Lower back pain Part 1

Low back pain is a long-term disease that troubles human beings. Many patients with long-term low back pain are involved in lumbar disc herniation. Although there are many kinds of treatment methods in the medical market, most of them are ineffective or have very poor efficacy. After surgical treatment, some patients with low back pain, their lumbar mobility function has not improved or even worse, resulting in disability. Some people say: My treatment can be paid for by Medicare (government pays for treatment), but it does not mean it is effective, so people often say: low back pain is incurable. According to an article published in newspapers and magazines, statistics show one-quarter of the Australian population suffers from low back pain every day, and many people are disabled due to low back pain. Finding an effective treatment for low back pain is a great project for mankind. Many patients with long-term low back pain are involved in lumbar disc herniation. I have been engaged in traditional Chinese medicine for Sports Injury over 40 years and have served the Chinese community in Sydney, Australia for more than 20 years. I have treatment experience in China and Australia and have accumulated rich experience in treating such diseases. Many patients usually see results once, and significantly improve after three to five times (low back pain is reduced or disappears, and low back mobility function improves or returns to normal). Some disabled patients are expected to recover, or significantly reduce the degree of disability and improve their quality of life. Before my retirement, I will analyze the accumulated cases and provide them to patients for reference as a way to give back to the community. Is there a method that suits you?

 

Some patients with lumbar disc herniation, through Acupuncture, remedial massage, bone injury osteopathic manipulation treatment, it can make the protruding lumbar disc significantly reduced or disappear (under 60 years old). Provide some examples.

 

Case 1: Male, 28 years old, he stated that he has lumbar pain, significant restriction of lumbar mobility, numbness in both lower limbs, especially on the left side for several years. CT scan showed small disc herniation at L3/L4, moderate disc herniation at L4/L5 and L5/S1, and compression of nerve roots. After 20 times of  acupuncture and massage treatments, the lower back pain and numbness in both lower limbs disappeared, and lumbar mobility returned to normal. One year later, CT scans showed that the disc herniation at L3/4 disappeared, and the moderate disc herniation between L4/5 and L5/S1 had compressed the nerve roots, changing into a small disc bulge without compression of nerves. 

 

Case 2: male, 50 years old, a painter. His CT scan showed: intervertebral disc herniation in L3/4 of the lumbar, lumbar disc protrusion between lumbar L4/5 and L5/S1 and compression of right nerve root, numbness in the instep and sole of right lower limb after walking 15 meters. After 18 times of Acupuncture and massage treatments, all symptoms disappeared and returned to normal. He has been coming to my clinic for treatment once a month for the past 8 years. His friend said: Before the patient work three days a week, but now he can work 7 or 8 days a week.

 

Lower back pain Part 2

The characteristics of Xu's bone-setting technique for treating lumbar disc herniation are that there is no medium or large massage, no massage under anesthesia, no assistant, no shouting of "one, two, three, pull", and no requirement for the patient to hold the head of the bed. The main thing is to grasp the skill of "four measures to move a thousand pounds", use some small tricks such as wave-shaped traction. The purpose of treatment is to make the protruding intervertebral disc retract, or shrink, or relieve or loosen the pressure of the intervertebral disc on the nerve root (better effect for those under 60 years old), so as to restore the activity function of the waist, eliminate or alleviate the pain of the waist and lower limbs, and achieve the treatment effect.

 

Case 3: Male, 47 years old. Worked as a labour job. In 2002 CT scan revealed that there was a relatively large disc protrusion between L5/S1 and compressed the right nerve root. The patient reported: he had low back pain, limited waist movement, pain and numbness in the right lower limbs, and numbness in the instep. He had stopped working for four months. Both the family doctor and the specialist all suggested surgery. After my treatment, the symptoms disappeared and he resumed normal physical work. Two years later, I asked him to take a CT scan for re-examination, but the patient refused. I wanted to know how his disc protrusion had shrunk. He often came for health care treatment in the first seven years to avoid recurrence, and then came for treatment at intervals. At his age of 65 years old, he told me that he went to work in another place and worked as a painter for three months, so he came for treatment four times. It has been 18 years, and the long-term effect is good, with almost no symptoms, and it does not affect his work and life.

