I have an anecdotal support for your point: I had an event that resulted in intense lumbar pain and I was duly referred to a well-known specialist at a very large hospital. While waiting for the specialist to come into the examining room, I was able to overhear the employee at the front desk making phone calls. She made the same call over and over: “The MRI shows you have a stenosis, for which the only treatment is surgery.” I thought that was a little curious and filed that information away. Finally, the specialist came in and, after perfunctorily taking my “history”, recommended an MRI. I think even he felt a little awkward that he never even really looked at me, and so had me briefly pull up my shirt and point to where it hurt. Sure enough, a couple of days after the MRI, I got the “stenosis” phone call. My intuition told me not to go, and I didn’t.
The pain subsided and was manageable for a few years, but again I went to a (different) specialist who duly ordered another MRI, after which he informed me that I was not a candidate for surgery (his words were essentially that I could go to someone else and get surgery, but he was confident that I would come back to him to fix their mess) and suggested physical therapy. When he asked me what I did for pain, I told him OTC analgesics. He gave me a peculiar look and said “I can prescribe something stronger if you want”. I didn’t want, but got benefit from the physical therapy and have taught myself how to manage the problem, within the bounds of the underlying condition, through proper stretching.
Now, of course I have no idea whether the surgery would have helped or harmed (I suspect the second specialist may have been right), but I’m done with doctors, and will just live within the limitations of my minor disability.
Thank you for sharing. This is a great comment to go with part 2. It's really sad how assembly lined the whole business model is. I'm pinning this one too.
I herniated a disc which was very painful. Spine surgeon told me I would be far better off with physical therapy and massage than surgery. Grateful for his advice. I followed his advice and added acupuncture and eventually resistance training with a trainer/physical therapist to strengthen my muscles. I have had no pain for years now.
You made the right choice NEVER to have the surgery. It would not have helped you. I had two uncles who dies from bad back surgeries. That’s all they know because therapy and exercise is cheap and they don’t make money on it.
I am very sorry for the deaths in your family. People still die under anesthesia from any and every type of surgery. 🤗 ❤️
My opinion agrees with A Midwestern Doctor and I feel everyone should avoid surgery unless and until every other option has been ruled out. At least this way, if anything bad happens, you could say you tried everything else to avoid it.
I had a similar diagnosis but I had the surgery. It is a horror story; The surgery went bad. The fusion device got lodged in my abdomen somehow and hhad to have abdominal surgery the next day to rmove it but the ennd result was paralyization of my left foot from the middle of my calf down to including my toes. Then a following nerve test revealed a pinched nerve followed by another surgery to release the nerve which did absolutely nothing to give motion to my foot. Ended up in rehab with PT for 2 months which resulted in me learning how to walk with a dead leg. That was in 2015. I have pain in my back still but I take no meds except a ibuprofin in very rare instances where I may have irritated the nerves or muscles. I
too am done with the medical profession. I turn down my primary care doctor';s offer of pain
meds. I have learned to accept the pain and move on. I will never have surgery again on anything. I just live with the pain but I do not have the use of my left leg and foot so I am somewhat disabled for life. I cannot do my housework or garden and can only walk short distances because my back seems to give out on me. I am glad you didn't have the surgery.
I, like you am DONE with doctors and this so called healthcare cabal! It is corrupt and like our government and schools, cannot be fixed but needs dismantled and rebuilt, with God at the helm!!!
I had a similar experience. The doctor would not have me take an x-ray, but insisted I get an MRI, which it turns out I had to wait days in excruciating pain to get it, and it was his friend's new MRI business. Then he told me he couldn't see anything on the MRI and did an x-ray, and said you must be in a lot of pain and sent me to a pain specialist for a herniated disc. (In fairness, I think a lot of doctors see people who are angling for drugs, but that was also to help his friend's new business, IMO.)
The pain specialist gave me an injection, which really helped, and a prescription for massive amounts of pain killer. I hated the pain killer, and after several days, stopped using it, though I would take a half pill occasionally if the pain got too bad to sleep. She recommended physical therapy which allowed me to avoid surgery and an Ab Lounger keeps my core strong.
