I have an 85 yr old mother with Scoliosis, spinal stenosis, arthritis and a ruptured disc for over half of her life. She refused spinal surgery and chose stretching, physical therapy and treatment from a “body mechanic”—manipulation without popping. I’ve rubbed so many mentholated products on her back since I was a kid, I can smell BenGay a mile away! But she can still bend over and place both palms flat on the floor. We call her Gumby. 😂 Now is her back perfect? No, but she is functional. And still living independently. Although, she has signs of early dementia. But that’s a separate issue.
I was just diagnosed with scoliosis few months ago and have an excellent chiropractor. They have a team of physical therapists who work with me on exercises for the back and on strengthening my core. It's been 3 months and I now have very little pain and more energy. Am doing so much better and still have a ways to go. The exercises are key. Before treatment I had constant back pain and was hunched over, couldn't stand up straight and had no energy. I have a great group of folks at the chiro's office and they have never once suggested surgery! They are also very honest and very caring people who really know what they are doing. If I hadn't found them, I'd probably have to be in a wheelchair all the time at this point.
You are blessed and lucky to have found the right “people”. Most won’t do the work/therapy, so congrats to you for following through. Continued success to you. 👏🏼🙏
Thank you! Yes, I am blessed, these are very special people who really know how to heal the spine IMO. I got on line to look for a good chiro and their practice stood out like a huge light to me so that's where I went and am so very glad I did.
As a former musculoskeletal physiotherapist with 25 years experience this is frighteningly true. The best spinal orthopaedic surgeons nearly always try and dissuade their patients form surgery OR advocate for musculoskeletal and core strengthening prior to any consideration of surgery. I have treated numerous people with core stability and strengthening programs whilst they were 'waiting for surgery' only to have them completely recover. It is far more difficult to treat a botched spinal surgery.
Sadly the insurance model has brainwashed people to only accept treatment that insurance covers. Insurance does not cover decompression therapy and it can cost patients $150 a session. With a disc injury you are looking at a minimum of 18 sessions all out of pocket. If you are interested in true healing it’s best found outside the insurance paradigm.
It may may take some people more sessions, such as 18, as you describe, however, with ELDOA decompression exercises, it can only take around 4-5 sessions. The practitioner can video you doing them, with practitioner’s instructions given alongside. Now you have them for life, to turn to anytime. It’s well worth any travel one may need to get to an awesome practitioner. One of the absolute best is Mark Albrecht, here in Austin, Tx. His website is BalancedBodiesAustin.com. ELDOA’s are THE decompression exercises to have in your tool kit. And for doctors to know who to refer patients to.
I'm one of these people. My spine looks just like those pics. Had a fusion L5-s1. I was definitely sold a bill of goods. Surgeon (very well known from UCSF) gave me a 95% success rate. Being desperate as I was I went into it with this expectation. 20 years later and I'm still suffering. I'm now diagnosed with FBSS. Anyone considering fusion surgery should read this article and heed it's warning.
Now I try to stay away from drs and hospitals with daily exercise, healthy meals, lots of hydration, good mental attitude, no medicine and spending lots of time with those I care about. For the most part any illness or injury my family has received treatment for that turned put to be unnecessary, caused great harm. Lesson learned. I always question everything, do my research, try to grab hold of my health on my own and heal myself before I take any medical advice. It’s merely a suggestion I say to myself. Homeopathy does the trick most times. Sorry drs but my family has been scammed too many times. You should learn from that and this horrifying story and remember the Hippocratic oath you took, do no harm! Profit gets in the way of that quite often. Infuriating and horrific story. I’m so sorry!
Didn’t mention collagen once! They took it out of the diet! Don’t eat animal skin. Eat fake jello. I have knee injury from college soccer and lower back injury from sleeping on couch. Both happened long ago and caused increasing issues until I found collagen. PEMF with infrared is useful too. And DMSO!!!
I'm 69. When I was in my early thirties I was very fit. One day I attempted to carry a huge piece of concrete. Long story short: I felt a tremendous pain and was taken by ambulance to a hospital and visited an orthopedic surgeon the next day, still in extreme pain. His finding was that 2 disc in my lower back ruptured and that I would need a fusion in the near future. Afterwards I had constant back and leg pain for a few years. I was totally useless. Sometimes my back would go into a severe spasm when all I did was try to pick up a leaf. I struggled doing sit ups because of pain. A few years down the line I bought an exercise device that is basically a rolling pin. You go on your knees and grab the handles, then let it go forwards and you then pull back with your abdominals. After 6 weeks I realised one morning that I was pain free. I still use a pin to this day and my back is still as good as can be. I can pick up and carry a bag of cement if necessary, and, there's even signs of a six pack if I use my imagination.
