineral supplements increased intracellular magnesium levels by 11% and was associated with a reduction in pain symptoms in 76 out of 82 people with chronic low back pain.
  7) Willow Bark
  The bark of the white willow tree (Salix alba) has pain-relieving properties similar to aspirin. An ingredient in white willow bark, called salicin, is converted in the body to salicylic acid (aspirin is also converted to salicylic acid once in the body). Salicylic acid is believed to be the active compound that relieves pain and inflammtion.
  A number of studies have compared white willow to medication or placebo:
  * A University of Sydney study compared the effects of willow bark extract to refecoxib, a Cox-2 inhibitor pain medication. In the study, 114 patients received a herbal extract containing 240 mg of salicin and 114 received 12.5 mg of refecoxib every day. After four weeks, both groups had a comparable reduction in pain.
  * A study in the American Journal of Medicine examined 191 patients with an exacerbation of chronic low back pain. They were randomly assigned to receive a willow bark extract with either 120 mg (low-dose) or 240 mg (high-dose) of salicin, or placebo. In the fourth week of treatment, 39% of people receiving the high-dose extract were pain-free, 21% receiving the low-dose were pain-free, and 6% of people receiving the placebo were pain-free. People in the high-dose group improved after the first week. Significantly more people in the placebo group required pain medication.
  Yoga for Back Pain
  Yoga creates balance in the body through various poses that develop flexibility and strength. A study of people with chronic mild low back pain compared Iyengar yoga to back education. After 16 weeks, there was a significant reduction in pain intensity, disability, and reliance on pain medication in the yoga group. Benefits were also seen at three month follow up assessments.
  Another study compared yoga, conventional exercise, and a self care book for people with chronic low back pain. Back function in the yoga group was superior to the book and exercise groups at 12 weeks. Although there was no difference in symptoms at 12 weeks, at 26 weeks, the yoga group was superior to the book group.
  9) Bowen Therapy
  Bowen therapy is a type of gentle bodywork that was developed in Australia by osteopath Tom Bowen (1916-1982). Bowen therapy is more widely used in Australia and Europe, but it has been growing in popularity in North America.
  Bowen therapists use a series of specialized “moves” using their fingers and thumbs. The moves typically involve the therapist pulling the skin slack away from the muscle, applying pressure, and then quickly releasing the tension.
  These moves are performed on precise areas of muscles where special receptors are located. Nerve impulses are sent to the brain, resulting in muscle relaxation and reduction of pain.
  The moves are not continuous – the therapist allows the client to rest for a few minutes between each move. A typical treatment is between 30 to 40 minutes.
  10) Breathing Techniques
  Breathing techniques that make use of the mind-body connection have been found to reduce pain. These techniques integrate body awareness, breathing, movement, and meditation. What’s great about breathing techniques is that you can do them yourself at home at no cost.
  One study compared 6-8 weeks (12 sessions) of breath therapy to physical therapy. Patients improved significantly with breath therapy. Changes in standard low back pain measures of pain and disability were comparable to those resulting from high quality, extended physical therapy. Breath therapy was found to be safe. Other benefits of breath therapy were improved coping skills and new insight into the effec

• #4 by Adam J on February 17, 2010 - 8:12 am

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  on ebay

• #5 by nancy on February 17, 2010 - 8:26 am

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  I know that you don’t want to make back surgery,but try it coz I have a friend who had your problem and made it and it worked for him.But just let a good known doctor to make it to you so that your surgery will have less probability to fail.
  Good luck