Oh My Aching Back!
W E E K E N D P O T P O U R R I
Back in October I experienced the most excruciating pain in my lower back. I couldn’t move for 2 weeks. I stayed in bed, reclining on a bag of ice. It was total torture.
What had I done to cause such severe pain? I was sitting in a chair, not bungee jumping or skate boarding, but SITTING IN A CHAIR.
Feeling like I was going to die, and believing that I had a tumor pressing on my spinal cord (I’m not a Doctor, I just play one at home) I went to get an MRI. If you’ve never had one, they’re ridiculously loud. They gave me head phones and told me to choose a category of music to listen to. I chose POP MUSIC — big mistake. I was trapped listening to Huey Lewis, George Michael and Nickelback for over a half hour! Excruciating indeed!
“I hope you like Huey Lewis?”
The results were very disturbing; Degenerative Disc Disease (any time the word “disease” is used you know it’s not good), Bulging and ruptured discs, and as the cherry on top, Spinal Stenosis. “Holy Hell,” I thought, “Someone kill me now!” This was pretty much a death sentence for someone who likes to dance, garden and eat. Well, I guess I could still eat, that was one good thing.
I started going to a chiropractor. I actually went to a few until I found one that would spend more than 4 minutes with me. (Something about cracking adjusting someone’s back with a violent twist seemed sort of mean to me?) Eventually I found someone who believed in deep muscle manipulation and would torture me for a full hour. (I wanted to get my money’s worth!) Driving home from the appointment I’d feel as if I’d been run over by a truck, but in a good way. I also committed to doing daily exercises designed to strengthen the postural muscles or, muscles in my lower back and butt. (Now, when I say someone is a PAIN IN THE BUTT, I mean it literally.) I’m happy to report that after all those reps, I can actually hold a “plank” for a full minute! (Sure, I tremble and feel like I’m gonna pass out, but still…)
Dr. John E. Sarno to the Rescue!
A couple of months later an acquaintance recommended I read, The Mindbody Prescription, by John E. Sarno, MD. She told me it was controversial but that it was worth reading. Long story short, I’m certain that my pain was brought on by repressed emotions, anger, to be exact. (Pleasers, type A personalities, perfectionists and people who are just generally super nice like me, are at risk) When you repress anger, according to the author, your brain redirects the tension to your postural muscles, effectively cutting off the oxygen and blood flow. (This is why the pain is real.) Since your brain doesn’t want you to deal with this ugly, messy emotion, it distracts you by creating physical pain, instead.
Dr. Sarno makes some excellent points:
Dr. John Sarno
- Everyone’s back starts degenerating in their 20’s!!
- The back is one of the strongest structures in the human body. It’s not frail and weak. It can withstand tremendous abuse!
- What appears as scary issues on the MRI are just “Normal Abnormalities.” Everybody has some back irregularities but the average person doesn’t usually get an MRI so they’ll never know.
- Migraines, shoulder and neck pain, tendonitis, gastrointestinal disorders, such as ulcers, etc. would all fall under the category of re-directed and repressed emotional pain! (anywhere your body can redirect emotional tension.)
This explains why the pain, which by the way is VERY REAL, pops up at random times and doesn’t necessarily coincide with rigorous back activity. It’s all in my head!!
“Gimme a break!”
And as a total confirmation, John Stossel of ABC news, interviewed Dr. Sarno on 20/20. John Stossel himself subscribes to this revolutionary idea and has been pain free for years. If John Stossel of, “Gimme a break” fame, believes it, then so do I!!! I mean, c’mon, gimme a break!
* Pain disorders have reached an epidemic in the U.S. There’s a chiropractor on every street corner. Something’s up, ’cause it wasn’t like this when I was growing up. Obviously, you should check with your doctor to see if there’s a medical reason for your pain. I believe exhausting all possibilities SHOULD include reading this book. Your welcome.
How come you forgot to tell me how sexy John Sarno is? Glad you could overcome your annoying back pain. I thought I was going to have a cripple for a mother…and I just can’t deal with that!
I know, he’s super sexy. That’s just an extra bonus. I thought I’d write about something I know about for a nice change of pace! Haha!
Do deadlifts. Some bald guy I know said that helped his back pain. If you can’t do them fully toe touches should be fine. I know, such a simple exercise but it’ll keep you from getting stiff.
Glad your back is doing better. I bet “Hip to be Square” brings back some pain, physical or at least emotionally.
Lol! “Hip to be square” makes me want to curl up and die! Forget water boarding!
