LOW BACK PAIN
By Dra. Annabel Carungin

It occurs commonly, with a 60% - 90% lifetime incidence and 5% annual incidence.  Up to 90% of cases of LBP resolve without medical attention in 6 - 12 weeks 40% - 50% resolve within one week and even 75% of people with sciatica are symptomatic at 6 months.
However, what is self-limited disease process for most people is also the leading cause of disability in people younger than 45 years of age and the third cause of disability in those older than 45 years of age.

CAUSES OF LBP

• LIFTING, both in and out of the work place, is the most common factor associated with LBP, especially frequent lifting, lifting more that 25 lbs., dysrhythmic or ratchety lifting, and asymmetric load lifting.

• An exogenous frequency of 5 Hz, which is a resonant frequency of most industrial and construction vehicles is preferentially transmitted and enhanced through the spinal system, resulting in an increased incidence of herniated lumbar discs.

• Life-style factors also contribute to the incidence of LBP.

• Smoking is a risk factor in persons with a 50 pack per year history of smoking, especially if younger than 45 years of age.

Smoking

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Chronic  coughing

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Increased intradiscal pressure

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Impaired vertebral blood flow & oxygenation

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Impaired nutrition to the disk

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LBP

• Heavy work and driving were occupational types that resulted in the highest incidence of LBP and sciatica.

• Sedentary work yielded the least symptomatology.  While the LEAST pathology was found in workers with varied or mixed work loads (both sedentary and heavy work) and sedentary workers had the highest degree of symmetric disc degeneration.

THE SPORTS ASSOCIATED WITH LBP

• Gymnastics

• Football

• Weight lifting

• Wrestling

• Dance

• Rowing

For many years, it was assumed that back pain was usually the result of spinal degeneration or injury, especially damage to the intervertebral disc.  These are the structures located between the vertebrae that acts as cushions.  

With the ordinary wear and tear of living, the discs show signs of aging, and may be injured.  When a disc begins to degenerate, a strain even something as small as a sneeze can cause the disc to rupture or herniated, allowing the soft interior material to protrude out of the disk and press against the spinal cord.  This situation is sometimes erroneously referred to as a "slipped disc".  

A herniated disc can indeed cause severe intermittent or constant back pain.  However, it is difficult to pinpoint disc diseases as the cause of most cases of back pain.  That is because most adults past the age of 40 whether they experience back pain or not- can be shown to have some degree of disc degeneration.  Further, in most instances, disc degeneration and even herniation do not produce any symptoms.

Muscle strain

(Prolonged muscle contraction)

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Lactic Acid                          Pyruvic Acid

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Muscle irritation

Interfere with the normal conduction of electrical impulses in the muscle tissue.

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Pain

• Most cases of back pain also have an important psychological component, usually a deep-seated emotional or stress-related problem.

• Other contributors to back pain includes bad posture, improper foot wear and walking habits, improper lifting, straining, calcium deficiency, slouching when sitting and sleeping on a mattress that is too soft.

• Kidney, bladder and prostrate problems, female pelvic disorders, and even constipation may produce back pain.

• Chronic conditions that can cause back pain include arthritis, rheumatism, bone disease, and abnormal curvature of the spine.

ADVISE

1. Weight reduction if you are overweight.

2. Exercise to strengthen your abdominal muscles.

3. If pain follows an injury or sudden movement, apply ice for the first 48 hours, then apply heat.  Rest on a firm bed.

4. When getting up, roll to your side, draw your knees up, push up to a sitting position, and stand by pushing up with your legs.

5. When sitting, keep your knees a little higher than your hips and keep your feet flat on the floor.

6. When carrying things on your shoulder, switch the weight to the other side from time to time. Carrying heavy shoulder bags may produce neck, back and shoulder pain.

7. Always push large objects; never pull them.

8. Wear comfortable shoes.  The higher the heels of your shoes, the greater the risk of backache.

9. Never lean forward without bending your knees.   Lift with your legs, arms and abdomen - not with the small muscles of your back.  Avoid lifting anything heavier than 20 lbs.  If you must work close to the ground, squat down so that you avoid bending at the waist.

10. Do Biomagnetic Therapy

a. Daytime sternum

b. Daily: Use Positive 2-stack Power Wafer on the spine where pain is located.

Place Negative 2-stack Power Wafer 3" from Positive Biomagnet on either side of Positive; one to the left and one to the right so that all magnets are in a line.

c. After 3 days, remove the Positive Biomagnet and continue wearing the Negative for 2 weeks.

d. Drink MSO 10-20 drops/glass of water 3x/day.