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back pain
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this with you or not but I finally decided to do it. So I have been suffering from back pain for a while now. Mostly it was lower back pain that made it nearly impossible to bend over and would hurt so bad in the morning that I felt like crying. A friend of mine gave me the name of her physical therapist and said she was a miracle worker so I called her. She started working on my lower back to help with the back pain and gave me a set of exercises to strengthen my back. It worked almost immediately and now I rarely have lower back pain. But of course she couldn’t stop there, she was going to get me in much better shape if it killed me.
So what I have is called “postural dysfunction of the cervical and lumbar spine”, sounds terrible doesn’t it? Well at least it is treatable and she says, fixable. She has me on a regiment of exercises to strengthen those muscles that are not working and to release those muscles that are overworked and as tight as a drum.
Here is what she writes about my problems
The impairments you have include: stiffness (hypomobility) of the upper cervical spine because of the backward bending that occurs when you lose that nice curve in your upper back (slouching posture). From there, the mid cervical spine has to work a bit harder as well as the top of your thoracic spine (hypermobility). Wherever there is a “hypermobility” meaning a segment of your spine is moving too much and making up for the stiffness in other places, you can get whats called chemical holding. This is where the tissue looks swollen(like in your upper back). The plan for you is to stretch out the front of your body (chest muscles) ,get the stiff segments moving in your spine so that the ones that are moving too much can stop compensating, and get your muscles working in your spine and core so they can hold a better postural position. This is what we have been doing for your lumbar spine, but now its time to move to the upper back.
Did you notice the chemical holding part? I had puffiness in my upper back that looked to the untrained eye like fat but was actually this chemical holding that causes swelling in that region. When she showed me the above picture I was horrified. I couldn’t believe how ugly I looked. Notice the neck and how it is hyper-extended forward. YUCK! Totally gross. Well that picture was worth a thousand words and got me motivated to do these crazy chin tuck exercises, but I’m so happy to announce that my neck looks much more normal now.
If you have pain in the back, or anywhere else, I would urge you to see a really good PT. My PT does not take insurance and works on her own so she isn’t held back by insurance constraints. That does mean we pay more, but she does so much more than any other PT I have worked with before. She is now working on my husband and my mother and she is the first person to ever make a difference in their ailments, and they have seen tons of other professionals over the years.
it’s good that you got answers and are getting treated.
Melinda@LookWhatMomFound…andDadtoo recently posted..Portraits
Wow your neck isn’t straight up and down. I am so glad it is helping you and glad it’s something that cam be done “naturally” and not surgically.
It was totally gross to look at. It is because I sit hunched over the computer. I also had my screen too low to I was always looking down, which pushed my neck forward. Horrible.
I just corrected how I was sitting!
Lisa recently posted..RSV Awareness #RSVProtection
I just did the same after reading your comment. I totally need to work on my posture. It’s terrible.
Leilani recently posted..Pilates Pregnancy Workouts DVD
HAHAHA. I was sitting so slouched over just now but now I’m not. I think I need to come back here everyday so I can be reminded.
I’m glad you were seen and hopefully your back pain goes away
Jennifer recently posted..Movie 43 Review
I hate back pain. My Mom started having severe back pain over 2 years ago and went to doctor after doctor and got no relief. She got to the point she couldn’t even walk and was going to have to be in a wheel chair. For the life of me at the moment I cannot remember the official diagnosis, but she found a doctor that said he could help her by doing back surgery. She didn’t want to do it, but was in such pain, she didn’t care anymore. Immediately after having the surgery she said she felt so much better. That was a year ago. She doesn’t have any back pain, now. She suffered for a year, though.
I’m glad yours can be remedied by exercises!
Donna recently posted..Hungry Girl FoldIt Flatout Flatbread Hot Sandwich & Cold Sandwich Recipe #FlatoutHot
Never even heard of chemical holding! I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this.But, I’m with Kim on this one.. so glad you’re not having to have surgery for this. <3
Lisa – Between the Kids recently posted..Sick streppy boys! | #WordlessWednesday #ww
I’m glad you’re taking care of it! I have back pain too and when I go to my doctor she just tells me to lose weight. Which is probably part of the problem, but I wish she would check it out.