The problem with back pain is that once you experience that level of acute pain you walk around being extra cautious. Dr. Sarno says not to worry and just remind yourself that it’s in your head – still, it’s hard to do. I don’t know about deadlifts – they sound scary : /
You’re probably right. Shouldn’t be worth risking damaging your back better. You got your advice from a doctor. I got mine from a Myspace post a man I didn’t even know posted 5 years ago.
I forgot to mention your very handsome avatar! Much better than the penguins.
: )
I’d be lying if I didn’t mention my blushing just now. Actually no, I’d be hiding something. Lying would be saying I didn’t, but I did and that’s what I said.
Aw, LiC–you just build on an extra room with a handicapped bath!!
AGL–so, so, SO glad you are better. I agree with Sarno–I think your body redirects all that emotional pain. I also think it can promote cancer in that area. I’ve swallowed words all my life, repressed things so I’d not hurt feelings–and I have nodes on my vocal cords. Nodes. The kind screamers/singers get.
Well, husky is sexy? Take care, follow his directions, and, if LiC won’t build on a room, you can use my spare. Two meals a day included and all the films/books you want. Plus a cat.
You are sooo right about repressed emotions. The cancer thing, etc. It’s all mind body stuff. I know if I was stress free and not such a pleaser, type A, perfectionist, I’d be a lot healthier. you would love this book.
But on the plus side, I think husky voices are very sexy– no worries.
I don’t think LiC will mind if I curl up somewhere in her one bedroom apartment. Handicap equipment is so attractive.
Especially the bedside toilets. Hot.
…and so comfortable!
Glad to hear you are better.
Backs are stupid though because the moment they go wrong everything else stops working. You can’t stand or do anything.
Rubbish things.
Whoa! You had a sexy back doctor??? Who is he and where can I find him? I’m sure that if he couldn’t make my back feel better, at least I could forget for a moment. 🙂
Seriously, though…back pain is THE WORST!
Yes, that’s the one thing he is — SEXY! Oh well, a girl can dream…
Actually, he’s the author of the book, Mindbody Prescription. I’d have to go to New York if I wanted to be treated by him personally. So for now his written words and his interview with John Stossel are all I’ve got to go on.
Yes, hands down, back pain is THE WORST!
Michael,
You’re right. And to complicate matters it’s not as if you can have a surgery to correct it. Too scary. What if they mess up and splice your spinal cord? I don’t want to end up like Stephen Hawkings… I’m way too beautiful for that!
Hi
Sorry to hear about your back pain, there is nothing worse I think, anything to do with the back is uncomfortable and painful.
I’ve never had an MRI, but the music part doesn’t sound that great. 🙂
It’s great that you found someone that you feel comfortable with that can help you.
I thought the MRI was going to be slightly claustrophobic but it turned out that the noise, which nobody warns you about, is the worst part. At least it gave me something to laugh about later!
The chiropractor I see does a really good job of getting the knots out of my muscles. I actually use tennis balls to sit on and put behind my back while I’m driving. In case you ever get muscle pain — it’s a good trick : )
I feel your pain…literally, I have felt your pain. And I am so glad that you can now enjoy periods of your life that are NOT intense pain. Some mornings I stand in the shower and wonder at the beauty of being pain free – if only for one day. It’s a blessing. And walking! The act of putting one foot in front of the other and transporting yourself from point A to point B…it is life changing. Accommodations I will gladly accept, if pain and immobility will move on down the road.
So glad also that you are discovering ways to stay well without surgery and prescription drugs. If you feel the premise of unresolved emotion is a source or contributing factor, then it follows that dealing with that issue/s is important to finding a lasting resolution to your back pain. Warning: for me it went from gut to back to neck to hip to shoulders to TMJ. As I ‘healed’ one area, the stress would find another venerable area to attack. Dealing with my desire to set my artist soul free (the one suppressed for 59 years, along with a lot of other crap); that’s what blogging has become for me. I wish for you lifetime of wellness.
Aside, if the stenosis becomes too severe and requires surgery, it can have a happy outcome. I am the recipient of 3 successful spinal fusions and a steel hip. I can not only walk but dance a little and garden a little and life is good – as long as the barometric pressure isn’t going crazy and I remember where my limits lie.
Oh, and my best friend is “Sock Buddy”…a tube sock with cheap white rice that I heat and re-heat in the microwave. Moist heat that will make the taut muscles turn loose. Tennis balls are good, but they did tell you not for more than 20 minutes at a time, right? Danger of permanent nerve damage…or so I was told. Of course, no one could tell me exactly what ‘permanent nerve damage’ was. Numbness? Constant pain? Dead area? Paralysis? “Everybody’s different.” great.