I'd like to see more about efficacy rates of "pain specialists." I think they came about with the "opioid crisis," so that GP's can pass the buck. I require small amounts of codeine (something like 1-2 tablets a week, tops) for breakthrough pain, but no GP will touch even that - and constantly want to refer me to pain specialists (the algorithm tells them to). I looked through the list I was given of pain specialists - one loves the implants (where you gonna implant for fibromyalgia?), another loves burning the nerves (again, which nerve?) and the others were equally invasive.
I do have a specialist GP who does trigger point lidocaine (like Midwestern Doc suggests), simple physio (Finch method) and prolotherapy. But he's not a "clinic" and so my GP doesn't always agree with me going to him. But it does get her off my back about "pain specialists."
But the business of "pain specialists" seems like an important topic to explore.
NOTE TO MIDWESTERN DOC: I've since learned of an excellent physiotherapy for the neck, called "Watson Method." It's almost like osteopathic, in that you gently rotate the vertebrae into alignment. It's an American method, but I'm fortunate to have several practitioners here in Australia.
As always, reading your substack gives me valuable information and teaches me so much.
Thank you for your insight and for sharing so openly with us.
My son is autistic and it is from Tylenol. I hope one day that something might be done to help him and all others who were injured by this drug. I struggle with bitterness every day of my life about what happened to him and I worry about who will care for him after I'm gone. I hate even looking at Tylenol and I avoid it like the plague.
Americans have an extraordinary talent for industrializing things, including things that they shouldn’t, such as education and medicine.
I have this feeling that the disease that “medicine” has become is going to come to an end, in no small part thanks the efforts of the few like you who are helping illuminate the path out of the madness. Thank you very much for what you do. I think all of your readers appreciate your well-reasoned insights.
I’ve read that alpha lipoic acid has helped with liver damage from Tylenol. I have no idea if it can help here, but maybe worth a look. Life Extension has a product super r-lipoic which is supposed to be better absorbed.
IMO I believe Physical Therapy is the best solution! They are highly trained to bring symmetry back to maintain spinal alignment and normal muscle tone!
I'm sure it is, but I still need to see that. My wife was literally wrecked by a physical therapist after a neck injury in two car accidents (drunk drivers ran into her on two occasions at a traffic light). It took her years to recover from the "treatment" with a good chiropractor's help. My hip injury (MRI showed nothing) was made exponentially worse at first, and made no difference later (I think, the cartilage shattered), and it took me about 10 years to recover. If these were the best things to do, I wish these "medical" specialists hadn't done a thing...
I heal my back with a combination of Chiropractry, Acupuncture, physical therapy, massage with lineaments and hot tub and the only medicines that I use are turmeric with ginger and Boswelia, Ice packs and heating pads.
Never trusted medical doctors with my spine. All the want to do is cut on you and drug you up. The spine needs adjustments just like the body needs bathing. It doesn’t last forever. So I get monthly adjustments. Been doing that since I was 9 years old. Im in my 50’s now. My Dad did the same and it never failed him.
That's funny; it looks like when I did yoga as a young man (which taught me to take control over vegetative symptoms), I did it as if I had been doing tai chi: using the fewest possible muscles with the least possible effort.
The specificity of your adjustment to the hypomobile vertebral segment resets the various malfunctioning proprioceptors (nerves) beyond what general exercises can do and allows reflexive muscle relaxation. This then allow exercises to bring restorative blood to the area that was walled off by the muscle hypertonicity. General exercise, tai chi, etc used in combo have far better outcomes according to well designed studies. Keep up your routine and yes add tai chi and see if it takes you to a better level.
The major problem, as far as I can see, has been ignored for decades. It's chairs without lumbar support, and sitting too much. Of course, there can be several other causes, but the damages caused by this would be relatively easy to prevent.
I absolutely love all of your incredibly informative articles! This week, in particular, I couldn't help but wonder how in the world you are able to put out so many highly researched articles.
This one was great, but I noticed that there was only one or two sentences that mentioned "adjustment", but didn't mention that that's what chiropractors do. I'm amazed at how many people I know that have no idea what a chiropractor does or what an adjustment is.
I would always try the least invasive treatment first and then move on to other options if necessary. Not to mention that, as you articulated, pain meds usually won't fix the underlying cause of the pain.
Thank you so much for all of your hard work. You are helping so many people!
