Long-term Traction – and Bed Rest Went Away 30 Years Ago
One thing’s for sure – the clinical research is made up of poor studies. None show any valid benefits to use of machines for traction. (Check the Cochrane Collaboration on this question – http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews
With 25 studies worth including, the Cochrane review covered a total of 2206 LBP patients.
Results? “Not more effective than placebo, sham treatment or other treatments.” And “moderate evidence that continuous or intermittent traction is not more effective than other treatments.”
Is Intermittent Traction – and the DRX9000 – a Chiropractic Money-Machine?
- No clinical evidence supports continuous or intermittent lumbar traction
- $100.00 – $200.00 per treatment for 24 treatments?
- 7 of 25 studies revealed a history of side-effects including nerve injury.
Not Good.
In Summary: No traction treatments for me. There is better treatment with faster-relief available. “10X” treatment – clinically-tested non-surgical treatment – “pattern-recognition” approach that’s over 10 times as effective as the “conventional medical approach.”
And Fast-relief within an hour is available with “targeted-delivery” using topical pain medication.
Myth #1: A precise diagnosis can often be made – the cause identified.
Fact: Approximately 85% of cases cannot be diagnosed precisely.
Why Do You Have Back Pain?
Odds are – Unless You’ve Had An Injury – You’ll Never Know
The Actual Facts About Back Pain Causes are:
1) Acute Non-specific back pain is the #1 category of non-traumatic back pain;
2) The search for an anatomic or structural cause of the back pain FAILS in 80-90% of cases; (Spine, 2004, page 1022, Kent P; Annals Int Med, 2007, page 478, Chou R)
 Herniated Discs Don't Always Cause Pain? 3) Spending time and resources to pursue this 80-90% FAILURE rate is a bad idea. It interferes with A) Fast Pain-relief and B) Peace of mind (nothing seriously life/limb threatening is going on);
4) The fear of “missing something bad” if expensive tests, x-rays, MRI’s, etc. are not performed is unfounded – it just doesn’t happen;
5) Pursuing a diagnosis – this “mythical” cause of the acute back pain may lead to treatment delays, needless (and expensive) procedures and unnecessary back surgery. In the U.S. we do 40% more back surgery with no increase in pain-relief.
Conclusion: The “conventional medical approach” and resulting “usual treatment” to back pain is a FAILED model according to publications of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society.
- Fails to provide fast back pain-relief
- Fails to give prompt peace-of-mind
Action: Consider a rapid symptom-directed clinical syndrome or pattern-recognition. Based on certain movements that aggravate your pain (or relieve it) – identify your pattern in 20 minutes of less. Then move immediately to specific (non-invasive and non-surgical) treatment demonstrated to be up to 10.85 times as fast and effective as the “usual” or “conventional” approach.
Note: Fast back pain-relief need only be “hours-to-days” away. (See video)
Grave Robbers Document Ancient Back Pain Solutions
 Egyptian Low Back Pain Cure 3,500 Years Old Pain in the lower back has been a problem with no good remedies for thousands of years. Mummy-hunting grave-robbers dug up an Egyptian papyri dated over 3,500 years ago that describes a common treatment plan for lower back strain. Their treatment is 1,085% better than the “usual treatment” for back pain today? Here’s why (with a bit of history thrown-in):
In Bible times the patriarch Jacob may have suffered from an episode of sciatica after wrestling with God’s night-messenger, despite the pain he insisted on a blessing – if not a back pain cure. Ever since, low back pain has been considered a supernatural curse with elves, witches…and Jacob’s angel to blame. But for pain-relief seekers, new approaches can bring fast-relief for back pain – especially if you’re “stuck!”
Back Pain Solutions – No Good For Fakers
Then, starting 100 years ago, LBP began to develop a reputation as the illness-of-choice for malingerers – some doctors even questioning its factual existence. These days, we know it is often very real – but may be exaggerated for purposes from sympathy to outright monetary gain.
If you’re reading this, odds are you want real – and fast – pain-relief. Those who demand chronic pain meds and long-term disability are either “Stuck” with back pain they don’t want or “Sticking” society with the bill for their own long-term emotional disturbances. Nothing personal, but the facts of recent research reveal that there are good solutions – even cures for 98% of those who really want to get rid of their back pain. But the new approaches take a little work and the dedication to find out how to get relief – when the healthcare system is an obstacle – not a help.
Back Pain Statistics – Fast-Relief Up to “10X” Faster Is Possible
Overall, up to 85% of people experience at least one episode of severe back pain at least once in their lifetime. Every year, as many as one-third of people experience back pain, with 4 out of 5 seeking medical treatment.