Google Dr. John E. Sarno, who wrote Healing Back Pain-check out the reviews on Amazon – you will be cured. And it cost pretty much zero. Also along with that, Google TMS. I make no money from telling you this
I was waiting for someone to mention Dr. Sarno! I was seeing a psychologist to learn biofeedback techniques to manage IBS symptoms many years ago. I was also in terrible pain from an extruded L5 disk that was being treated by a chiropractor. The psychiatrist noticed me struggling with the pain and said: "There's a book I think you'd benefit from reading. It's called Mind Over Back Pain by John Sarno." I borrowed it from my local library, read it, and my back pain was gone the next day. He described a process he called TMS, whereby the brain turns a legitimate, short-term injury into chronic pain. Once the brain's tricks are revealed, the pain goes away. It doesn't work for everyone, but it's nothing short of miraculous when it does! The good doctor's acolytes are legion!
OMG, just do a search on DuckDuckGo "CBD roll on pain relief " This is a new discovery and it is THE CURE for pain, absolute total pain reliever. Just roll it on and within a few minutes you will want to kiss me! It works for about 15 hours, and then just roll on some more.
I have to tell you, I have suffered from back and neck pain with radiculopathy since 1995 from an accident where we were hit by a drunk driver and I was seriously injured. I tried conservative treatment for many years,s chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, many exercise programs, acupuncture, dry needling recommended, finally pain management, , cortisone injections, pain pills and a spinal stimulator. I finally went to a highly regarded neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. He did a 4 level fusion in 2019. I had a lengthy recovery with rehab then physical therapy. I got about 70% relief, and believe me I would do this again if I had to. I got enough relief to have a life. So, for some, surgery can work. I quit pain pills and just take aspirin or Tylenol as needed.
I had five cortisone injections in my cervical spine because of chronic pain caused by bulging discs.
I had mild concerns, but it is a short procedure and I always went home immediately.
During this injection, the doctor punctured my spinal cord.
I was immediately paralyzed and stopped breathing.
Five hours later they informed my husband (who was also used to a short procedure) that I was in distress .
My first memories are foggy, and I was groaning in a pain I cannot describe. I was begging for help.
I had a migraine-type headache and could not open my eyes in the bright light.
I vomited a bright-orange substance even though I had not eaten or had anything to drink.
They tried to send me home in that condition.
I demanded that I be admitted to the hospital.
They put me on a morphine drip, but due to the fog of anesthesia I couldn’t remember to press the button.
The next day they rolled me back to the lab and attempted a ‘blood patch’ to stop the leak of spinal fluid that was causing my headache. It didn’t work.
They reminded me to press the button to release the morphine. Every time I did that, I vomited immediately I don’t know how many doses I received before I realized I was having an allergic reaction.
The next day they attempted another blood patch. At some point I fell off the table, or they dropped me.
The third day they removed the catheter, and kicked me out of the hospital.
I discovered that my tail bone was broken, and my arms were covered in bruises - I suppose from them picking me up off the floor.
My doctor never once came by my room to check on me while I was hospitalized.
I never got another injection.
A few years later I discovered acupuncture and I had immediate pain relief.
Prior to that I had been on a cocktail of medications for a decade that included Darvocet, muscle relaxers, steroids, and others. None of those prescriptions ever helped me.
I continued to get acupuncture, once a week for six weeks, and I got my life back. I could breathe, and move, and walk without pain.
I dumped all the meds and have never taken them again.
Maybe once or twice a year, I’ll get radiating pain in my fingers from a disc flare up. I immediately schedule an acupuncture appointment which stops the pain cycle. Sometimes I go years without acupuncture treatments.
I had a pin surgically installed in a broken ankle bone back in 1976. I had it xrayed once back in early 2000’s. To see if there was any negative issue going on. Could that pin be leeching toxic material??