I will never forget when my Ivy League orthopedic surgeon found out I had read Dr.Sarno’s book (found on my own). He unironically said, “Well you won’t need to see me much anymore.” And he was right! He had studied under Sarno but continued to practice his profession without encouraging patients to read the works of Sarno. Through Sarno’s explanation and a shift in my perspective, I was able to overcome carpel tunnel syndrome. I agree with you that his suggestions for Freudian therapy are antiquated but his explanation of the pain dynamic in Type A personalities alone did it for me.
Twenty years ago it was suggested I should get back surgery for my bulging disc. Then I started taking pilates and yoga classes, I invested in a good tempurpedic mattress, and also started taking anti-inflammatory herbs and supplements. Back pain gone in 2 months.
I’m happy to say that a orthopedic surgeon suggested that I try following the changes and exercises in “Treat Your Own Neck” by Robin McKenzie. That book kept me living my slightly risk-taking dare devil lifestyle without pain until I hurt my back. Fortunately, Robin had written “Treat Your Own Back” in the meantime. That book and a temporary back brace kept me off drugs once again. The Bible and the two books by Robin McKenzie have been the most important books in my life. They taught me there is a healthy solution to every problem we may face.
Very insightful. Having gone thru a herniated disc i changed many things that I found out caused it. My yoga practice was extremely helpful and so was the loss of 67 useless pounds.
Great article covering many drugs commonly used and no relief gained. I took Nabumatone for several years for severe scoliosis. Now I only take a Tylenol if extreme pain from yard work. My scoliosis causes painful muscle tightness and nothing helps. I use a massager for minimal help but just have learned to live with it. Walking seems to help since sitting too long aggregates it. This article was extremely informative. Thanks.
I will look forward to that. Thank you! From this article I’m interested in the lidocaine injection as a possible treatment if I could find the right doctor trained in this.
My chiropractor took xrays of my spine as we tried different size lifts on my shorter leg. FWIW having a cobbler build up the whole shoe bottom toe to heel (3/8" in my case) has been much better for me than just a lift that's inserted.
Thank you for this thorough post on spine pain. In my 26 year neurosurgery solo practice, the nonsurgical pain was the most challenging to help. It is humbling for a surgeon to know spine surgery can’t fix everything. Since discovering BEMER powered muscle stimulator, I am now able to share a modality which is able to support self healing and discomfort recovery. I wish I had known about BEMER before retiring from my career. Now, I am dedicated to sharing this technology which has improved quality of life for over a million users for the past 25 years. https://daria-schooler.bemergroup.com
In a previous article on Zeta Potential you said you didn't like them because the polarity can make cancer better or worse depending on direction, and they don't tell the direction. Can you clarify your position on this?
I remember seeing Andrew Saul in a documentary film saying: "If you go to a Chinese restaurant looking for Italian food you are not going to find it. It is just not on the menu" So if you go to a surgeon there is only one thing on the menu. You have to be responsible for your own healthcare and get 2nd, 3rd and maybe even a 10th "second opinion".
I have seldom used any drugs to treat neck and back pain. Several times I have been unable to move very much with these troubles. But I have always had very good success using a chiropractor. I have never seen a regular doctor for this type of pain. I can't imagine ever doing so.
"Big Pharma is top of the table for misbehaviour ahead of the arms industry, which has hogged the limelight for the past 100 years."
That's quite an accomplishment as we're witnessing the handiwork of the arms industry in Ukraine and Gaza. Big pharma and the arms manufacturers generate profit by causing agony.
In every state there's an arms industry employing thousands influencing local politicians with "campaign funding bribes." Sadly, the same can be said of the pharmaceutical industry. Demented hoodlums have created a planet where triggering pain, suffering, death, and misery are rewarded.
If the pyschopathic culprits are not punished and their profits continue to expand, look forward to heightened death and destruction.