Sheri recently posted..Save 40% on all Kids and Baby Clothes at Old Navy! #ONKidtacular
Oh how awful. Glad you’re getting treatment. I need to head back to my Chiropractor.
Meghan @JaMonkey recently posted..SanDisk Baby Photography
Hope you feel better soon!
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I’m so sorry Maryann. I’m glad you got answers and hope you feel better soon!
Hope you feel better soon!
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins recently posted..Low-Fat Ground Turkey Burritos + Jennie-O Snack Ideas
that can’t be comfortable but i hope it eases ur pain
Tricia Nightowlmama recently posted..Pint Size Pinypon Dolls Caravan Review and #Giveaway
I’m glad you are getting the help you need! I see a Chrio weekly for my lower back pain.
Emily @FamilyNLifeLV recently posted..Valentine’s Day Card Ideas for Boys
I have horrible back and neck issues. I was going to a chiro for a while but it wasn’t as effective as a one time visit to a body-work place. I got a massage that felt more like I was getting beat up, but after one treatment my back issues were almost gone! It lasted for about a month and now I’m starting to feel that I should go back and get more consistent treatment. Hope you feel better!
A Time Out for Mommy- Elaina recently posted..Making the Playroom a Little Cozier With a Mohawk Rug (Giveaway!)
I am so glad that you are getting treament. Back pain can be one of the worst things a person has to go through.
Mellisa recently posted..Twyxt-Romance and Technology Combined
Good for you for getting help! I also live with chronic pain, and I know how hard it is to get out of bed some mornings. A lot of people just throw in the towel, take pain pills, and do nothing but complain. I’m glad you sought help and got a diagnoses. Cheers to you!
Sara recently posted..Bucket List, Part One
That’s wonderful that you are getting help!
Anne – Mommy Has to Work recently posted..Crafty Bands Charm Bracelets
glad you found help and are getting better.
Vanessa: the queen of swag ! recently posted..This Hungry Girl Eats Sandwiches Hot or Cold! #FlatoutHot #Sandwich #Recipe
I’ve had chronic back pain for years. It stinks!
Virginia from That Bald Chick recently posted..Adopting Again
I have had lower back pain from a car accident for the last couple years.
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Glad to hear that you are gettign the help you need.
Lolo recently posted..Photo Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day
Wow, I am so glad you were able to get help and find relief!
Kathleen recently posted..How To Improve Child Behavior in the Car
While that is pretty freaky to find out something is really wrong, I am so glad that you have a diagnosis so that you can begin fixing the issue!
Jenn @therebelchick recently posted..The Little Mermaid Blu-ray Combo Pack Hits Stores October 1st
My posture is terrible – something I definitely need to work on!
HilLesha recently posted..Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2013 Hair by TRESemmé Stylist Jeanie Syfu
I’m so glad they figured out your problem and have been able to treat it! I’ve had back problems since I was a junior in high school. I’ve been to doctors, specialists, PTs, and no one was ever able to figure out what the problem actually was :-/. I’ve just learned to deal with it, but luckily I figured out things that helped and it’s manageable now.
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Good for you for getting it taken care of. It is amazing, if your back hurts it can really cause everything else to be off.
Rachel recently posted..Happy Second Birthday.
I need to do this. My back has not been the same since pregnancy. It’s been getting better since I’ve been working out but I need to go have it checked out.
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving recently posted..Paleo Menu: Valentine’s Day Candy
Glad you were able to figure out what you needed. My husband has back pain and is resisting going to PT, he says it is just getting older. I think I will nag him some more…
Anne recently posted..Great Coupon – 15% Off Sitewide at Tea Collection
It’s great that you found someone who can help! Good luck!!
debra pearlstein recently posted..Valentine’s Day Hop – Win an awesome prize package!
I’m so glad you’re getting some relief from your pain!!
Shell Fruscione recently posted..Take the Listerine 21 Day Challenge to Help Your Mouth- and Kids in Need
I don’t have any back pain YET but I do think I have horrible posture, especially from sitting at a computer for long periods throughout the day!
Marcie W. recently posted..BooJee Beads Review & Giveaway (3/3)
I have horrible posture. i need to work on this. After reading your comments I realized i too look down at the computer. A drop of the chair fixed it for me!
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