I have an 85 yr old mother with Scoliosis, spinal stenosis, arthritis and a ruptured disc for over half of her life. She refused spinal surgery and chose stretching, physical therapy and treatment from a “body mechanic”—manipulation without popping. I’ve rubbed so many mentholated products on her back since I was a kid, I can smell BenGay a mile away! But she can still bend over and place both palms flat on the floor. We call her Gumby. 😂 Now is her back perfect? No, but she is functional. And still living independently. Although, she has signs of early dementia. But that’s a separate issue.
I was just diagnosed with scoliosis few months ago and have an excellent chiropractor. They have a team of physical therapists who work with me on exercises for the back and on strengthening my core. It's been 3 months and I now have very little pain and more energy. Am doing so much better and still have a ways to go. The exercises are key. Before treatment I had constant back pain and was hunched over, couldn't stand up straight and had no energy. I have a great group of folks at the chiro's office and they have never once suggested surgery! They are also very honest and very caring people who really know what they are doing. If I hadn't found them, I'd probably have to be in a wheelchair all the time at this point.
You are blessed and lucky to have found the right “people”. Most won’t do the work/therapy, so congrats to you for following through. Continued success to you. 👏🏼🙏
Thank you! Yes, I am blessed, these are very special people who really know how to heal the spine IMO. I got on line to look for a good chiro and their practice stood out like a huge light to me so that's where I went and am so very glad I did.
The overwhelming cause of back pain is a weak core, often accompanied by an imbalance caused by the body trying to protect itself.
It's 3 steps:
- Create space
- Create mobility
- Create strength
The back industry is mostly a giant scam.
As a former musculoskeletal physiotherapist with 25 years experience this is frighteningly true. The best spinal orthopaedic surgeons nearly always try and dissuade their patients form surgery OR advocate for musculoskeletal and core strengthening prior to any consideration of surgery. I have treated numerous people with core stability and strengthening programs whilst they were 'waiting for surgery' only to have them completely recover. It is far more difficult to treat a botched spinal surgery.
Sadly the insurance model has brainwashed people to only accept treatment that insurance covers. Insurance does not cover decompression therapy and it can cost patients $150 a session. With a disc injury you are looking at a minimum of 18 sessions all out of pocket. If you are interested in true healing it’s best found outside the insurance paradigm.
It may may take some people more sessions, such as 18, as you describe, however, with ELDOA decompression exercises, it can only take around 4-5 sessions. The practitioner can video you doing them, with practitioner’s instructions given alongside. Now you have them for life, to turn to anytime. It’s well worth any travel one may need to get to an awesome practitioner. One of the absolute best is Mark Albrecht, here in Austin, Tx. His website is BalancedBodiesAustin.com. ELDOA’s are THE decompression exercises to have in your tool kit. And for doctors to know who to refer patients to.
100% agree, my route before following any invasive option. 👍
I'm one of these people. My spine looks just like those pics. Had a fusion L5-s1. I was definitely sold a bill of goods. Surgeon (very well known from UCSF) gave me a 95% success rate. Being desperate as I was I went into it with this expectation. 20 years later and I'm still suffering. I'm now diagnosed with FBSS. Anyone considering fusion surgery should read this article and heed it's warning.
So sorry to hear! 🫤
Now I try to stay away from drs and hospitals with daily exercise, healthy meals, lots of hydration, good mental attitude, no medicine and spending lots of time with those I care about. For the most part any illness or injury my family has received treatment for that turned put to be unnecessary, caused great harm. Lesson learned. I always question everything, do my research, try to grab hold of my health on my own and heal myself before I take any medical advice. It’s merely a suggestion I say to myself. Homeopathy does the trick most times. Sorry drs but my family has been scammed too many times. You should learn from that and this horrifying story and remember the Hippocratic oath you took, do no harm! Profit gets in the way of that quite often. Infuriating and horrific story. I’m so sorry!
Didn’t mention collagen once! They took it out of the diet! Don’t eat animal skin. Eat fake jello. I have knee injury from college soccer and lower back injury from sleeping on couch. Both happened long ago and caused increasing issues until I found collagen. PEMF with infrared is useful too. And DMSO!!!
Sick greedy bastards....
Cut the crap and get a hanging bar.