Honors graduate of NY Chiropractic College in 1987 and worked as a full-time clinician in a solo practice and did a one year stint in a MD/DC/PT/Acupuncture multicare facility as the lead physician. I had upwards of 300,000 clinical encounters during this time. It was clear in the multicare clinic that some chronics had better outcomes following the addition of active exercises to their spinal adjustments aka spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). This was verified in a well done study published in 2003 or so that was very clear that a regimen of SMT plus active exercises resulted in a synergistic effect of 1 plus 1 equals 3 with regard to improved function and pain using Oswestry scales. Nothing else came close to that combo. I’ve personally seen and experienced the benefits of massage, manual trigger point therapy, and acupuncture added along with stretching for muscle pain relief as having benefits. Without the restoration of normal spinal biomechainics to restore mobility, the muscular system addressed through the above additions, the neuro system will continue to fire abnormally causing pain and disability. Surgery is only in consideration for patients with severe, intractable pain not relieved by conservative care, progressive muscle, weakening due to cord, or spinal nerve compression, or cauda equina syndrome with the loss of bowel or bladder function. Medication use should be reserved for short term situations while the other treatment modalities I’ve mentioned are being utilized.
I agree, you often have to have the patient participate in the process and avoid recreating the sedentary behaviors which established the issue in the first place.
Early active restoration of mobility using movement and exercises is indicated always once red flags are ruled out through examination, x-ray, CT and MRI as indicated. Passive manual adjustments to restore neurological integrity and restoration of vertebral mobility very specifically is always indicated. The data is very clear on this. To try meds only constitutes malpractice given the data.
I have an anecdotal support for your point: I had an event that resulted in intense lumbar pain and I was duly referred to a well-known specialist at a very large hospital. While waiting for the specialist to come into the examining room, I was able to overhear the employee at the front desk making phone calls. She made the same call over and over: “The MRI shows you have a stenosis, for which the only treatment is surgery.” I thought that was a little curious and filed that information away. Finally, the specialist came in and, after perfunctorily taking my “history”, recommended an MRI. I think even he felt a little awkward that he never even really looked at me, and so had me briefly pull up my shirt and point to where it hurt. Sure enough, a couple of days after the MRI, I got the “stenosis” phone call. My intuition told me not to go, and I didn’t.
The pain subsided and was manageable for a few years, but again I went to a (different) specialist who duly ordered another MRI, after which he informed me that I was not a candidate for surgery (his words were essentially that I could go to someone else and get surgery, but he was confident that I would come back to him to fix their mess) and suggested physical therapy. When he asked me what I did for pain, I told him OTC analgesics. He gave me a peculiar look and said “I can prescribe something stronger if you want”. I didn’t want, but got benefit from the physical therapy and have taught myself how to manage the problem, within the bounds of the underlying condition, through proper stretching.
Now, of course I have no idea whether the surgery would have helped or harmed (I suspect the second specialist may have been right), but I’m done with doctors, and will just live within the limitations of my minor disability.
Thank you for sharing. This is a great comment to go with part 2. It's really sad how assembly lined the whole business model is. I'm pinning this one too.
I herniated a disc which was very painful. Spine surgeon told me I would be far better off with physical therapy and massage than surgery. Grateful for his advice. I followed his advice and added acupuncture and eventually resistance training with a trainer/physical therapist to strengthen my muscles. I have had no pain for years now.
I've never had a surgeon tell me I'd be better off without him!!!!
Well this one did! Most unusual I am sure.
Beautiful testimony.
You made the right choice NEVER to have the surgery. It would not have helped you. I had two uncles who dies from bad back surgeries. That’s all they know because therapy and exercise is cheap and they don’t make money on it.
I am very sorry for the deaths in your family. People still die under anesthesia from any and every type of surgery. 🤗 ❤️
My opinion agrees with A Midwestern Doctor and I feel everyone should avoid surgery unless and until every other option has been ruled out. At least this way, if anything bad happens, you could say you tried everything else to avoid it.
I had a similar diagnosis but I had the surgery. It is a horror story; The surgery went bad. The fusion device got lodged in my abdomen somehow and hhad to have abdominal surgery the next day to rmove it but the ennd result was paralyization of my left foot from the middle of my calf down to including my toes. Then a following nerve test revealed a pinched nerve followed by another surgery to release the nerve which did absolutely nothing to give motion to my foot. Ended up in rehab with PT for 2 months which resulted in me learning how to walk with a dead leg. That was in 2015. I have pain in my back still but I take no meds except a ibuprofin in very rare instances where I may have irritated the nerves or muscles. I
too am done with the medical profession. I turn down my primary care doctor';s offer of pain
meds. I have learned to accept the pain and move on. I will never have surgery again on anything. I just live with the pain but I do not have the use of my left leg and foot so I am somewhat disabled for life. I cannot do my housework or garden and can only walk short distances because my back seems to give out on me. I am glad you didn't have the surgery.
meds
I, like you am DONE with doctors and this so called healthcare cabal! It is corrupt and like our government and schools, cannot be fixed but needs dismantled and rebuilt, with God at the helm!!!
