Relief For Pandemic-Related Back Pain

Dublin CA

14 February, 2022

5:13 PM

Description

"I've had back pain on and off for several years...I'd throw my back out 1-2 times a year and it always seemed to get better on its own.  But this is the worst it's ever been. It's been almost 2 months now and I'm still not better... I can't stand up straight, walk, or bend over to tie my shoes without pain, and I'm so scared that any little movement will send me to the floor." Paul, 60 San Ramon Can you relate? One of the most serious (yet least talked about) problems of this pandemic has been a meteoric rise in the number of people suffering from back pain.  And it's no secret why this is the case.  Gyms, yoga, and other fitness studios being closed (or people who are still hesitant to return)A major shift to people working at home leading to poor ergonomics, less physical activity, and weight gainAs well as a general increase in the amount of stress and anxiety in the worldHave all contributed to factors that have made people MORE susceptible to back pain and injury. However, what concerns me the most are the number of people who are suffering each day with back pain, and have learned to simply "accept" their condition. Or worse, being led down a path of painkillers, or unnecessary surgery... ...even though there are easy, and natural solutions that exist. "My doctor told me I have degenerative disc disease and that there's nothing I can do about it.  They said my only options were to take pills to manage my pain, or have surgery, and that it wasn't a guarantee that it would work." Paul was worried that at the age of 60, having suffered from chronic back pain for so many years, that it was "too late" to fix his condition.  And while it is true, we cannot "reverse" the aging process, what I want to share with you are strategies that have been working for our clients, like Paul, who have been suffering with chronic back pain. Focusing on the ROOT CAUSE of the problem Paul had fallen into a common trap of trying to address "symptoms", instead of focusing on root causes. Ice, pain patches, heating pads may have felt good, but only provided temporary relief. But, by taking a "big picture approach" and focusing on the underlying causes of his pain, within just 6 weeks we were able to help Paul reduce his pain by 80% (from a 9/10 to a 1/10) and get him back to work without any worry of his back going out.  How? For Paul, it involved focusing on 3 core elements: 1. Relieving muscle tension What Paul didn't realize was that the underlying source of his pain was coming from irritation and inflammation of the muscles along his spine.   Through a combination of "myofascial release" and trigger point therapy, we were able to significantly reduce the spasms and tension in his muscles within a couple of weeks.  This led to a dramatic increase in his mobility and more importantly, a significant reduction in his pain.  2. Loosening his hips Believe it or not, everything in our body is truly "interconnected". And what most people with chronic back pain don't realize is they also have "tight hips" which can "pull" and create "stress" on the back. Doing a series of targetted series massage and stretches directed at his "hip muscles" relieved stress OFF his spine, and allowed Paul to stand straighter, with much less effort, and NO pain. 3. Strengthening his core (safely) Paul knew that he should be doing some form of exercise for his ailing back, but was afraid of doing any "wrong movements" that would make his back hurt worse.  We guided him through a series of very simple, yet very effective "core-based" exercises that helped build better endurance and stability for his spine. More importantly, the exercises DID NOT HURT and actually "felt good" to do. By focusing on these elements, within 6 weeks, Paul had this to say: “it’s been two weeks now since I’ve taken any pain medicine, I’ve been able to do all my house chores without any issue, I can put on my socks and shoes like a 'normal person' now, and for the first time in 30 years I can touch my toes…I had no idea that it was possible…it feels like I have a new lease on life” Are you living with, or worried about someone suffering from chronic back pain? If so, and you are looking for help, our clinic, Balance and Body Restoration is now accepting applications for new clients. We are offering 5 free consultations at our “Discovery Visits” over the next 2 weeks. Click here to apply for a Free Discovery Visit Within this discovery visit you can expect: A diagnostic assessment of your mobility to determine the root cause of your conditionAn honest conversation about your health, and whether or not we are a good 'fit' for you and your conditionAn estimate of how long it will take, and what the cost of treatment will beAll you need to do is fill out this simple web form, tell us more about your condition, and we will contact you from there. Click here to apply for a Free Discovery Visit Sincerely,  Kevin Mao  Doctor of Physical Therapy