I didn’t mean to run on so. If a further chat is of interest to you email me at niiikkihill@gmail.com.
Stay well.
Nikki! I’m so happy you can relate, well, I’m not happy that you’ve had to suffer but that you responded with a complete understanding. Dr. Sarno is convinced that the brain is so evolved that once it figures out you have interrupted one tension area, it moves to another. He said it is not uncommon for it to attack all those areas that you spoke of. If you haven’t read his book or watched that 20/20 episode you might find it interesting. I’m so sorry that you had to undergo surgery. My neighbor just had her spine fused- she had a collapsed disc. She’s doing okay but not great.
I’m thankful for each pain free day. When I get a little twinge I do a little soul searching to see if I’m avoiding some emotions, etc. I talk to myself quite a bit and the blogging is also great, helps me air things out.
I’m turning 50 this year and I have every intention of living my chapter two pain free. I wish you the same, Nikki. You have the right attitude.
I’ll definitely be in touch. We can compare notes. Sounds like you’ve been through it all. Thanks for this!
Lisa
Uh oh, do I have repressed anger I am not expressing because I am a pleaser? And a mild perfectionist? I have an issue with my sciatic nerve in the right side right now, which came up the last time I was preggs. I had to go to the chiropractor that popped everyone while in the same room. So you would hear everyone’s problems and think how whiny everyone was being. I just said I was 41 weeks pregnant and my lower back was pinching, can he please adjust me so I can get this baby out? It’s weird how close they get, right? I don’t like strangers in my personal space, but I’m a hugger. How’s that for a conundrum?
I’m the same way. I need space/elbow room but I can definitely enjoy a good hug.
That sciatic nerve is a nightmare when you’re preggo. If you can drop the pleaser personality and the perfectionism and speak your mind whenever possible you should be okay in another 20 years. The back issues seem to really appear in your late forties and fifties – once things quiet down and you’re left alone with your emotions. I’m trying to be a little more selfish! Hana!
Do whatever you have to do to stay strong.
So you can punch the next person that makes you listen to 45 minutes of Nickelback.
If that ain’t a worthwhile goal…
Haha! Yeah, total torture! If I ever have to do it again I’ll choose a different music category, thank you very much! (the music barely covered the awful sound of the machine so I probably walked away with some nice hearing damage. Just an extra bonus for all my trouble! Ha!)
Backs may be strong, but once things go wrong with them, you never get rid of it. I’m happy with my rather healthy back for the moment… But becoming adult seems to include a hurting back…! I feel sorry for you, but you keep on being funny while telling this, so I slightly smile too… Still: hopefully your back won’t hurt anymore!
Thanks NBI! part of why I shared this was to emphasize the “normal abnormalities”. Apparently we all have abnormal backs, it’s how we deal or don’t deal with our emotions that makes our backs hurt. it ends up being more about tension and muscles. So even though my back looks like it has problems the pain is coming from tension!
No one really wants to look at that because it’s too uncomfortable to talk about emotions. they’d rather believe they have back issues. I’m just glad I read that book.
Wow! Now that’s a grim diagnosis! Leave it to the medical community to paint a rosey picture! I have had problems for years with a bad lower back that just goes out suddenly and I have to walk around like the bottom half of me is in a strong wind and the top half of me is straight as an arrow school marm. I usually hobble into the urgent care and they give me muscle relaxants (and weird looks). Every doctor on duty always mentions that “if this keeps up I’m going to have to get an operation” of course none of them know didly squat about my back. Long story short, I’m going to get Dr. Sarno’s book.
Ha ha! The MRI! If that music doesn’t give you a tumor, I don’t know what will. I once had an MRI to see what was causing my migraines. Turns out my brain is abnormally small. hahahaha! That’s all they said. Not a word about what was causing the migrains. They probably thought I wouldn’t notice — what with my brain being abnormal and all!
Hey this was fun! Love you blog! 🙂
Haha! The MRI is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re gonna get! I’ll take your little brain over hairbrained any day of the week! (…I wish the MRI had revealed that I had an abnormally small back! — but no such luck. Ha!)
The fact that the lower back issues randomly occur, and that muscle relaxants do the trick, is a good argument for Dr. Sarno’s theory. I have to wonder, how can I be working out at Curves and doing Zumba, feeling fine, then come home and put a dish in the sink and have a complete back seizure… something’s not adding up! haha!