I had a similar experience. The doctor would not have me take an x-ray, but insisted I get an MRI, which it turns out I had to wait days in excruciating pain to get it, and it was his friend's new MRI business. Then he told me he couldn't see anything on the MRI and did an x-ray, and said you must be in a lot of pain and sent me to a pain specialist for a herniated disc. (In fairness, I think a lot of doctors see people who are angling for drugs, but that was also to help his friend's new business, IMO.)
The pain specialist gave me an injection, which really helped, and a prescription for massive amounts of pain killer. I hated the pain killer, and after several days, stopped using it, though I would take a half pill occasionally if the pain got too bad to sleep. She recommended physical therapy which allowed me to avoid surgery and an Ab Lounger keeps my core strong.
I'd like to see more about efficacy rates of "pain specialists." I think they came about with the "opioid crisis," so that GP's can pass the buck. I require small amounts of codeine (something like 1-2 tablets a week, tops) for breakthrough pain, but no GP will touch even that - and constantly want to refer me to pain specialists (the algorithm tells them to). I looked through the list I was given of pain specialists - one loves the implants (where you gonna implant for fibromyalgia?), another loves burning the nerves (again, which nerve?) and the others were equally invasive.
I do have a specialist GP who does trigger point lidocaine (like Midwestern Doc suggests), simple physio (Finch method) and prolotherapy. But he's not a "clinic" and so my GP doesn't always agree with me going to him. But it does get her off my back about "pain specialists."
But the business of "pain specialists" seems like an important topic to explore.
NOTE TO MIDWESTERN DOC: I've since learned of an excellent physiotherapy for the neck, called "Watson Method." It's almost like osteopathic, in that you gently rotate the vertebrae into alignment. It's an American method, but I'm fortunate to have several practitioners here in Australia.
I often check this site for issues because they keep up to date and cite their references. If you haven't heard of them, this link is for fibromyalgia: https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/immune-connective-joint/fibromyalgia
Yes. I call it fibromyalgia (no official dx) because that communicates what it *feels* like.
However, I'm pretty certain that it's related to 30 years of psych drugs & those surgeries didn't help, either.
Working on it! It would help to have doctors' cooperation, but now I'm dreaming.
Yar, these people would give me antidepressants for fibro. No sir, thank you.
As always, reading your substack gives me valuable information and teaches me so much.
Thank you for your insight and for sharing so openly with us.
My son is autistic and it is from Tylenol. I hope one day that something might be done to help him and all others who were injured by this drug. I struggle with bitterness every day of my life about what happened to him and I worry about who will care for him after I'm gone. I hate even looking at Tylenol and I avoid it like the plague.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I am going to pin this comment because a lot of people don't believe me when I say that this happens.
I also want to note that the tylenol doesn't "cause" it. Rather, the tylenol makes it more likely the vaccine will cause autism.
Americans have an extraordinary talent for industrializing things, including things that they shouldn’t, such as education and medicine.
I have this feeling that the disease that “medicine” has become is going to come to an end, in no small part thanks the efforts of the few like you who are helping illuminate the path out of the madness. Thank you very much for what you do. I think all of your readers appreciate your well-reasoned insights.
Do you think it is reversible? GAPS diet/gut healing?
I’ve read that alpha lipoic acid has helped with liver damage from Tylenol. I have no idea if it can help here, but maybe worth a look. Life Extension has a product super r-lipoic which is supposed to be better absorbed.
A single Tylenol can also result in the need for a liver transplant... Perhaps that's why it over-the-counter...
IMO I believe Physical Therapy is the best solution! They are highly trained to bring symmetry back to maintain spinal alignment and normal muscle tone!
I heal my back with yoga and Pilates combination. In one year it was 90% better. “Week core” is what the yoga instructor told me I had.
I'm sure it is, but I still need to see that. My wife was literally wrecked by a physical therapist after a neck injury in two car accidents (drunk drivers ran into her on two occasions at a traffic light). It took her years to recover from the "treatment" with a good chiropractor's help. My hip injury (MRI showed nothing) was made exponentially worse at first, and made no difference later (I think, the cartilage shattered), and it took me about 10 years to recover. If these were the best things to do, I wish these "medical" specialists hadn't done a thing...