 

Case 4: Female, 58 years old, office position. She stated that she had back pain for many years. Two years ago, a CT scan showed that I had three lumbar disc herniations. Currently, I cannot sit or stand. I usually eat standing up. I cannot bend over and I cannot turn over in bed. Examination: The left lower limb is as stiff as an inflated car tire, and the right side is better. I asked: How have you lived in the past few years? She replied: I have been looking for treatment everywhere. Today, a student's parents introduced me to your clinic for treatment. She brought a thick stack of examination reports. I was speechless. After ten acupuncture and massage treatments, the back pain was significantly relieved, the waist movement was significantly improved, the muscles of both lower limbs were much more relaxed, and I was able to sit down to eat. After twenty treatments, her back pain disappeared, the waist movement function returned to normal, the muscles of both lower limbs returned to normal, and all symptoms disappeared. From a serious disability, I became a normal person. The patient took an MRI to seek treatment results, but a young doctor who took the film took the wrong position and took a few pieces of lumbar vertebrae, not intervertebral discs, so there was no way to compare.

 

Case 5: Male, 58 years old, a painter, 1.92 meter height. His waist leans forward 30 degrees and cannot be straightened. After one acupuncture and massage treatment, the waist can be straightened.

 

Lower back pain Part 3

Kindly advice: Lumbar disc herniation causes difficulty in urination and defecation. If you choose an experienced Doctor of Chinese medicine for Sports Injury practitioner for treatment, there is a high chance that surgery can be avoided. The sequelae of failed surgery are very serious.

 

Case 6: Male, 42 years old. He has lumbar disc herniation, so he came to see me. When he came for a consultation, he could not defecate for two day and difficult to urinate. He had severe pain in his waist and his waist movement was obviously limited. He had a diagnosis of disc herniation compressing on the cauda equina nerve. On the first day, he was treated with acupuncture and massage, and dog skin plaster was applied externally. He was also prescribed Chinese herbal medicine to help with defecation. On next day, his waist pain and waist movement function improved, and his bowel movements became smooth. He was treated with acupuncture, massage and dog skin plaster. On the third day, before the treatment, he went to the toilet and urinated smoothly. After one week of treatment, he went back to work. After twelve treatments, his waist pain and waist movement function significantly improved. He went back to work hard again, doing heavy physical work from morning to afternoon shifts to make money to pay off the loan. More than ten years later, I met his wife and asked: Has your husband had surgery? She replied: No, he still has waist pain. My advice: If you have lumbar disc herniation and have difficulty defecating or urinating, please seek treatment from a high-level of Chinese medicine for Sports Injury physician immediately. This can avoid surgery, which can easily cause incontinence. Remember!

 

Case 7: Male, 42 years old (case in 2004). He stated that: ten years ago, he had a surgery for lumbar disc herniation, which caused difficulty in urination and defecation. During the surgery, part of the protruding disc between L4/L5 was removed. As a sequela of the surgery, he was bedridden for a year due to low back pain. After long-term treatment, his condition improved. At present, he still feel low back pain, difficulty in waist movement, numbness in the left lower limb, loss of movement function of the left dorsum of the foot, inability to spread the left toes, occasional urge to urinate, but unable to urinate, fecal incontinence 6 to 7 times a day and impotence. My examination: obvious tenderness on both sides of L3-S1, straight leg raising, zero degrees on both sides, positive neck flexion test, obvious tenderness on the left buttocks and left thigh and calf, tenderness on the left toes, loss of dorsum flexion function. He walks with a cane and limp. Referring to the CT report 9 years ago, the surgery removed the protruding part of the disc. The surgery was successful, but the soft tissue and scars were left at L4/5, and there was a small disc protruding to the left at L5/S1 and there was scar compression. Diagnosis: postoperative complications. After the examination, I was shocked and told the patient: Because it was after surgery, it might be that the soft tissue adhered to the nerve root, or the scar tissue compressed the nerve root, causing insufficient blood supply to the nerve root and disability. There is a high chance of complete recovery or significant improvement of symptoms. The patient lived far away and took a bus and changed to two trains to come to my clinic. I suggested that I go to his home for a visit, but the patient refused. Continue...