Inactive adults between the ages of 45 and 60 are most commonly impacted with low back pain symptoms. Conversely, limited activity secondary to an episode of lower back pain is the most-frequently reported reason for those under age 45.
Little is known about the actual, specific causes of low back pain. Injury is a factor in up to 50% of cases. But, in 80-90% of people, a specific source of the back pain is not identified.
New Back Pain Solutions – Topicals + “Pattern-Recognition” or “10X” Therapy
This has resulted in a recent change in recommended treatment with a large 2009 clinical report describing up to 10.85 times the pain-relief success using a new approach which bypasses expensive and time-consuming work-ups involving narcotics, muscle relaxers, MRI’s, epidural steroids and surgery. The delays in back pain-relief are not justified say authors of new spine specialty texts published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society.
With standard or “conventional medical approach”, recurrence rates are substantial. The chance of developing recurrent lower back pain in the first year is 30-44%. With the new “pattern-recognition” approach it appears that may be cut in half. Chiropractic treatment leaves patient with a reported recurrence rate of 81% according to the recent literature.
Back pain occurs just as commonly in men as in women, but disc disorders appear more frequently in men. Surprisingly, disc problems – even herniation – also respond faster to the newer – alternative approach. (10X)
The latest guidelines recommend a focus on both alleviating symptoms promptly and preventing future episodes. With the new “targeted-delivery” approach using powerful topical pain medications to get relief within an hour and more long-lasting relief now possible with the “10X” or pattern-recognition approach.
The new pattern-recognition – at-least one-third of back pain sufferers – uses a special prone-posture treatment regimen that provides fast-relief within “hours-to-days” according to spine experts in 2009.
You Can Ask the Egyptians: Getting “Stuck” with low back pain need no longer be inevitable.
 MRSA infection is very rare as a complication of acupuncture. True. Essentially unheard of. So acupuncture is one of the safer, better natural back pain relief remedies.
Infection as a complication of acupuncture is very rare. This is partially a result of the high degree of training required of acupuncturists in most United States jurisdictions. And partially because there is a ready supply of sterile single-use needles here in the U.S.
Also, acupuncture usually occurs in the clinical/office environment outside of the confines of the hospital. MRSA is not as prevalent in the community as it is inside the hospital.
9) The best acupuncture treatment is given by a chiropractor.
Acupuncture – though it is considered to b e an alternative or natural remedy – is not typically taught to chiropractors. Though chiropractors are thought to be experts on spinal problems of both the neck and back, their typical treatment mode of manipulation has been found to have up to 40% rate of side-effects.
Acupuncturists are most-often independently trained and licensed. Additional training in the herbal and botanical remedies typical of Chinese medicine is given to natural medicine doctors. Oriental medicine experts may also have acupuncture training. Be sure to check your specialist’s credentials to maximize the benefits you’ll receive from a properly placed quiver of needles.
10) Hot – or Electrically-charged – needles provide faster relief. No clinical evidence this makes any difference, but as noted in Tip #3 – the bigger, thicker needles do seem to provide faster, better pain-relief.
BONUS TIP: The best acupuncture treatments are$250 per visit. Not true! A good acupuncturist may only charge $100 or so…Well worth it in my book.
But, remember, the best back pain remedies do involve participation on your part. By that I mean pattern-specific exercises can give back pain relief where nothing else seems to work. Even for those people who think they’re “Stuck with chronic back pain.” Check out the video now.
Part 2: Back Pain Relief – Fast and Natural – the Real Facts
4) Don’t expect long-lasting or complete relief after just 2-3 treatments.
A typical course of treatment is a minimum of 6-8 30-minute treatments and up to 12-16 treatments. Follow-up treatments may be needed 3-6 months later to help maintain long-lasting relief.
Don’t forget that relief also comes faster – and lasts longer – if you combine your course of acupuncture treatment with other treatments such as topical or systemic herbal remedies or medications and  exercise.
5) Obtaining good pain relief from acupuncture treatments doesn’t require you to become a Buddhist or pagan.
For some reason – Could be it’s just the way God made us – somehow, sticking little needles in certain places cuts pain – no matter what you believe. It’s not hypnosis, or evil spirits. It just works.
6) Relief of back pain (or neck pain) often lasts for up to 1 year following a course of acupuncture treatment.
Once you obtain 50-70% pain-relief, the improvement in pain-control often lasts for months at a time. In most research studies, pain was reduced at 1 year. This is especially true if there was a course of combined treatment including exercise.