I heal my back with a combination of Chiropractry, Acupuncture, physical therapy, massage with lineaments and hot tub and the only medicines that I use are turmeric with ginger and Boswelia, Ice packs and heating pads.
Never trusted medical doctors with my spine. All the want to do is cut on you and drug you up. The spine needs adjustments just like the body needs bathing. It doesn’t last forever. So I get monthly adjustments. Been doing that since I was 9 years old. Im in my 50’s now. My Dad did the same and it never failed him.
You can bypass the need for those adjustments if you can do something on your own (eg tai chi) to move the center of the spine.
While I benefitted from 46 years of yoga - it wasn't until the tai chi and qigong that I was able to open up the joints at will.
I believe that the yoga focuses on stretching the muscles, while the tai chi focuses on opening the joints (which then, releases the muscles).
That's funny; it looks like when I did yoga as a young man (which taught me to take control over vegetative symptoms), I did it as if I had been doing tai chi: using the fewest possible muscles with the least possible effort.
Always did Tai Chi but it is becoming difficult now.
The specificity of your adjustment to the hypomobile vertebral segment resets the various malfunctioning proprioceptors (nerves) beyond what general exercises can do and allows reflexive muscle relaxation. This then allow exercises to bring restorative blood to the area that was walled off by the muscle hypertonicity. General exercise, tai chi, etc used in combo have far better outcomes according to well designed studies. Keep up your routine and yes add tai chi and see if it takes you to a better level.
The major problem, as far as I can see, has been ignored for decades. It's chairs without lumbar support, and sitting too much. Of course, there can be several other causes, but the damages caused by this would be relatively easy to prevent.
I absolutely love all of your incredibly informative articles! This week, in particular, I couldn't help but wonder how in the world you are able to put out so many highly researched articles.
This one was great, but I noticed that there was only one or two sentences that mentioned "adjustment", but didn't mention that that's what chiropractors do. I'm amazed at how many people I know that have no idea what a chiropractor does or what an adjustment is.
I would always try the least invasive treatment first and then move on to other options if necessary. Not to mention that, as you articulated, pain meds usually won't fix the underlying cause of the pain.
Thank you so much for all of your hard work. You are helping so many people!
Thank you.
I will never forget when my Ivy League orthopedic surgeon found out I had read Dr.Sarno’s book (found on my own). He unironically said, “Well you won’t need to see me much anymore.” And he was right! He had studied under Sarno but continued to practice his profession without encouraging patients to read the works of Sarno. Through Sarno’s explanation and a shift in my perspective, I was able to overcome carpel tunnel syndrome. I agree with you that his suggestions for Freudian therapy are antiquated but his explanation of the pain dynamic in Type A personalities alone did it for me.
That's wonderful. It's also sad your surgeon didn't share that with people :(
Twenty years ago it was suggested I should get back surgery for my bulging disc. Then I started taking pilates and yoga classes, I invested in a good tempurpedic mattress, and also started taking anti-inflammatory herbs and supplements. Back pain gone in 2 months.
My hope is that people in a similar situation to you will read this article.
I’m happy to say that a orthopedic surgeon suggested that I try following the changes and exercises in “Treat Your Own Neck” by Robin McKenzie. That book kept me living my slightly risk-taking dare devil lifestyle without pain until I hurt my back. Fortunately, Robin had written “Treat Your Own Back” in the meantime. That book and a temporary back brace kept me off drugs once again. The Bible and the two books by Robin McKenzie have been the most important books in my life. They taught me there is a healthy solution to every problem we may face.
That is one way of utilizing the flexion extension principle.
This is relevant to my aching interests........
Very insightful. Having gone thru a herniated disc i changed many things that I found out caused it. My yoga practice was extremely helpful and so was the loss of 67 useless pounds.
Thank you so much.
Thank you too.
Great article covering many drugs commonly used and no relief gained. I took Nabumatone for several years for severe scoliosis. Now I only take a Tylenol if extreme pain from yard work. My scoliosis causes painful muscle tightness and nothing helps. I use a massager for minimal help but just have learned to live with it. Walking seems to help since sitting too long aggregates it. This article was extremely informative. Thanks.
