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Back Pain Questions and AnswersI HATE LEGAL DISCLAIMERS, but my lawyer insists...Thanks for understanding... If you would like to post an additional answer for a question asked here, please send it to me, and I will post it for you. This is YOUR back pain questions and answers forum. Enjoy it, and use it to answer all your questions on back pain.
A: Hi Blake, I do not believe in this centralization theory embraced by many physical therapists, nor do I believe that most herniations are the actual source of pain to begin with. If you would like a more detailed opinion on your specific cases, please send me or type for me the MRI report, so that I see what you are dealing with. Be safe over there and hope you can get home soon! Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: hello, i was just reading all of the Q's and A's and i was looking for the answer to this question...Is it possible to fix the slipped vertebrae completely, to where the vertebrae lines up correctly? Sam A: Hi Sam, Yes, It is possible surgically, although not advised except in the worst cases of spondylolisthesis. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hello, I am a 35 year old female, good health and about 2 months ago I hurt my lower back one morning when I fell getting into the shower,. At first it bruised real bad, and I could hardly get around. Then after about 2 weeks it just got worse, had swelling in my lower back and severe pain that began to move down my buttocks into my legs, they stay numb and tingle alot, often with severe burning sensation, bad enough I sit and cry all the time, i went to Er and they done x-rays and said i pulled a muscle, but it's only getting worse and it has made me begin to limp, cant sit stand or lay for long lengths, also it has made my bladder seem weak, meaning i often leak on my self, I really think I have done severe damage, what do you think?? Towana A: Hi Towana, X-rays are only good for diagnosing fractures. They will not show many possible explanations for your symptoms. I advise going to a doctor who will order an MRI of the area. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi, I wrote a while back, I would like to say thank you, your book has made a world of difference and started me on the information journey of psychosomatics. I have a question I would like to have comfirmed please, The back pain has gone, but I have developed tinnitus and pain in the buttocks. Would I be correct in assuming its the pain syndrome just moving to still distract me? Have you heard of this before? Thank you for your time, Lee A: Hi Lee, Yes, this is completely normal. There is more information on it here: Q: Dear Sir, My wife is suffering with back pain for the last one year.MRI AND X RAY does not show any significant aberrations.but she is feeling enormous pain while she is getting out from bed. moderate pain while walking and while sitting and standing.while i standing posture she is not experiencing the pain.no radiating pain in to the legs.Many doctors are not able to diagnose the problem.kindly advise. Choudary A: Hi Choudary, Being that she has been cleared of structural issues which may be responsible and the symptoms seem rather illogical, I am fairly certain that her symptoms, like most chronic pain sufferers, are ischemic and generated by the mindbody process. I advise knowledge therapy for this condition and wish her the best of luck with the treatment. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi, Just a quick note to say that this site saved my life. I was due to have surgery and then read your articles. I realized that my pain did not make sense from cervical disc disease adn I put off my fusion to try your approach. I am pain free now for months and feel great. My surgeon is stumped. Thanks so much and keep up the great work. Tina A: Hi Tina, You are welcome. I am happy to hear that you are doing well and was able to avoid teh horror of spinal fusion. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Have you heard of RF Neurotomy and if so what is your opinion on the procedure. From my understanding it is a procedure in which a number of nerves near the spine are cauterized/cut so that the ultimate effect is to break the "pain cycle" and stop chronic pain. Don A: Hi Don, I have a couple of articles on it here: Q: Hi! I think this is a great thing you've got going on with your website. Back pain is something that affects a lot of people and definitely hinders sleeping habits including my own. I thought I would let you know of a major sales promotion opportunity for your viewers. Serta mattresses are doing a half off sale starting November 11th and going through the 21st only at Sears locations. Obviously there are a lot of ways you can help your back pain, but buying a nice new comfy mattress is definitely a good alternative, especially when it's 50% off. I just thought if you felt it was beneficial for your viewers to know about, you could include this somewhere in your site temporarily. If not, good luck with everything you're doing here -- I think it's great. Thanks so much and have a nice day. -Charlie A: Hi Charlie, Thanks for the kind words. I send you my best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: dear sir my m.r.i says that i have arthritis in the spine. i have very little pain in the back, but i have to take pain killers most of the time. doctor has tried anti-inflammatory pills but did not work. my pain is in the buttocks front leg side and down my groin and into the top of my testicle. is there any other treatments? David A: Hi David, In order for me to advise you, I need to know more about your diagnosis. Please send the MRI report, since spinal arthritis is completely universal. We all have it... Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I am suffering from shoulder back pain last one year. Kindly give me the suggestion to get ride of this pain. Please also give me the specialist name and address in DELHI. Hari A: Hi Hari, I can not advise you if I do not have more diagnostic info. I recommend you contact a local hospital for the name of a care provider in your area and begin your journey to become pain free with a complete examination. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I recently had a MRI done of my lower back. The MRI's results were 2 herniated disks and DDD. I also have an exaggerated curve/hunch in my upper back. The upper back is my main problem. My lower back pain is very frequent but goes away. I consulted a neurosurgeon about my pain. He told me to try physical therapy for the pain. He told me there is nothing you can do for the scheuermann's kyphosis. Our visit lasted 5 minutes. I took the physical therapy, didn't work! I am 27 yrs. old and am in a lot of pain. Is the decision for surgery mine to make? Or, does it have to be recommended by a doctor? From what I have read on the internet, I feel like I need a second opinion! I feel like no one believes I am in horrible pain. Please email me your response. Thank you so much for your time! Brandon A: Hi Brandon, The surgery for Scheuermann's kyphosis is the most invasive form of spinal fusion. It is nightmarish and only used for the most severe cases of the condition. How bad is the curvature? This will help me to provide you with advice. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I am an othewise healthy 35yo with nagging back pain for off and on for about the past year, I guess. It is located in my middle back-across the point where my rib cage is. It has not been bothersome during the day, but it wakes me in the morning--I have to get up because no matter what position I lay, it hurts. I am slow to rise and get moving, but once I do it does not bother me. I didn't think much of it, but have changed mattresses and it did not help. I have noticed in the past few weeks that it has become nagging during the day---it feels like a "catch" in my back just left of my spine at rib cage level. I have been to chiro in past for whiplash in my neck---and an occasional adjustment. She has adjusted this area, but it has not seemed to help. I am thinking that I may need to go to medical dr. to have them x-ray the area just to make sure there is not something growing there that shouldn't be. I have been reading the posts and am now wondering if it is psychosomatic??????? Any insight would be helpful! Erin A: Hi Erin, I recommend an exam from a physician. If you get imaging, make it an MRI, since x-rays are virtually useless. Just be prepared that there may be structural issues found that are coincidental to the pain, rather than causative. In my experience, many, many pain syndromes which occur at night are indeed psychosomatic, since the anatomical basis is often illogical. It is wise to consider this possibility as well. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi, my name is Yevgeniy and I had a back injury that put my basketball career on hold.I had an MRI done and it said I have a "Left Paracentral Disc Extrusion At L5-S1". My pain has gone away. This injury happened about 6 months ago. I had about 8 Division 1 colleges interested and now I'm taking a year off and grayshirting at a Junior college.I'm only 18 years old, does this heal on its own without surgery and will I be able to continue playing competitively? Thank you, God Bless. A: Hi Yevgeniy, Extrusions rarely "heal" but they are not inherently painful. Many exist and never cause pain, while some, (like yours) may cause pain fro a short time only. The fact that you have been pain-free for some time is great. I would not worry about it. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: hi, i read a few studies that said 80% of the population will get back pain at some point in there life, i was wondering if you thought modern day lifestyle contributes to the amount of people that suffer with back pain or whether it has always been a problem? regards, paul A: Hi Paul, NO. I consider it to be just the latest "in vogue" psychosomatic condition, much akin to rheumatism, hysteria or any other condition which existed in the past. This does not account for all cases, but certainly a huge percentage of them, especially in chronic sufferers, such as myself. Actually, the latest numbers are up to 85% or more... Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Although i am experiencing lower back pain, it is not the reason for my inquiry. I have recently had what i can only describe as charlie horses in my neck/throat. I was using google to try and find some clues. I found the link to your website. This has happened on at least 3 occasions if not 4. The first time, i was laying on my back in bed early in the morning. I was just laying there stretching as i woke up, when a muscle or something in my neck/throat area felt like it was twisting inside my neck. It was paralyzing pain. It felt as though a muscle, tendon or vein was moved over and cutting off my airway. It was very scary. I kept grabbing my throat trying to move it back in place so i could breath. Like i said it was scary. In the meantime, after this happens my neck is sore for several days and my arm and fingers feel tingly. Do you have any idea what this may be? Thank you in advance for your time.Mimi A: Hi Mimi, I know exactly what you are talking about. I get this occasionally when yawning or stretching. For me, it is always on the right, immediately to the side of my esophagus and was quite scary at first. I do not know the cause of this type of muscle spasm, but I do not think it is anything to fear. I know several people who get it. It may be related to a cervical issues, but it may also be a psychosomatic pain condition as well. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi i'm 23 years old and seem to have a very strange sensation in my back when i bend over or make certain movements i feel a crackling, bubbling in my back under my ribs, its almost like wind i'm my back strange as that may sound. When i sit i seem to get discomfort in my neck and almost into my chest. I had a chest xray nothing seemed to jump out as being wrong. I have had this for 3 days now and although its not extremely painful its unsettling. the doctors don't seem to think its anything to worry about. I am going off traveling next week so am feeling very stressed out at the moment so don't know if this has anything to do with it, any help/advice would be greatly received. Erin A: Hi Erin, These types of symptoms characterized as you have, are generally psychosomatic and related to stress. I commend you for even considering this, as it is the most likely explanation. If you have been cleared of health issues, I advise you to relax, consider what may be on your mind (to the deepest level) and make sure not to repress any fears or anxieties you are having. I am sure you will be fine. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: i awake every morning after a very disturbed nights sleep which is not caused by the pain i want to ask about but i awake and i literally have to arise out of sleeping position from my front onto all fours slowly in agonizing pain sometimes it can take up to 10 mins for the pain to go then when the pain has gone i next get it in the morning next day. i have tried all sorts of remedys ie putting pillow under affected area,sleeping with board under bed, sleeping in different position but always i wake with pain around the kidney area of my back. i do weight training 5 days a week and running or rowing cardio exercises 5 days also my partner wakes me sometimes and helps me by massaging the area as i rise onto all fours i don't know what is wrong i am in agony. but as i have said the pain goes ten mins after and its fine the rest of the day so i thought it was my muscles relaxed whilst sleeping then tensing upon waking but i just don't know it's the same area all the time kidney area so i am worried it could be them i'm not taking steroids i am a heavy lad but do train heavy also can u help? Karl A: Hi Karl, I recommend going for a check up if you have not already done so. That being said, pain that comes on at night and goes away once you are up and around is almost always psychosomatic. The process in your subconscious which is causing the symptoms is in control as you sleep and the pain will come on and wake you to prevent conscious recognition. It is a very common syndrome, which I endured (and still do, on occasion) myself. If this is the case, knowledge therapy is the answer. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I would like to ask how you feel about the Tempurpedic mattress for people with several spinal injury. I have had 2 spinal fusion surgeries from a bad fall. I bought a Tempurpedic about 2 weeks ago. I tried 4 models at the store, and I picked what I felt was the "softest" ofthem all, although I used to really like a firm mattress. Well, the mattress I got feels nothing like it did in the store. This mattress feels like sleeping on a bed of cement, with a thin foam cover. I don't know if it's (probably) just my spinal injury that is causing this to happen, but I can't find any site or anyone that can help me determine if it's the mattress, or me. I'm not particularly afraid it's going to hurt me further, but I'm now missing my old, firm Sealy coiled mattress. i heard it takes some time to adjust; is that my problem? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Libby A: Hi Libby, I have an article about the products here: Q: hi, i am a design and technology student at Manchester Metropolitan University looking at back pain i was wondering if you know of any products used for back pain which don't work very well, the problems with it.thank you for your time. Paul A: Hi Paul, Yes, I know many. However, potential legal ramifications prevent me from sharing this information publicly. I can tell you that the reason most fail is that they are mistaken in their ideas about what is actually causing the pain. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi my name is Lewis i'm 20 years old and this is my story and questions i have. since 2007 i was a plasterer and June last year i had to give up that job because of my back hurting me. It has taken me this long to find out i have spondylolysis after physiotherapy at the end of last year and start of this year, after time that began to be very painful. i then had to be taken to hospital at the end of August after shooting pains and weakening of my legs and back. after an MRI scan and a CT scan the consultant told me i have spondylolysis and it trapped my nerve, i have had this from birth but didn't come on till then because of all the heavy lifting i had been doing in my last job. the consultant told me i need to do more exercising to build up me muscles, even though physiotherapy was suppose to do that and it ended up hurting more. i am now confused about what to do, how do i know if i'm doing the right exercises? how do i know if i'm doing too much exercise? what am i going to do for a future job? will i ever end up living my life how i did? thank you for hearing my story and hope to hear from you soon. Lewis A: Hi Lewis, I would be interested in seeing your MRI report. Something just does not seem right to me at all. Once I can clarify a few issues, I will be happy to provide my opinion on your case. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: i am now 29 years old i started grinding on my teeth when i was 18 after starting a relationship with a guy. it turned out to be very tiring hence the start of my teeth grinding it continued and it became and still is aggressive ... i grind all night, i crush the mouth guards,and my jaw aches always, the right side of my jaw does not protrude when i open my mouth, the pain reached my neck,shoulders and i get severe migraines, nothing is helping i tried medication all sorts they affect only once then i have to double or triple the dose my bod quickly gets used to medicines, and i always thought of myself as a calm person now i'm just always angry and impatient,to top all this i have been suffering from facial pain as if electricity is passing through my face it only stays a few seconds and then happens again after a few minutes. i don't know what to do i have seen doctors they say no solution its all coz of stress and that i should rely on pain killers when I'm in severe pain Lara A: Hi Lara, There is no doubt at all that psychological issues are at the heart of this problem. I advise knowledge therapy for you to uncover the basis of these emotional concerns and once exposed, I am sure you will be ok. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I have had back pain,pinched nerve for 10 years with pain coming and going. Finally in April this year pain so severeand foot dropped. Had low back disc surgery/decompression.Back pain and leg pain gone, however foot drop only partially gone. This foot and toes numb with occasional pain and several times excruciating every approx 28 seconds and two occasions approx every 3-5minutes lasting 5-6hrs. I have had therapy and take Gabapentin to no relief. Surgeon thinks problem will take care of itself. Any clues? John A: Hi John, Could be lots of things. Misdiagnosis is a good theory. Failed surgery is another, probably due to the first reason given. Being that it has gone on for this long, it is unlikely to simply resolve, as you surgeon guesses it will, but you may get lucky. At least some of the symptoms are gone and not worsened, as experienced by so many postoperative patients, so that is a good sign. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I'm 18 and I have been having terrible back pains for the past 2 years. The pain is just to the right of my spine and a little more than halfway down my back. The pain doesn't always come when I do certain activities it just randomly "stabs" me and when this happens it is not a constant pain it comes in surges that nearly bring me to my knees. I could get one bad surge and it not hurt for another week or it keeps coming back stab after stab. I've had my kidneys checked for stones and cancer. I've had my gallbladder removed and the doctors say there is nothing wrong with my spine and they pretty much are saying that there is nothing wrong with me. Is there anything else i could have checked? Thank you. Jim A: Hi Jim, The condition is most likely ischemic. It seems 16 is a common age for developing this pain syndrome, as many young people your age write with similar complaints and I, myself, began my back pain journey at 16... I advise knowledge therapy. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Are there any TMS practitioners, particularly pyschotherapists, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area? I don't see anyone on your list. If not, do you take phone consults? Thank you for your good work! I can't believe I only just now learned of it, but am grateful for the improvements I'm already experiencing. I wish I lived in New York! Margie A: Hi Margie, I do not know any therapists in your area. That being said, I can tell you that most patients DO NOT need therapy and can work through their issues on their own, with time and patience. This is my advice to you. I send you my best! Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: i have been diagnosed with scoliosis and arthritis i have had back pain since an injury years ago but it used to come and go. now with me not working it is there all the time. is there a herbal medicine i can take, as i already take some other meds and have had enough of them to so herbal is the way to go for me. would fish oil and omega3 be good for it or something else. look forward to here from you. Peter A: Hi Peter, I do not think anything herbal is the answer for pain due to arthritis or scoliosis. Therefore, I do not have any recommendations. I do send you my best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: I'm an 18 yr old female. I injured my back falling off a horse 3 years ago. I have compression fractures of both my T12 & T9 vertebrae and something my doc called Smorle's nodes which she didn't really explain. Any way, shortly after i hurt mt back I started having extreme stomach pain that would last from minutes to hours. The onlyt hing that seemed to make it go away was laying down. I saw 2 specialist, one for my back & one for my stomach. The conclusion for my stomach pain was stress and nothing could be done about my back. The stomach pain went away for a long time, but now is back. With severe back pain as well. I was just wondering if the 2 were connected and how to lessen either one? Em A: Hi Em, The 2 could very well be related. Did you see a neurologist and have specific testing done on those thoracic nerves? If not, this is my recommendation. