|
||
|
||
|
DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: BACKACHE
Description:
A variety of problems in the muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, or an underlying organ, such as the kidneys, may cause backaches. For many years, it was assumed that back pain was the result of spinal degeneration or damage to the intervertebral disks. These are structures located between the vertebrae that act as cushions. When a disk begins to degenerate, a strain of any kind can cause the disk to rupture, allowing the soft interior material to protrude out of the disk This is sometimes erroneously referred to as a "slipped disk." A herniated disk can indeed cause severe back pain. However, because most adults have some degree of disk degeneration, it is difficult to pinpoint disk disease as the cause of most cases of back pain. In most instances, disk degeneration and even herniation, do not produce any symptoms.Symptoms: Back pain can be divided into two basic categories, acute and chronic. Acute pain comes on quickly and is often the result of a sudden motion or injury from an accident or fall, or even from lifting a heavy object. Chronic back pain comes on slowly and may last for months or even years. While acute and chronic back pain can manifest in different ways, they are often interrelated, with the acute problem leading to a chronic one, or, just as commonly, with a chronic condition, which may be hidden for long periods of time, setting off acute symptoms.
Incidence: Over 80 percent of all Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the leading cause of disability for people under the age of 45.
Causes: One of the leading causes of back pain is simple muscle strain. Other contributors to back pain can include poor posture, improper footwear and walking habits, calcium deficiency, sleeping on a mattress that is too soft, and slouching when sitting. Organic problems can also lead to back pain symptoms. Gallstones, kidney stones, uterine fibroid tumors, and ovarian cysts can all result in severe back pain. Chronic conditions that can cause back pain include arthritis, rheumatism, bone disease and abnormal curvature of the spine. Back pain can also be caused by stress, both mental and physical.
In order to understand some of the causes of back pain, it is important to understand the anatomy of the spine and its relationship to the rest of the body. The spine is affected by every movement your body makes, the way you stand, sit, move, the way you pick up and carry objects, all have the potential to help or hurt you back. Following are some of the physical factors that can cause, or contribute to, poor posture and movement, ultimately affecting proper functioning of the spinal column and leading to back pain:
 | Foot, knee and leg alignment |
| Muscle strength in legs, buttocks, back and abdomen |
| Abdominal protrusion such as from a beer belly or pregnancy |
| Position of the neck in relation to the shoulders |
| Hip flexibility |
| Position of the pelvis, especially if it is tilted forward, back, or to either side. |
Treatments: Today, people with back pain can choose from any number of alternative approaches, including all the various physical manipulation techniques and movement awareness therapies, mind/body medicine, energy medicine, acupuncture, and naturopathy. An alternative practitioner can help explore the treatment possibilities available and encourage patients to take an active role in the treatment process. Research has shown that exercise can be of benefit in the treatment of low back pain and injury. Most back pain can be avoided by taking the simple preventative step of staying in good physical condition. Of particular value are exercise programs that maintain and enhance proper function of the lower back and spine.
Nutrients:
Supplement Dosage Comments
|
Calcium And Magnesium And Vitamin D |
1500-2000 mg. daily 700-1000 mg. daily 400 IU daily |
Needed for strong bones. Works with calcium. Aids absorption of calcium and magnesium. |
|
Multivitamin and mineral complex with Vitamin A And Natural beta-carotene And Vitamin E |
15,000 IU daily. If you are pregnant, do not exceed 10,000 IU daily. 15,000 IU daily. 400-800 IU daily. |
To supply a balance of nutrients important in formation and metabolism of bone and connective tissue and needed for healing. |
|
Silica or Horsetail |
As directed on label. |
Supplies silicon, which improves calcium uptake. |
|
Vitamin B12 |
2,000 mg. daily |
Aids in calcium absorption and digestion. |
|
Zinc Plus Copper |
50 mg. daily. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg. from all supplements. 30 mg. daily |
Required for protein synthesis and collagen formation. Promotes a healthy immune system. Works in balance with zinc and vitamin C to form elastin, needed for healthy nerves. |
|
Free form amino acid complex |
As directed on label |
Essential in bone and tissue repair. |
|
Manganese |
2-5 mg. daily. Take separately from calcium |
Aids in healing cartilage and tissue in the neck and back. |
|
Vitamin C and bioflavonoids |
2000-3000 mg. daily, spread throughout the day. |
Important for strengthening the connective tissues. |
Herbs:
| Horsetail is a good source of silica, which is
necessary for bones and connective tissue.
| Other herbs recommended for backache include alfalfa,
burdock, oat straw, slippery elm, and white willow bark. They can be taken in
capsule, extract, or tea form. | |
Recommendations:
| Avoid all meats and animal protein products until you
are healed. Animal foods contain uric acid, which puts undue strain on the
kidneys that can contribute to back pain. Eat no gravies, oils, fats, sugar,
or rich or highly processed foods.
| When pain hits, immediately drink two large glasses of
quality water. This often gives relief within minutes. Muscle aches and back
pain are frequently connected to dehydration. The body needs a minimum of
eight 8 ounce glasses of water daily to keep acidic wastes from building up in
muscles and other tissues.
| If pain follows an injury or sudden movement, apply
ice for the first 48 hours, then apply heat. Rest on a firm bed.