7) Acupuncture treatments in the United States are typically not painful.
Despite having up to a dozen fine needles stuck into your face, feet, hands and other carefully selected meridians, pain from the needles is minimal. When I had 11 needles placed in me, I felt only a slight ache from one of them. This feeling rapidly passed.
My pain-relief lasted over 1 week, from just that one treatment.
(Part 3 – Next Post)
Part 1: Clinical Research is Positive For Acupuncture Pain-relief
1) If you’ve been suffering for a month or two – Try Acupuncture for Your Back Pain – It Really Does Work! Clinical research conclusively demonstrates that acupuncture provides good relief of both neck and back pain.
The recent medical literature shows (with a moderate degree of reliability) that acupuncture appears to provide a natural pain-relief for back pain patients. It may also help speed recovery in patients with neck and back pain.
2) Acupuncture provides greater relief of neck or back pain when it is used in combination with certain other treatments.
Research shows that the extent of lower back pain-relief from the needles of acupuncture treatments relates in some degree to how much people use acupuncture in combination with clinically-proven dietary, nutrition and lifestyle changes. Most-effective treatment includes supervised exercise and posture corrections. The involvement of a physical therapist is a good thing, too.
3) Acupuncture treatments in China provide faster and more effective relief of neck, back or other pain symptoms than acupuncture treatments in the U.S. Here in the States, the fastest relief is in Chinatown.
Why? Some think it may because larger diameter needles are used in China vs. the fine and extra-fine needles typically used here in the U.S.
Treatment with the larger diameter needles is often more uncomfortable (sometimes even painful ) but pain-relief comes much faster. This may be because the treatment stimulates the release of greater amounts of the neuro-active chemicals. Conclusive research has yet to be done to prove the precise mechanism and extent of relief.
Get Part 2 – Next Post
In 2009, 40 years of movement-based therapy was confirmed as up to 10.85 times better than the conventional back pain approach still in use by most doctors. Effective for both back pain and radicular leg pain – much faster and better for both – in 2,110 the “10X” patients showed big improvements.
You may have heard that back surgery is not usually needed for successful – and fast-relief – of lumbar herniated discs. Nearly 98% of patients won’t need any surgery – even the heavily promoted “laser surgery” – for relief of their problem lumbar spine or pain shooting down the leg blamed on herniated discs.
Fast Diagnosis of Back Pain – a Myth?
This new and successful refinement of the Mckenzie evaluation and treatment paradigm is called “pattern-recognition.”
Mckenzie is a 40-year old system based on identifying the specific syndrome of pain – determined by the movements that aggravate or relieve the lower back or radiating leg pain. Robin Mckenzie called  it improvement when certain movements caused your back pain to “centralize” or moves towards the center of your back or neck. This is often associated with more rapid improvement.
With recognition of a specific pattern, low back pain-relief comes ten times faster. That’s why it’s called “10X” therapy.
In contrast, the usual medical treatment too-often attempts to get the diagnosis or specific cause of the pain. That’s why experts call it a “failed” approach, it typically fails in 80-90% of cases. Especially for the most-common type of back (or neck) pain – “non-specific low back pain.”
No peace of mind that what you have will not likely kill or cripple you.
No fast relief of back (or leg) pain symptoms.
Mckenzie-Trained Experts Do Physical Therapy For Back Pain Differently
This is more than just generic core strengthening or pain-relief modalities that too-many busy therapists or chiropractors rely on. These pattern-specific therapy techniques are up to five – ten times (5X-10X) as effective as the usual back treatment. Hence, the nickname – “10X Therapy.”
Tested on 2,110 patients in 2008 and reported in 2009, this new back pain syndrome approach – finding your movement aggravation pattern – just works far better. But this system goes beyond Mckenzie – and works better, too.
Wouldn’t you want to get over your back pain “10X” faster and better?
Hold Off On MRI’s For 2-3 Months? Because I Want Faster Pain-Relief?
Clinical standards for lower back pain and best therapy are generally:
- No x-rays or MRIs for the first 6-8 weeks in most cases of non-specific mid back or lower back pain;
- Unless there are “Red Flags” – Warning signs of something more serious (Trauma, Nerve irritation problems getting worse, Cancer, Infection for example)
The Myth of the Bulging/Herniated/Degenerated Disc Causing Back or Neck Pain
You see our culture – at least our Healthcare System – has bought into the myth that if you have a bulging disk, degenerated disk or herniated disk shown on your MRI – THAT is the source of your pain.The medical literature says that’s just plain – “Not so!”
