By Norman D. Ford, Health Reporter
This site is still under construction and should be completed soon. Meanwhile, here are some basic facts and links to other websites to help you get started.
In his book "Treat Your Back Without Surgery," author Stephen Hochschuler M.D., chairman of the Texas Back Institute, describes the "Eighty Percent Rule for Back and Neck Pain."
The Eighty Percent Rule For Back and Neck Pain
1. Eighty percent of Americans will have back or neck pain at some time in their lives.
2. Eighty percent of back pain is muscle-related.
3. Eighty percent of back and neck pain will go away on its own over time with a little help from Mother Nature.
Translated, this means that most back pain is due to a muscle strain or pull, or to a muscle spasm--and the most common cause is being overweight and/or having flabby muscles weakened by lack of exercise. Simple causes like these can trigger excruciating back pain so severe that the victim remains in bed unable to move.
Most back pain isn't this bad. And even if it is, rest plus a painkiller or muscle relaxant can help you get moving. At that point, you can begin helping Mother Nature by starting to do some of the recommended exercises to relieve back pain in the websites and book listed below.
Specifically, this website is about relieving and preventing back pain that is muscle-related. So be sure and read the advice in the book and websites before beginning to exercise.
Other back pain can be caused by an injury or trauma, or by a herniated disc or a compression fracture. Or by osteoporosis. In fact, in people 55 and over, back pain is so frequently associated with osteoporosis that we recommend reading ASAP our other report on this website "Strategy For Strong Bones."
More serious is back pain due to an underlying medical problem like cancer (fortunately rare). Or it could be due to a neural problem like sciatica or weakness in an extremity such as bowel or bladder incontinence. Chronic back pain due to these causes can lead to depression, disability or immobility, particularly in older people.
Back pain due to causes in the preceding two paragraphs almost always calls for a complete medical evaluation--preferably by an orthopedist or an osteopathic physician. Exercise may be recommended but requires medical approval first.
Chiropractors, especially those trained in the Gonstead or McKenzie schools, have a good record of treating back pain due to muscle or spinal problems and most know when to refer a patient to a physician.
In even the most extreme cases, surgery is seldom required nowadays and when it is, new minimally-invasive arthroscopy type treatment is generally used. Most are done on an outpatient basis with patients able to walk out of hospital after a few hours.
So here are some links to back pain websites. Those that have nothing to sell and no products to promote, and that are associated with major medical organizations, should provide a wealth of information you can begin to use immediately.
Back Pain Therapy on the Web
For back pain websites type "Back Pain Exercises" and/or "Lower Back Pain" into your browser's search window and you should find several good nonprofit sites with illustrated exercise programs. Among the best are:
www.1backpain.com/back_exercises.htm Illustrated exercise program to beat and prevent back pain.
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org Click on "Spine" icon to go to back pain site of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
www.yogajournal.com Using the appropriate yoga postures has helped thousands recover from compression fractures or herniated discs. On Yoga Journal's website, look on left side of home page and click on to "Find Yoga Postures", thrn follow instructions for "Therapeutic Applications." Also look up these articles from back issues of Yoga Journal, all are available on the website.
"We've Got Your Back" --Yoga Journal, Sept-Oct 2002, page 96.
"Ease on Back," -- Yoga Journal, June 2000, page 94.
The back issues don't have pictures so simply go to "Poses" and scroll down to the pose (asana) mentioned. This is a great yoga website with every important asana illustrated and described.
A recommended book is "Treat Your Back Without Surgery" by Stephen Hochschuler M.D. (Texas Back Institute) and Bob Roznik MBA. It describes non-surgical solutions for eliminating back and neck pain and can usually be obtained in a few days from www.amazon.com.
CAUTION: Though these reports are based on documented studies in professional journals or on advisories from leading university medical schools and research institutes, they are intended for information only and should not be regarded as medical advice or instruction. For diagnosis and treatment of specific symptoms and diseases, disorders or dysfunctions, consult your physician. If you smoke or are over 35 or have symptoms of--or are at risk for--any chronic or degenerative disease, you should check with your doctor before beginning to exercise or making any changes in lifestyle or diet. However, fitness organizations like the American College of Sports Medicine invariably believe that the risk of NOT exercising far exceeds any risk in beginning a gradually increasing program of daily exercise. Thus if you experience any pain or problem while exercising, or making any other lifestyle change, stop and see your doctor at once.