I'm 69. When I was in my early thirties I was very fit. One day I attempted to carry a huge piece of concrete. Long story short: I felt a tremendous pain and was taken by ambulance to a hospital and visited an orthopedic surgeon the next day, still in extreme pain. His finding was that 2 disc in my lower back ruptured and that I would need a fusion in the near future. Afterwards I had constant back and leg pain for a few years. I was totally useless. Sometimes my back would go into a severe spasm when all I did was try to pick up a leaf. I struggled doing sit ups because of pain. A few years down the line I bought an exercise device that is basically a rolling pin. You go on your knees and grab the handles, then let it go forwards and you then pull back with your abdominals. After 6 weeks I realised one morning that I was pain free. I still use a pin to this day and my back is still as good as can be. I can pick up and carry a bag of cement if necessary, and, there's even signs of a six pack if I use my imagination.
Google Dr. John E. Sarno, who wrote Healing Back Pain-check out the reviews on Amazon – you will be cured. And it cost pretty much zero. Also along with that, Google TMS. I make no money from telling you this
I was waiting for someone to mention Dr. Sarno! I was seeing a psychologist to learn biofeedback techniques to manage IBS symptoms many years ago. I was also in terrible pain from an extruded L5 disk that was being treated by a chiropractor. The psychiatrist noticed me struggling with the pain and said: "There's a book I think you'd benefit from reading. It's called Mind Over Back Pain by John Sarno." I borrowed it from my local library, read it, and my back pain was gone the next day. He described a process he called TMS, whereby the brain turns a legitimate, short-term injury into chronic pain. Once the brain's tricks are revealed, the pain goes away. It doesn't work for everyone, but it's nothing short of miraculous when it does! The good doctor's acolytes are legion!
I found out about his work from a comment on the world council for health's substack and it cured years of pain for me too!
The only true and definiitve way to solve back pain is with letting go of suppressed emotions.
OMG, just do a search on DuckDuckGo "CBD roll on pain relief " This is a new discovery and it is THE CURE for pain, absolute total pain reliever. Just roll it on and within a few minutes you will want to kiss me! It works for about 15 hours, and then just roll on some more.
I have to tell you, I have suffered from back and neck pain with radiculopathy since 1995 from an accident where we were hit by a drunk driver and I was seriously injured. I tried conservative treatment for many years,s chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, many exercise programs, acupuncture, dry needling recommended, finally pain management, , cortisone injections, pain pills and a spinal stimulator. I finally went to a highly regarded neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. He did a 4 level fusion in 2019. I had a lengthy recovery with rehab then physical therapy. I got about 70% relief, and believe me I would do this again if I had to. I got enough relief to have a life. So, for some, surgery can work. I quit pain pills and just take aspirin or Tylenol as needed.
I had five cortisone injections in my cervical spine because of chronic pain caused by bulging discs.
I had mild concerns, but it is a short procedure and I always went home immediately.
During this injection, the doctor punctured my spinal cord.
I was immediately paralyzed and stopped breathing.
Five hours later they informed my husband (who was also used to a short procedure) that I was in distress .
My first memories are foggy, and I was groaning in a pain I cannot describe. I was begging for help.
I had a migraine-type headache and could not open my eyes in the bright light.
I vomited a bright-orange substance even though I had not eaten or had anything to drink.
They tried to send me home in that condition.
I demanded that I be admitted to the hospital.
They put me on a morphine drip, but due to the fog of anesthesia I couldn’t remember to press the button.
The next day they rolled me back to the lab and attempted a ‘blood patch’ to stop the leak of spinal fluid that was causing my headache. It didn’t work.
They reminded me to press the button to release the morphine. Every time I did that, I vomited immediately I don’t know how many doses I received before I realized I was having an allergic reaction.
The next day they attempted another blood patch. At some point I fell off the table, or they dropped me.
The third day they removed the catheter, and kicked me out of the hospital.
I discovered that my tail bone was broken, and my arms were covered in bruises - I suppose from them picking me up off the floor.
My doctor never once came by my room to check on me while I was hospitalized.
I never got another injection.
A few years later I discovered acupuncture and I had immediate pain relief.
Prior to that I had been on a cocktail of medications for a decade that included Darvocet, muscle relaxers, steroids, and others. None of those prescriptions ever helped me.
I continued to get acupuncture, once a week for six weeks, and I got my life back. I could breathe, and move, and walk without pain.
I dumped all the meds and have never taken them again.
Maybe once or twice a year, I’ll get radiating pain in my fingers from a disc flare up. I immediately schedule an acupuncture appointment which stops the pain cycle. Sometimes I go years without acupuncture treatments.
I had a pin surgically installed in a broken ankle bone back in 1976. I had it xrayed once back in early 2000’s. To see if there was any negative issue going on. Could that pin be leeching toxic material??