Of the most common complaints physicians see is back pain. In most cases, the pain is attributed to a "pulled muscle" or "worn joint" or "bad back" or an earlier injury. However scans, xrays and MRIs often find nothing that can cause the pain directly and so "rest and pain relievers" are prescribed. Eventually, the pain recedes by itself - for the time being. Often, however, pain comes back in another place in the body - again with no apparent cause. Often, physicians blame back pain on herniated or slipped discs or some other structural anomoly - often blamed on simple aging or "parts wearing out".|
North American Healthcare JB4866 Arched Back Stretcher
Body Back Buddy
One physician, John Sarno, MD, noticed, over years of caring for people, that back pain usually came about during stressful periods in his patients' lives. He observed that 77% of folks reporting back pain were between ages 30 and 60. This contrasted with 11% of back pain in patients over 60 years old. So he questioned whether the back was really weak and aging - or if there was something else causing the pain.
Something else caught his attention: A study reported in New England journal of Medicine reported something unexpected. MRIs were done on 98 people with no history of back or leg pain. 52% of the people showed at least one bulging disc. 27% had a disc protrusion. 1% had an extrusion. Only 36% showed normal discs. The authors' conclusion: MRI bulges or protrusions with low back pain may frequently be coincidental.
So, what is going on? Is back pain caused by real structural problems? If so, why do folks with structural problems not have pain? And why does back pain incidence not increase in the older set?
So Dr. Sarno took his observations and developed a theory to explain these puzzles and put in practice on his own patients. The results are astounding. His therapy reflected the reality that pain is real, not imaginary, and is caused by actual physiologic responses. | |
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The results of decades of his experience are well documented in his two books: Healing Back Pain and The MindBody Prescription. [Ed. - I recommend the first. It is shorter and simpler and completely understandable by the non-medical person]. His books address not only simple back pain but also Herniated Disc, Spinal Stenosis, Pinched Nerve, Facet Syndrome, Arthritis of the Spine, Transitional Vertabra, Spondylolysis, Spina Bifida Occulta, Spondylolisthesis, Scoliosis, Osteoarthritis of the Hip, Chondromalacia, Bone Spurs, Fibromyaligia, Fibrositis, Myofibrositis, Myofasciitis, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Coccydynia, Neuroma, Plantar Faciitis, Mononeuritis Multiplex, TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, Inflammation and Strain and Sprain.
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