Yet, all too many doctors proceed by the “tried-and-true” belief that lower back pain problems are known to “sometimes” refer pain upwards to the mid back, so even if the “problem” disk is further down in the lumbar spine (low back) on your MRI, but your pain is in the mid back, the conclusion is that the MRI-finding is “Solid Gold.” It MUST be the cause of the pain.
That means you’ll typically get treatment for the MRI finding. BUT, MRI findings often bear only limited relationship to the real cause of your pain.
It is now well-recognized by most spine specialists that:
- People with “problem” MRI disk findings may often have no pain and,
- In-contrast people with non-specific low back pain may have no MRI findings at all.
That’s part of the reason why surgery for back pain based primarily on an MRI finding diagnosing the “cause” of the lumbar spine problem has a substantial failure rate of 30-40%.
The doctor’s didn’t really figure out what was causing that persistent or recurrent pain in your back… Happens all the time.
Clinical Research Shows MRI’s Do NOT Affect (or Speed Up) Pain-Relief – Who’s to Blame For Mis-directed Low Back Pain Therapy?
Most of the time it’s not fair to blame the doctor because we haven’t invented a Pain-O-Meter and points to the real source of your back pain. However, informed spine surgeons and sub-specialists are getting less aggressive surgically all-the-time.
BUT, this economy has made it “hard times” for all. And even some surgeons are tempted when they’ve “got nothing scheduled next Tuesday.” (Check “How Doctors Think” by Jerome Groopman M.D. on hard-times and surgery rates)
Action Items:
1) Get yourself informed about the causes of back pain and the likely causes of pain.
2) Recognize that of the 7 categories of back pain based on the newest “pattern-recognition” approach (“10X” treatment), most doctors today won’t base your treatment on the right one…in-fact, not even on ANY one of the seven!
3) When the doctor urges an MRI, think twice, especially if you haven’t yet had your back pain categorized – and thus no treatment based on that categorization.
4) Beware – In the U.S. you’re 40% MORE likely to get a surgical treatment as your back pain treatment than in any other country in the world. BUT, no increase in the pain-relief success rate with that low back pain therapy.
So, It’s perfectly reasonable to get yourself smart about the best treatment for your mid back or lower back pain problem. And to consider asking for treatment based on “pattern-recognition” that’s up to 10.85 times more likely to give you the best low back pain therapy.
Don’t trust the MRI – it’s not infallible.
Red Flags, MRI’s and Sudden Back Pain
When low back pain hits you like a ‘bolt from the blue’, it’s tempting to panic and rush to the doctor. Pain pills and an early MRI seem like the thing to do – But that’s not what the best guidelines and success rates reveal.
 A back pain cure is up to 10.85 times as likely without an MRI if you are lucky enough to get the new “pattern-recognition” approach to back or neck pain.
An MRI – even x-rays – are not a part of that “10X” picture. Guidelines say doctors should wait 6-8 weeks after back pain starts before getting them (unless there are Red Flags), and by then your backache could be gone.
Here’s the deal – “Good” midback or lower back pain typically has these common findings:
- Pain or backache is usually aggravated by prolonged standing/ sitting – spine experts call it “static loading.”
- Another common aggravation characteristic is working with a long lever arm such as lifting, pushing/pulling with your arms elevated away from your body – shoveling, sweeping, raking or even vacuuming. These tasks often promptly increase the upper, mid back or low back pain.
- Stooping - bent over forward at your waist – as is used to wash the dishes, or work on a counter or workbench also increases your mechanical back pain.
- Mechanical mid back pain (lower back, too) is often improved when a variety of forces from different directions balance the spine
Such as floating/treading water and walking or moving frequently, but smoothly.
But…Why do I call them “good?” Because those are positive indicators that you have mechanical or “non-specific” back pain – which is VERY treatable!
Without tons of pain pills, muscle relaxers, MRI’s, CT Scans, shots, chiropractic or surgery. And that means – Inexpensive, too!
Pattern-Recognition: 7 Separate Paths to a “Pain-Free Back”
Rest seems like the right thing – Unloading the thoracic or lumbar spine often relieves pain…this could be in a recliner or laying down. For some back pain – Resting in bed provides relief – for a little while – until stiffness/stationary positioning
begins to aggravate once again. If you get up and move around, or change positions, you can once again get relief.
Problem here is that for any individual person with back pain, the latest clinical research shows there are actually 7 separate and distinct paths to success.
