Oh, just work it out!

Really? I have been dealing with recurring pain issues for..ten years now. And I know exactly what the problem is. There are many theories and treatments for back pain and I do believe that most are pure baloney. However, if you happen to have a back pain issue, and a treatment has worked-great! One thing that I find disturbing is the purported evidence that bulging or ruptured discs do not cause pain and are 'normal'. Ha! I'll never buy that one! Another disturbing bit of evidence is that supposedly back pain does not necessarily indicate a physical problem. I can't believe that one either. I can believe that the nerve patterning of each human body is just a little different from any other body, like finger prints. This explains how one person can be in severe pain from something that does not cause such pain in some one else. One person may have a greater nerve supply to that area than the other. Some evidence that I can believe is that damaged discs release substances which irritate the nerves nearby, because I believe that it started happening to me ten years ago. Well, I have taken care of myself as much as possible and unfortunately, my trouble has progressed recently into full blown sciatic aggravation in only one leg which is a good thing. I still count myself very lucky because, although the pain is quite dreadful, I have not lost any muscle function in my leg, ankle or foot. Hopefully, if I am patient and baby this thing along, that won't happen. I have to avoid flexion as much as I possibly can, because this squishes more material out of my damaged discs in my lower back. Doesn't that make sense? This doesn't mean I am stuck in bed, but it does mean that I avoid sitting and lets do abstain from bending over. I ran across a set of exercises called the Mackenzie exercises, and these make some sense to me. The idea behind these exercises is to move the disc material back where it should be. I think it's a good idea for a disc that isn't too far gone. I think it could be a bad idea for a disc that has a significant tear, because the pressure may force the material to break away from the disc and further impinge upon some nerves. Can strengthening the muscles of the back help? Well, sure, why not? What about stretching some tight hamstrings? In my case-no, no, no! This is only going to keep aggravating that nerve that is already thrumming with agony. Most hamstring stretches are quite similar to the straight leg raise test which provokes pain in the case of sciatic nerve impingement. How is continually provoking it going to make it better? How about exercises to increase range of motion? How can moving torn cartilage help it heal? Would such a thing work elsewhere in the body? Of course not! So, rather than attempt to increase range of motion, stay within sensible limits that don't stress torn cartilage. There is such a thing as resorption, in which the body breaks down disc material that has leaked from a torn disc and I do believe that it happens. I think it takes time and patience. I know that I have made it through bad episodes before with patience, and then had some really wonderful nearly pain free times. The current treatment fads for back problems suggest that bad rest is not appropriate. Well, who wants a blood clot? Certainly not I, and staying in bed 24/7 is SO boring. The bed becomes the enemy. I do believe that movement is a good thing, and the key is to move carefully in order to provoke the least amount of pain. After all, what is pain saying? Pain means stop. There's no shame in that. So, I move a little, and rest a little. I do what I can stand to do that doesn't breach my pain tolerance thresh hold. Does moving a broken leg heal it? Of course, cartilage is different from bone and is most difficult to heal. Since cartilage has no direct blood supply, it takes a really long time to heal, and is usually found in joints that have to move. This makes taking care of injured cartilage a challenge.This is why physical therapy and movement are considered beneficial. The theory is that increasing blood flow will speed healing. Well, that makes sense-but does moving a wound make sense? Would wiggling the edges of a cut make it heal more quickly? If cartilage heals more slowly, surely wiggling or stretching the area would make it take even longer to heal?  How do steroids help healing? They bring down inflammation, suppress the immune system, and can actually slow the healing process. Hmmm. I don't believe in adding extra steroids to my supply because I have desperately tried such things before and the results were not benevolent. My body makes what it needs, and I certainly won't go for shots in my precious spine area. Ugh! I'd have to be knocked out! Cause me more pain to help my pain? No freaking way am I going for anything that operates in that manner, except perhaps a new tattoo. That makes equal if not greater sense than a toxic cortisone injection. So, maybe a nice salamander on my right arm would help? It certainly could! The effects would last for the rest of my life-at least visually!