Back Pain

About 85 percent of the population will experience disabling, low back pain at least once during their lives!  That’s almost all of us.  The problem is so bad that, at any one time, 6.8 percent of the U.S. adult population is suffering from an episode of back pain lasting more than two weeks.  That’s a lot of bad backs.  The estimated cost of this problem in the U.S. is over $50 billion a year.

The standard medical approach to back pain varies depending on the severity of the condition.  Muscle relaxers, painkillers, rest, and physical therapy such as traction, diathermy, ultrasound, hot packs, and cold packs are sometimes used.  However, this approach has not been found very helpful.  If the problem doesn’t improve or worsens, then surgery may be performed.

The medical approach is sometimes necessary – even back surgery has a place.

But, according to some studies, most spinal surgery for acute lower back problems should be rarely performed.  Many people who have had back surgery report a recurrence of their symptoms within a year or two of the operation and may return to the operating table.  In some cases, the surgery makes no difference whatsoever.  In other cases, it does bring long-term relief.

I take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of low back pain.  After a thorough neurological examination I determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly.  In many low back pain patients I may find a high mesencephalic output.

There are three parts to the brain stem: top, middle, and lower.  The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem.  A high output of the mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, inability to sleep or waking up from fitful sleep, urinary tract infection, increase warmth or sweating, and sensitivity to light.

Along with a high mesenphalic output, the low back pain patient may have a decreased output of the cerebellum.  The cerebellum is in the back part of the brain, and it controls all of the involuntary spinal musculature.

No matter what the condition, it is imperative that the doctor performs a thorough and comprehensive exam to determine the exact nature of the patient’s condition.

If your sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, the condition is called sciatica (pronounced si-ad-i-ka).  The pain can be intense!  It often follows the path of your nerve down the back of your legs and thighs, ankle, foot and toes, but it can also radiate to your back.  Along with burning, sharp pains, you may also feel nerve sensations such as pins-and-needles, tingling, prickling, crawling sensations, or tenderness.  Ironically, your legs may also feel numb.

To complicate matters, although sciatica pain is usually in the back of the legs or thighs, in some people it can be in the front or the side of the legs, or even in the hips.  For some, the pain is in both legs – bilateral sciatica!

The quality of pain may vary.  There may be constant throbbing, but then it may let up for hours or even days.  It may ache or be knife-like.  Sometimes postural changes, like lying down or changing positions, affect the pain, and sometimes they don’t.  In severe cases, sciatica can cause a loss of reflexes or even a wasting of your calf muscles.

For sciatica sufferers, a good night’s sleep may be a thing of the past.  Simple things like walking, sitting, or standing up can be difficult or impossible.

If you would like to have more information or to set up a consultation and see how we can help you (or someone you know), give us a call at 972-335-7994 to see if you are a candidate for these breakthrough procedures.