 

Lower back pain Part 4

He asked me if I could treat him for three months, and after recovery, he could go to other clinics. The patient did not answer, I know it was an old WorkCover patient... After 8 days, the patient came for a follow-up visit for the second time. After the treatment, I told him please do not to come again. It would be troublesome for him to see two Chinese medicine doctors at the same time for the treatment of WorkCover. He replied: Come twice or three times a week in the future. You can receive the money in five days after you send out the bill. After the first two treatments, I put on socks for him. After the waist movement function improved, he put on socks by himself. When he came for treatment for the fifth, sixth and seventh times, he told me the same thing, that he could control his bowel movements in the past week. I asked him: Is it your natural recovery? Or the effect of my treatment? He replied: Natural recovery. I said: You forgot what I said during the first treatment. The purpose of my treatment is to remove the adhesion of soft tissue to nerve roots after surgery, remove the compression of scar tissue on nerve roots, improve the blood supply of nerve roots, and restore nerve function. Just like the hinges of the door are rusty, add some oil, move a few times, and it will be fine. He replied regretfully: I’m stupid, he studied mechanics in China, that’s why.

After 8 treatments, I measured the diameter of both calves, the left side was 35.5 cm and the right side was 37 cm. After the 30th treatment, I measured the diameter of both calves again, the left side was 38 cm and the right side was 38.5 cm, and the calf muscles on both sides were significantly thickened. In more than three months, after 33 treatments, the patient's bowel and bladder function returned to normal, impotence was cured, waist and leg pain basically disappeared, lower muscle atrophy on both sides was significantly recovered and waist movement function basically returned to normal. Because the patient wanted me to treat him, and he had to take care of the income of another Chinese medicine practitioner, there were always some bumps and bumps. The first time, I asked him not to come to me for treatment, and he negotiated with me and asked to be treated at my place. After recovery, he deliberately offended me. The second time, I asked him not to come again, and he turned around and left. In this case, the intervertebral disc may be protruding, compressing the nerve root, causing dry stool. When he had exerted force, the increased abdominal pressure pushes the intervertebral disc outward, causing severe pain, constipation and difficulty urinating. If the patient is in great pain, find a good Chinese medicine practitioner. After one treatment, the compression of the nerve by the intervertebral disc is partially relieved, and the pain is relieved by three points. The Chinese medicine is used to relieve the stool, and the stool is smooth, the abdominal pressure caused by the external squeeze disappears, and the urination is also smooth. Usually, it can be relieved once (day) or twice (day). Further treatment according to the routine can avoid surgery, which has many serious sequelae.

 

Lower back pain Part 5

In 2009, I wrote a letter to Prime Minister, Minister of Health. In the letter, I wrote “if Chinese Medicine for Sports Injury services can be integrated into Medicare, Australia will take a major step forward in the treatment of human soft tissue, bone and joint injuries and other related diseases. The use of anti-inflammatory painkillers will be reduced, the side effects of drugs can be avoided. Surgery will be reduced and some disabilities are expected to be rehabilitative or reduced.