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hello, Thank you so much for this website-it is truly informative to a degree that I haven't yet seen on the web on this topic!I am 19 years old and have suffered from terrible posture since I was a young teenager. I love reading and i never sit up straight when I read. Its gotten to the point that if I try s standing/sitting straight for more than 10 minutes, my back begins to hurt and i stop trying. additionally, I get occasional back pain (maybe once every two days.) I have gone to a chiropractor but got turned off when I realized that if they make a mistake they can pretty much mess up my spine. What do you suggest? So far i've heard of the following options: physical therapy, chiropractor, checking out the soles of my feet and whether i need special shoes, back brace or something to keep the back straight.. Please let me know what you think is best! Thanks, Michal A: Hi Michal, Most people understand good posture versus poor posture and can make simple small corrections on their own. Start gradually and work on standing and sitting up straighter a bit at a time. It may be uncomfortable for a time, but you should acclimate quickly. If you have a problem, consider consulting a physical therapist who specializes in postural modification. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hello there, I'm only 22 years old and for now 5 months i have chronic neck pain. I have 24/7 muscle spasms in my neck and that is producing weird pain in my forehead, temple and even on the bridge of my nose as a result of the nerves passing near the suboccipital triangle being irritated. I passed a CT scan and some X-rays but the doctors told me i was fine ( i wonder if i can pass more test like MRI or looking somewhere else ). It all started 2 weeks after i heard my mom had a really bad terminal cancer ( lung and brain ). So i guess you might see a pattern there. I always been really strong mentally and a really informed person ( like i know a lot on physics, bio, chemistry and medicine etc ) i know the effects of stress on the health and everything and all of sudden it is happening to me. At first i thought i was seriously ill like i thought i maybe had a mass in my neck or in my brain, then meningitis with no fever due to poor immunity oh well i will skip some. All i can say to keep it short is that it introduced me to anxiety. Now i have irrational fear of strokes and aneurysm and pretty much everything related to head and neck. So I'm stuck in this anxiety, pain, more anxiety, pain, depression circle. I started to do everything to feel better. I quit smoking, i started to go to the gym everyday and i eat very well now but the pain in my neck is always there, and now I'm starting to have lower back pain too. I guess it sounds familiar now... Anyway I'd like to hear from your experience and if you had some of the symptoms i had and if you think it's all due to my mind or maybe it's something more serious. I'm about to start treatment for depression and anxiety with meds and talk therapy. After seeing a chiro 3 times a week for 2 months with no result i will also start physiotherapy. Tell me what you think. Don't just tell me to buy your book, i might do so but i do not need to hear that. My symptoms haven gotten so worse that i think i will die or something... I know it's not good to have a chronic stiff neck and lack of oxygen can lead to serious problems ( strokes are one of them ) so right there you can see my pattern of anxiety again...hehe. Best regards, J-S A: Hi J-S, As long as the CT scan showed no problem in the brain, I am confident advising you what you seem to already know... The condition is TMS and should be treated with knowledge therapy. Skip the chiro, drugs and any other physical treatment. You need to get hold of the anxiety and uncover its root source. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: My sister is 46 and is now basically an invalid because of chronic back pain. She has had five surgeries and is worse now than ever. She was told she would never be free of pain, but would only be able to manage it with a pain management regimen. It is now working. She can barely move. She has degenerative discs, herniated discs, and I don't know what all. She lives in Oklahoma and is not wealthy, but if we knew we could fix her horrible pain and her bleak future, we would pay for the cure.Is your product something that can help someone in her condition?Thanks, Alice A: Hi Alice, If you are referring to my book, all I can say is that I hope so. I do not know enough about her diagnosis to tell you anymore. If you would like to provide me with detailed diagnostic information, I will be happy to look it over and provide an opinion. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki Q: Hi, I suffered a 12 ft (approx) fall on my back landing on concrete. I have not worked in years due to this. I have pain in my lower back,right SI joint and right hip. I used to be pretty active and I'm only in my mid 30's. My back always hurts now,but the pain is at it's worst when I am walking or standing for any lenght of time ( 10 or 15 minutes tops). I then must sit or ly down for awhile before trying again. I have tried physical therapy ( twice),pain medicine,injections ( one of them now gave me tightness in my lower legs) and manipulation. None of these have worked. I have been told my pain stems from my SI joint from some doctors and others from a degenerative disc at L4/L5. I have recently been told I am a candidate for disc replacement surgery. I am mulling that option over,but not to keen on the idea. They all say my hip is not the root of my problem. I was just wondering if you have any advice.Thank you very much. Ryan A: Hi Ryan, I assume you have had several MRIs to confirm the diagnosis. If so, please send the reports and I will be happy to provide you my opinion. If not, then I strongly recommend you get one as a starting point. Best, Sensei Adam Rostocki
 Custom Search Share your own back pain story with the world by taking part in my interactive forum. Speak out now and make a difference! Please subscribe to my FREE E-Zine, The Cure Back Pain Forever Newsletter. Back Pain Questions and Answers to Lower Back Pain Home Revised 11/6/09
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