Here is the link to my most recent post on Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Daily Blog. This weeks post is on the 3 mistakes many back pain sufferers make when recovering from pain which keep them from ever really feeling great.
Are you making any of these mistakes? Do you know someone who has?
Tomorrow: Viewer Question and iPad app update.
Thanks for stopping by,
Andy
Last week, I worked with a woman who had been experiencing low back pain for over a year. She had been to two M.D.s, a D.O., and a chiropractor with no relief. Upon examining her and reviewing her history, it took me all of 5 minutes to figure out what was wrong with her and about 10 more to treat it. Her pain is gone. GONE.
Now it isn’t that I’m so smart- her problem was pretty straight forward. The other doctors should have seen what was wrong with her, but it boils down to the fact that people know what they know, and they do what they do. This is true for physicians and patients.
I am working on my second book, which is largely about the lifestyle factors which can either cause or relieve back pain, and in researching what has worked and what hasn’t worked for patients it has become really clear that for all of this rhetoric about ‘thinking outside the box’, no one really does. We learn things throughout all of our lives which cause us to behave and respond in certain ways- and those are the things we stick with. They become part of our identiy.
The woman I told you about only needed a pretty simple stretch to fix her problem. In medical school, we talked about stretching for about 15 minutes- so it clearly wasn’t a priority. Stretching wasn’t to become part of what we as physicians know. I probably wouldn’t have understood how straight forward this patient’s pain was had I not been open to understanding the role of stretching in helping to relieve back pain. This only came about because a friend of mine, Jorden Gold, is a stretching coach- really rammed it down my throat. Now, stretching is a regular part of my treatment plans. I increased my knowledge base, and expanded what I know, and what I do- and I am a better physician as a result.
I truly believe that most back pain is the cumulative effect of a ton of lifestyle factors- many of which are based upon things we know- and behaviors we may have been doing for a really long time. As you take your journey through recovery- try to be ok with the fact that you know what you know, and sometimes what you know may be wrong, or simply not enough. Be open to new ideas methods- who knows what you might learn?
Tomorrow- the three mistakes most back pain sufferers make.
Thanks for stopping by,
Andy
Spring is coming soon!
I thought that might get your attention!
For me, the winter is a tough time of the year. Since I was a teenager, I have suffered with very bad seasonal affective disorder and this has always made the winter difficult. Over the years, I have been able to identify several things which help me get through it all- and more importantly, my wife has too.
When my younger daughter was born, my wife Donna suffered with a serious case of post-partum depression. As a result, we’ve both developed methods for maintaining our sanity and well-being. Here’s what Donna has to say about one of our most important coping mechanisms- Date Night:
About five years ago, when I suffered from post-partum depression, my husband, Andy, and I decided to try out couple’s counseling. We found a great therapist who gave us some useful communication tools. We also found our way back to our relationship, apart from what the counseling sessions offered.
Because we had treated the counseling as critical, we managed to marshal the support of my in-laws, who provided babysitting for our girls. We would go out to dinner after each session. We once again began to revel in each others’ company and soon realized that the time alone as a couple proved just as beneficial as the counseling.
We have now made a weekly date-night a regular fixture in our lives. It’s not always easy to budget this but we see it as a priority. When funds are tight, we call in favors with family or swap babysitting time with friends. Come hell or high water, Andy and I make time to be alone together each week.
If you are in a relationship, especially one in which pain figures in largely, consider weighing the costs of not having a date night. That time apart from your kids, your pain or your other obligations will make an extraordinary difference in your lives. Then think about how much fun you’ll have together outside of the counselor’s chair.
Happy dating!
-Donna
Keeping yourself sane is one of the best things you can do to relieve back pain. Pain effects virtually everything you do- maintaining a sense of normalcy will always help to keep the pain at bay. Time with someone you love is one of the most normal, wonderful things you can do.
Now, here’s the sex…
Check out my newest post on Martha Stewarts Whole Living Daily blog about back pain and comfortable sex.
Please share your experiences with ways to experience a comfortable sexual experience while recovering from back pain.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Andy
Spring is coming!!!
Good Morning!
I am so excited- there is so much going on at Back Together Central as we prepare to launch my first iPad app, and I am putting the finishing touches on my second book. In preparation for the launch of the ipad app, I am pleased to announce the launch of the Back Together Forum- an on line forum for people to discuss their experiences dealing with back & neck pain.
In the forum, you will find sections to discuss alternative medicine, an ask the doctor forum, and much much more. The lower part of the forum is dedicated to the hands-on techniques of back together. Whether you are reading from the Back Together books, or using the iPad app, you can use these forums to share your experiences using the techniques with other users. What worked? Which combinations gave you the best results?
Click here to sign up and check out the Back Together Forum!
Look for a post Valentine’s Day article from my wife and guest blogger, Donna Kirschner, PhD. Tomorrow.
Thanks so much for stopping by,
Andy
Screen shot from the new Back Together Forum.
A patient asked me what I felt was the role of prayer in the treatment of chronic pain. Check out my new post to read my response.
Stay warm this weekend, and be well.
-Andy
Back Together DVD program now available from Amazon. Click here to order!
Viewer Question Regarding Anti-inflammatory Medications…
“My doctor recently prescribed an anti-inflammatory for a sprained back. It does seem to take some of the edge off, but I feel like I am just putting a band-aid on the pain, without really helping things to heal. Shouldn’t I be doing physical therapy or something to help get myself out of pain?”
