Prevention and Treatment for Back Pain
Filed Under Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD) |
Next to fatigue, back pain is the most common complaint I hear in everyday medical practice. Many conditions can cause back pain but the problem usually stems from injury, trauma, or repetitive strain. A poor diet, stress, and lifestyle have a great deal to do with the problem. In close to 100% of cases, surgical intervention is unnecessary and the problem can be both prevented and treated using natural, non-invasive techniques.
In some people, a bulging or herniated disc may be the reason for pain. In others, osteoarthritis of the spine, spinal stenosis, sciatica from a pinched nerve, scoliosis (hereditary or congenital), sacro-iliac joint inflammation and, rarely, tumors are the reasons for back pain.
Acute back pain can result from lifting a heavy object, taking a misstep, or falling, but it can appear out of nowhere without an obvious cause. Sometimes flu or other viral illness leads to back pain. In other cases, emotional trauma is the culprit.
In the vast majority of cases the source of pain is muscle spasm with or without inflammation and not a slipped disc, pinched nerve, spinal subluxation (chiropractic term), torn ligament or muscle. If back pain is accompanied by urinary incontinence, numbness or tingling in the legs, or an inability to move the feet or legs, the cause may be something more serious than muscle spasm and a physician should be consulted immediately. Otherwise, a number of safe and effective natural treatment and preventive measures could be utilized.
The best first-aid measure is application of cold (ice packs with or without deep cold ointments, sprays, or creams) for 15 to 20 minutes and repeated every two hours. The best position may be lying flat on the back with knees or legs raised. Avoid using heat since it will often aggravate pain in the early stages. Once the pain begins to subside, heat may speed recovery much better than cold. For the first few days after an acute back pain episode, absolute rest and immobility are essential. Avoid positions that stress the area and avoid sitting as much as possible.
Acute back pain often responds favorably to homeopathic arnica montanna (30X potency, 4 sublingual tablets taken four or more times daily plus arnica ointment or cream). To make this homeopathic remedy work well, avoid caffeine (especially coffee), mint (that includes mint toothpaste!), and camphor (found in many liniments and muscle rubs).
The best diet to follow is a high complex carbohydrate, low fat diet with plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes to optimize elimination of waste from the bowel. The best juices to drink regularly are from a combination of carrots, beets, cucumber, celery, spinach, parsley, and dried olives.
Avoid using anti-inflammatory drugs like ASA, ibuprofen, and indomethacin. These and many others like them (a.k.a. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may reduce pain but may also cause stomach hyperacidity, ulcers, and bleeding from anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Also, avoid muscle relaxants since these also have side effects like drowsiness and rarely do anything to enhance healing.
Use natural anti-inflammatory analgesics like bromelain (3200 m.c.u., 500 mg four times daily on an empty stomach), pirorhiza extract root (4% kutkin, 250 mg four times daily with meals), and curcumin (500 mg three times daily with food). If pain and inflammation are chronic, use salmon, cod, or halibut liver oil (1–3 tbsp daily) plus either hempseed oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, or borage oil (1–3 tbsp daily) along with high dose vitamin E (800 IU up to three times daily). White willow bark (3-4 capsules four times daily), the herbal form of ASA, may be every bit as effective for pain as the pharmaceutical version—without the associated harmful effects.
Manipulation from chiropractors, osteopaths, massage therapists, reflexologists, physiotherapists, and shiatsu (acupressure) practitioners may occasionally produce dramatic improvement. Unfortunately, far too many individuals spend large sums of money on excessive numbers of sessions from such professionals without significant benefit. My experience is that if one or two manipulative sessions do not create obvious improvement, it is unlikely that 30 or 40 will be any better.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be helpful, as can breathing exercises; frequent stretching; back and abdominal muscle strengthening exercises; support belts and braces; magnets; the use of ergonomic furniture, equipment and tools; yoga; the Alexander Technique; and a long list of nutritional supplements.
Some helpful nutritional supplements include glucosamine sulfate, calcium, magnesium, shark cartilage, vitamin C, vitamin B6, MSM, yarrow, feverfew, boron, zinc, copper, silicon and other trace minerals, and D,L-phenylalanine. The right choice will depend on the individual’s nutritional status. Chronic back pain without any obvious reason can often be healed by determining and then eliminating food and other unsuspected allergies.
Most people can get terrific results using one or a combination of these treatments without any significant side effects. Whether for prevention or the alleviation of an acute or chronic back pain problem, the need for drugs and surgery is rarely necessary.
Dr. Zoltan Rona
