Lower Back Pain
Using laser therapy and having a detailed understanding of the fascial lines that run through the body, I have had really good success treating even difficult cases of lower back pain.
Probably the number one complaint is lower back pain. Here too, I check the back of the legs, especially on the same side as the lower back pain. I also check the lower back. But if the backs of the legs are a mess, I usually start there. The reason is that I can often take mechanical stress off the lower back by working two different fascial lines simultaneously, which are often the cause of lower back pain. This takes some explaining and pictures to show how the back of the legs loosen up the entire body on the same side, which I will show below. It is truly unbelievable how interconnected we are, and if the treating doctor does not understand fascial connections, it is difficult to resolve problems. Of course, I often have to treat the lower back as well.
VIDEO PRESENTATION
Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease, Stenosis and Arthritis
I made this video in 2016. My understanding of what causes these conditions has changed dramatically, but the explanation of what these conditions are is well-explained. After watching this video, you will have a much better understanding of what your orthopedic doctor is saying if you are at the point of possible surgery. What I explain on this webpage, however, is much more relevant to treating lower back pain than what I talk about in the video. Mention the term "Wolff's Law" to your surgeon, and he will think you're a doctor. This is explained in the video.
Common Areas of Lower Back Pain
The term "Lower Back Pain" is not specific enough. Here, we will discuss very specific spots and how they need to be treated. However, there are common denominators for lower back pain.
1 - 5 are the spinal erector muscles.
6-7 Sacroiliac Joints
8-9 Piriformis Muscles
10-11 Upper Glutes
12-13 Lower Glutes
That should cover the different areas people talk about when they come in for treatment of lower back pain.
Would you find it strange that no matter where you hurt in your lower back, I usually start with the calves if they are tight?
Here’s why:
To loosen 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, treat the calves first due to the fascial connections. Then treat 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to loosen any remaining tightness.
To loosen 6, 7, treat the back of the lower legs to get the calves and the deeper muscles of the deep front line.
To loosen 8, 9, treat the deep muscles of the lower leg of the deep front line to loosen the piriformis muscles. Yes, this works.
To loosen 10, 11, 12, 13, treat the back of the lower legs, not because they’re fascially connected, but because tension in the deep front line rotates the pelvis forward, and therefore the torso and the glutes have to contract to keep you upright, which causes them to hurt eventually. Then work the gluteal muscles or sides of the legs.
Summary: To treat most lower back pain, treat the back of the legs, especially the lower legs.
Do you realize how amazing this is? Most approaches involve treatment of the lower back, but I have found that rarely works. Don’t get me wrong, laser therapy for the lower back by itself can help and, for some, bring massive relief. But if the true cause isn’t addressed, the relief will be temporary.
It's not just where you treat, it's also having the right laser that can get to what needs treatment. If you can't reach it, you can't treat it!!!
Disc Degeneration and Arthritis
Lasers can be used to relieve pain associated with disc degeneration and arthritis. They can also be used to reduce the compressive forces that caused it in the first place, allowing healing.
This topic is covered well in the video at the top of the page. Animations and real-life X-rays really show what goes on here.
My dad, who is now passed, was used as an example in the video. I had X-rays that spanned a good number of years, and you could see the physical degeneration that took place over that course of time. You can see it in the X-rays, and with him standing as I recorded him with his shirt off, doing certain maneuvers. You can literally see the distortion in his back and match it to his X-rays. Could I have fixed this? No way. It was far too gone, and he was much too old. Funny thing is, he didn’t have much back pain. He was so stuck that he couldn’t move well, but he didn’t have much pain overall, which was a true blessing.
Discs degenerate when subjected to constant compressive or shear stress. Of course, direct trauma can be the initial cause of these conditions as well, but many have never had trauma like a football player would have on a regular basis. The compressive stress I am referring to is what I’ve been discussing on this site regularly. The fascial lines that run from head to toe can, when tight, crush the lumbar spine, leading to disc degeneration and arthritis.
Arthritic changes are bone changes that follow Wolff’s law. Wolff’s law basically states that bones under physical stress cause the body to lay down more bone to strengthen them and enable them to handle the stress. This process is not an overnight process, but something that takes place over time.
As much as this process might cause problems, it is also necessary so that you don’t go over a speed bump in your car and your lumbar spine collapses.
If you want the details, please watch the video. You will understand much more about how these processes work.
If you have a specific question about your lower back pain, please give me a call.