Fastest Back Pain Cure
Which path you really must be on for the “fastest back pain cure” depends on the history and movement characteristics of your particular back pain – Your back pain pattern.
But, If there’s no recognition – by your doctor -or by you – of the pain pattern, then you won’t get pattern-specific treatment. You won’t get better faster!
Most Doctors Don’t Know This – Yet; They Use the Same Old “Usual Treatment”
Lots of doctors do this. They can’t stand it when the pain pills don’t work that well. (Typical)
When you’re still stuck with lower back pain weeks later, you want your doctor to DO something – Right?
WRONG!!
The doctor will often get in a little “panic.”
>>Don’t forget, in our Healthcare system, there’s always an undercurrent of CYA – “cover your ass” – flowing in any doctors brain. He’s increasingly powerless at the hands of the insurance clerks and bureaucrats who manage your care – so Doc wants to make sure nothing “gets missed.” (HINT: If there are no “Red Flags” – a 4-5 minute Q&A takes care of that – nothings getting missed. Research proves it.)
Back to “panic” – So, Given the “needs” of the Healthcare System, Docs next step is – an MRI get ordered.
 But – That could mean a $2,317.00+ bill for a study which all-too-often doesn’t really help. The latest research confirms that “Immediate imaging (plain or advanced) was not associated with any significant differences in short-term or long-term pain, function, quality of life, mental health, or general improvement.”
Action Steps:
 1) DON’T fall for the “Let’s get an MRI to see what’s causing your back pain.” Doesn’t work, doesn’t help, wastes time and money.
2) Instead – Rule out Red Flags,
3) Get Fast Topical Pain-relief, and PLEEZ…
 Watch the VIDEOS – Find out how to categorize your back pain into one of the SEVEN (7) patterns so you can get pattern-specific treatment and “10X” the “Pain Gone” success-rate.
Sudden Pain in the Upper, Mid-back or Lumbar Spine?
Over 50% of the time, the sudden onset of pain is due to a traumatic injury.
Mid or lower back pain costs us a big chunk of $100 billion each year says ABC News. If you’re stuck with back pain, that can mean a minimum medical bill of $6-7,000 dollars – bad news in these times. With much health insurance a mess, it’s a huge financial burden.
If you’re trying to get by – to get back to “normal” life (and work) with back pain. Here’s some Good News:
- 4-out-of-5 people with midback or low back pain get relief naturally within just 2-3 weeks
- 96-98% of acute spinal pain resolves within 3 months (but 30-40% of the time it later comes back)
- Sometimes you won’t even need to go to the doctor or get any treatment and you’re better in just 2-3 days
- However, if it’s starting to look sketchy – you’ve still got a nagging backache? It’s easy to worry about that nagging backache, especially when it’s lingered for more than a few days.
The longer it’s been, the more likely you’ll get STUCK. Here’s the downside:
- Even for those whose low back pain goes away fairly quickly, the recurrence rate is between 35 up to nearly 50%.
- You may lose some time from work
- And there’s the ugly specter of pain and suffering
- Lost opportunity – Who knows what you’ll miss while your battling back pain?
- Lost effectiveness – At work, at home, can’t even go to the lake or take a hike?
- And there’s the expense of a slower recovery. Back pain costs…may be BIG!
What Really Causes Slow Back Pain-Relief?
Used to be, we doctors harped on delays in getting to the doctor or to the right specialist as the #1 enemy of fast back pain-relief.
Fact is: It’s really misinformation and ineffective treatment that are the biggest problem. You see, MOST doctors are still using the outmoded “conventional medical approach.” Pills, a dash of therapy, and early x-rays and an MRI. Then off to the specialist you go.
“We’ve got to find the cause!” (Statistics show that just doesn’t happen 80-90% of the time)
And, if you’re stuck in the middle of that Back Pain Treatment Model – You’re on the slippery slope to FAILURE. According to the authors of the Orthopedic Knowledge Update, Spine, Vol. 2 – that “Usual” treatment is a “FAILED” and outmoded approach.
Why?
The “Usual” Approach fails to give anyone peace of mind about the cause of their non-specific back (or neck) pain and also fails to give fast pain-relief… These problems from what you thought was just a simple low back strain may mean thousand dollars and unnecessary x-rays, MRI’s, misdiagnosis leading to even more ineffective treatment.
Misdiagnosis? What do you mean?…My doctor’s a great guy!
Tune-in next post and we’ll dig into this “Usual Care” mess. It’s actually a very common - and yet unpublicized – problem.
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How to Get Faster Pain Relief
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