Thank you. At some point I will write a post about scoliosis on here.
I will look forward to that. Thank you! From this article I’m interested in the lidocaine injection as a possible treatment if I could find the right doctor trained in this.
I have scoliosis too. I believe I need a lift in my right shoe as my left leg is longer.
What sort of doctor does one consult for procuring a shoe lift.
Podiatrists are not reliable.
My chiropractor took xrays of my spine as we tried different size lifts on my shorter leg. FWIW having a cobbler build up the whole shoe bottom toe to heel (3/8" in my case) has been much better for me than just a lift that's inserted.
Try an orthopedic doctor for proper measurements. Some shoe stores specialize in fitting.
Thank you for this thorough post on spine pain. In my 26 year neurosurgery solo practice, the nonsurgical pain was the most challenging to help. It is humbling for a surgeon to know spine surgery can’t fix everything. Since discovering BEMER powered muscle stimulator, I am now able to share a modality which is able to support self healing and discomfort recovery. I wish I had known about BEMER before retiring from my career. Now, I am dedicated to sharing this technology which has improved quality of life for over a million users for the past 25 years. https://daria-schooler.bemergroup.com
Thank you too. I would love to get your thoughts on this part and the next part.
I have a bemer mat and sometimes find it's quite helpful for opening the microcirculation.
In a previous article on Zeta Potential you said you didn't like them because the polarity can make cancer better or worse depending on direction, and they don't tell the direction. Can you clarify your position on this?
I remember seeing Andrew Saul in a documentary film saying: "If you go to a Chinese restaurant looking for Italian food you are not going to find it. It is just not on the menu" So if you go to a surgeon there is only one thing on the menu. You have to be responsible for your own healthcare and get 2nd, 3rd and maybe even a 10th "second opinion".
That is a great metaphor.
I have seldom used any drugs to treat neck and back pain. Several times I have been unable to move very much with these troubles. But I have always had very good success using a chiropractor. I have never seen a regular doctor for this type of pain. I can't imagine ever doing so.
"Big Pharma is top of the table for misbehaviour ahead of the arms industry, which has hogged the limelight for the past 100 years."
That's quite an accomplishment as we're witnessing the handiwork of the arms industry in Ukraine and Gaza. Big pharma and the arms manufacturers generate profit by causing agony.
In every state there's an arms industry employing thousands influencing local politicians with "campaign funding bribes." Sadly, the same can be said of the pharmaceutical industry. Demented hoodlums have created a planet where triggering pain, suffering, death, and misery are rewarded.
If the pyschopathic culprits are not punished and their profits continue to expand, look forward to heightened death and destruction.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/08/pharma-misbehaviour-gsk-fine
Honors graduate of NY Chiropractic College in 1987 and worked as a full-time clinician in a solo practice and did a one year stint in a MD/DC/PT/Acupuncture multicare facility as the lead physician. I had upwards of 300,000 clinical encounters during this time. It was clear in the multicare clinic that some chronics had better outcomes following the addition of active exercises to their spinal adjustments aka spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). This was verified in a well done study published in 2003 or so that was very clear that a regimen of SMT plus active exercises resulted in a synergistic effect of 1 plus 1 equals 3 with regard to improved function and pain using Oswestry scales. Nothing else came close to that combo. I’ve personally seen and experienced the benefits of massage, manual trigger point therapy, and acupuncture added along with stretching for muscle pain relief as having benefits. Without the restoration of normal spinal biomechainics to restore mobility, the muscular system addressed through the above additions, the neuro system will continue to fire abnormally causing pain and disability. Surgery is only in consideration for patients with severe, intractable pain not relieved by conservative care, progressive muscle, weakening due to cord, or spinal nerve compression, or cauda equina syndrome with the loss of bowel or bladder function. Medication use should be reserved for short term situations while the other treatment modalities I’ve mentioned are being utilized.
I agree, you often have to have the patient participate in the process and avoid recreating the sedentary behaviors which established the issue in the first place.
Early active restoration of mobility using movement and exercises is indicated always once red flags are ruled out through examination, x-ray, CT and MRI as indicated. Passive manual adjustments to restore neurological integrity and restoration of vertebral mobility very specifically is always indicated. The data is very clear on this. To try meds only constitutes malpractice given the data.