-Jason
Jason, thanks so much for your great question.
It can often feel like pain medications are just, as you put it, a band-aid, but anti-inflammatories are an interesting sub group of pain medications. You see, while drugs like Motrin do reduce pain, they may actually help you to heal faster as well. Sprains and strains of muscles and other tissues result in inflammation which occurs in the form of swelling or edema. What this swelling can do is inhibit blood flow to the areas which are healing, and actually prolong the length of time it may take for you to feel better. While sometimes additional treatment like physical therapy may be helpful, it is important to note that every injury is different- and this may not be right for you. Additionally, some injuries require time to become less acute before implementing more physically intensive approaches. If you have questions or concerns, you should really speak to your physician, and tell them what you are thinking- they should be willing to discuss your treatment options, and the thoughts behind their treatment decisions.
I hope this helps.
Updates…
I have been working furiously to finish up the Back Together iPad application, and it is getting much closer to being finished. The other programmer, Jessie, and I have been going to great lengths to make this a truly great program. Check back here for more updates.
Next week, I will be headed to Miami to do the final shooting for my next book, ‘Back Pain: The One Thing.’ I am really proud of how this is all turning out, and I know you will really love the book.
As everyone embarks upon living up to their new years resolutions, you might have noticed that I haven’t posted a Fitness Challenge update in some time- check back later in the week for the latest news. In the mean time, why not let me know how you are doing with your own fitness goals.
Thanks for stopping by,
Andy
OK- Let’s see how geeky my viewers really are. What’s wrong with this picture?
I received this question on my Facebook fan page.
I have a question about hyper mobility, and or releasing pent up gasses between vertebrae. In other words, I creek and crack a lot after 40 years of skiing, and swimming, and biking, and throwing myself off cliffs and cracking ribs, you know, that sort of thing. Should I ask it on your blog? When I do “crack” my neck, or lower back by stretching, it feels fantastic! I am in no pain, unless I sleep wrong, and this releases it. What is this?
-Adam
FIrst, I should begin by saying, that if the ‘crack’ does not induce pain, it is probably not doing you any harm. My grandmother used to tell me that cracking my knuckles would cause arthritis, and in spite of this, I did it anyway (sorry Grandma.) When I was in medical school, I started to wonder if this was true, and after exhaustive research employing a whole host of medical student lackies, I can state that there is no evidence that cracking your knuckles (or your back) will cause you arthritis.
Now, there have been informal studies that have shown that when you crack your own back, that you are usually unable to ‘self-correct’ the segment of your spine which actually needs to be moved- you are cracking the ones above or below it. It may provide you some relief, but ultimately it may not fix your underlying problem and you may find yourself in the same discomfort an hour, a day, or a week later. Having the correct segments adjusted by your Osteopath or Chirppractor may give you longer lasting and ultimately more satisfying results.
As for the release of pent up gasses- yes, there is a school of thought that believes that the sound you hear when you have your spine corrected is actually the shifting of nitrogen bubbles within the joint. After further research (and more lackies) I have found that there is no conclusive evidence about what that crack may actually be. As an aside, in my own practice, i do relatively little ‘cracking’ of the spine as my approach is based more on gentle mobilization. You would not believe how often I hear sounds of disappointment when patients realize they are not going to hear that loud ‘CRACK’ when I adjust them- they have come to associate that sound with relief.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks for visiting the blog.
-Andy
And once again, the stately grounds of Chez What are blanketed with snow.
Last year I offered a brief post on this topic. This season, when many people are facing economic hardships, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the topic. HERE is a link to my most recent post on Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Daily blog.
Have you had to find ways to more affordably manage your medications? Please share your experiences here on the blog.
Best,
Andy
Here’s a nice simple one for those of you who are getting new computers or workstations for the holidays: When you are positioning all of your equipment, use your glasses to help figure out the height of your computer screen. By placing it so that the arms of your eyeglasses are parallel to the floor, you can be certain your neck will be in a neutral position when working, or on line.
Check back later this week for great tips for breastfeeding mothers, as well as a review of a wonderful sexual aid for folks with back pain.
Thanks for stopping by!
Andy
Well, we are deep in the throes of the holiday season, and one thing that can make this time of year more stressful is financial stress. So, in the spirit of giving, and saving some money, allow me to reccommend a simple, free gift that your loved one will appreciate and enjoy.
As you may know, the foundations of my Back Togetherprogram are based on the couples-based approach to finding relief from pain. For the holiday season, what could make your loved one feel more appreciated and loved than a nice, slow relaxing massage (perhaps even followed by some nice nookie….)
Even if you don’t know much about massage, you likely have some idea of the kinds of touch that will make your partner feel relaxed. For this to be an effective gift, and not a cheap out- plan on spending some time. An hour or so would be nice. You don’t need to, but you can pick up some body lotion or scented oil to make the experience a little more special. My favorite low-cost additions are some candles throughout the room, as well as some soft music (anything by Ella Fitzgerald will work- but that’s just me.)
Start with your partner’s feet- gently massage them out, and slowly work your way up their thighs, and then to their lower back. Gentle pressure is all that is needed to help your partner realx. Go over their whole spine, avoiding the center of their spine- and never pressing on the small bumps or spinous processes in the middle.
A gentle scalp massage, working down towards the temples will just melt the stress away.
Give this a try. I’ve never met ANYONE who didn’t appreciate this kind, romantic gesture.
Be well,
Andy
Covent Garden at Christmas Time
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