| To relieve back muscle pain, soak in a very warm bath
or apply a heating pad directly to your back.
| Once the acute pain has subsided, doing exercises to
strengthen the abdominal muscles may help to prevent recurrences; these
muscles help to support the back. Sit-ups are good for this purpose. Always do
sit-ups with your knees bent, not with your legs flat on the floor.
| When sitting, keep your knees a little higher than
your hips and keep your feet flat on the floor.
| Carrying heavy shoulder bags may produce neck, back
and shoulder pain. Switch the weight from side to side.
| Learn to reduce stress. Relaxation techniques can be
helpful.
| Always push large objects; never pull them.
| Wear comfortable, well-made shoes. The higher the
heels of your shoes, the greater the risk of backache.
| Move around. Do not sit in the same position for
longer periods of time.
| Never lean forward without bending your knees. Lift
with your legs, arms and abdomen, not with the muscles of the small of your
back. Avoid lifting anything heavier than twenty pounds.
| Do not sleep on your stomach with your head raised on
a pillow. Rest your back by lying on you side with your legs bent, so that
your knees are about an inch higher than your hips. Sleep on a firm mattress.
| Maintain a healthy weight and get regular moderate
exercise. Lack of exercise can cause back pain. Activities that are good for
the back include swimming, cycling, walking and rowing.
| Avoid baseball, basketball, football, bowling, golf,
tennis and weightlifting.
| If pain lasts longer than 3 days, if the pain radiates
into the legs, or if other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss occur,
consult your health care provider.
| If you have pain in one side of the small of your
back, feel sick and have a fever, see your physician immediately. You may have
a kidney infection.
| If pain follows an injury and is accompanied by sudden
loss of bladder or bowel control, if you have difficulty moving any limb, or
if you feel numbness, pain, or tingling in a limb, do not move, but call for
medical help immediately. You may have hurt your spinal cord. | |
Considerations:
| Chiropractors are
licensed to perform spinal manipulation and may recommend nutritional and/or
lifestyle changes. They primarily use manipulations of the neck and back to
correct problems. According to a 1994 report issued by the U.S. Agency for
Health Care Policy and Research, spinal manipulation may be the most effective
treatment for acute back pain. Chiropractors cannot prescribe drugs or perform
surgery. A good chiropractor should be willing to recommend a medical doctor if
necessary.
| Message therapists work
with muscles and tendons, using different techniques like muscle kneading and
compression to lessen tension in the muscles. This increases circulation and
helps the body flush out cellular debris, which speeds tissue repair and aids
in healing back problems.
| Orthopedic surgeons are
medical doctors who prescribe medications, bed rest and physical therapy for
some cases of back pain. Since these doctors can perform surgery, they may be
more likely to recommend it than other practitioners.
| Osteopaths can prescribe
drugs and perform surgery, but because of their philosophy of treatment, they
often try manipulation or physical therapy first.
| Physiatrists, also known as doctors of physical
rehabilitation medicine, are medical doctors who treat back pain using various
physical therapies, lifestyle changes and back braces which promote healing by
reducing the load on the spine. Physiatrists are not licensed to perform
surgery and are less likely to hospitalize their patients than other MD’s.
They have a good record for treating back problems, including low back pain
and herniated disks.
| Physical therapists specialize
in improving joint and spine mobility and muscle strength. They are not
medical doctors and are strictly limited to physical therapy.
| Naturopathic physicians are
well equipped to treat back pain because they provide nutritional support for
repairing the tissues, herbal and homeopathic remedies, and hydrotherapy for
relieving inflammation, as well as soft tissue and joint manipulation for
correcting postural dysfunctions.
| Yoga breathing exercises and postures have the
potential to reduce much of the tension and stress that can contribute to back
pain, as well as keeping the body limber and in shape.
| Many studies have shown the effectiveness of
acupuncture for treating back pain.
| If pain comes after lifting something heavy, after
coughing, or after unusually heavy exercise, and the pain prevents you from
moving or shoots down one leg, you may have a herniated disk.
| Numerous studies have shown that people with lower
back pain who are treated at chiropractic clinics recover faster and at less
cost, and end up with less pain and more mobility than those treated in
hospitals. | |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No 59618- |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
112-17 |
Calcium Oyscal 500 mg. with D Tabs |
3 tablets daily |
$5.75/120 |
|
124-15 |
Vitamin D 400 IU |
1 tablet daily |
$2.99/100 |
|
982-15 |
One A Day Maximum Tabs. |
As directed on label |
$6.95/100 |
|
224-15 |
Beta Carotene 10,000 IU softgels. |
1 tablet daily |
$4.50/100 |
|
148-12 |
B12 2000 mcg. Tabs. |
As directed on label |
$9.95/100 |
|
923-15 |
Zinc Gluconate (chelated) 50 mg. Tabs. |
1 tablet daily |
$3.64/100 |
|
970-12 |
Vitamin C 1000 mg. with Rose Hips Tabs. |
2 or 3 tablets daily, taken throughout the day |
$5.75/60 |
|
091-15 |
Citrus bioflavonoids 1000 mg. Tabs |
2 or 3 tablet daily, taken with vitamin C |
$5.95/100 |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Alternative Medicine, The Definitive GuideCompiled by Burton Goldberg