 

Case 8: Female, 62 years old. She had suffered from lumbar disc herniation for many years. After surgery, the specialist issued a permanent disability certificate and told the patient: Find a good Doctor of Chinese medicine, there is a chance of recovery. Her husband applied for a caregiver's allowance. In 2014, her husband drove her from more than 30 kilometers away to my clinic for treatment. The patient said: If she has to lie in bed for the rest of her life, she would rather die. After two acupuncture and massage treatments, her back pain was relieved and her waist movement improved. The third time, she came to my clinic alone, took a bus, and then took two trains to my clinic for treatment. The fourth time, her son brought her to the clinic for treatment. I told her son: Now there are two choices. One, you pay for your mother's treatment fees, and she will take care of you after recovery. Two, you don't spend money on your mother's treatment, and you take care of your mother. The eighth time, the patient came to my clinic in the morning, but I was not there. Then she took the train to see her sister (more than ten kilometers away) and came to my clinic for treatment at four o'clock in the afternoon. I asked: Do you wash their clothes? She answered: Washing clothes and cooking. During the twelfth treatment, she said: "I went swimming at the beach yesterday." After fifteen treatments, all symptoms disappeared and she returned to normal.

 

Lower back pain Part 5

By choosing to be treated by a doctor of Chinese medicine for Sports Injury, many patients can avoid surgery, reduce disability, relieve pain and recover faster and better.

 

Case 9: Male, 38 years old, work as IT technician and like to play soccer. The patient had two herniated intervertebral discs. After seven sessions of acupuncture and massage treatment in my clinic, his lumbar pain almost disappeared and his lumbar movement function returned to normal. He asked: Doctor Xu, can he continue to play football? I answered: Yes, if it relapses, come back for treatment. Or do some treatment regularly to avoid recurrence.

 

Case 10: Male, 48 years old, plumber, his lumbar can't straighten for two months. I massaged his lumbar for seven minutes, his lumbar could straightening.

 

Case 11: Male, 50 years old, an electric welder, WorkCover patient. He had lumbar disc herniation for several years. The CT scan showed: there is L3/4 disc protruded, L4/5 and L5/S1 disc protruded and compression of nerve roots. After he walked 15 meters, he began to walk with a limp, and must to stop to rest before he could walk normally. After three months of treatment, all symptoms disappeared, and he took a video for the WorkCover insurance company to present that he can work for five or six hours daily. For Western medicine, this disease cannot be cured, and the punishment for the patient is to stop Chinese medicine treatment. Ten months later, the patient came to my clinic for consultation, and the specialist said: After the operation, you can do any work. I replied: Seriously, nonsense, when you weld, you have to move 30 or 40 kilograms, normal people can't do it. The patient's condition got worse after the operation, and he was treated in my clinic ten times and got significantly better. Remember: surgery is a business after all.

 

Overview of lumbar pain (Lumbar Disc Herniation) Part 16

In my fifteen column articles on lumbar pain, I described the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, compared the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese Medicine for Sports Injury and Western medicine and summarized the following points.

 

1. In the treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine or my treatment methods, lumbar disc herniation can be treated by in vitro biomechanics to make the disc retract, or shrink, or relieve the compression of the nerve root by the disc herniation (there is no obvious deformation or degeneration in the vertebrae), and explain the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treatment from the anatomy, with films as evidence. Thus, the treatment effect is achieved.

 

2. In my perspective: The difficulty in urinating and defecating caused by lumbar disc herniation is not caused by the disc herniation pressing on the cauda equina nerve, but only the disc herniation and constipation occurring at the same time, resulting in increased abdominal pressure, and unbearable back pain when defecation. It is only necessary to defecate, such as taking 15 grams of Chinese medicine Senna leaves, or western medicine granules to defecate, to avoid the difficulty in urination and defecation caused by surgery, and to create a medical cognition of whether the patient has epilepsy.

 

3. A patient with a relatively large lumbar disc herniation stopped working for four months. Several western doctors recommended surgery for the patient. After four weeks of treatment, he returned to work and sometimes did manual labor without any pain. Sometimes he engaged in physical work without any pain. Sometimes he relapse again, he continued treatment for 17 years (65 years old), and the long-term effect was also good.

 

4. Lumbar movement is mainly the function of lumbar disc movement. Various reasons can cause lumbar herniation, such as pregnancy, sports, physical labor, driving for long time, sitting for long time, standing for long time, etc. Because of the lack of effective treatment, it causes long-term pain. I say: People are look like cars, they need maintenance. One is to wait until they feel pain before starting treatment, and the other is to treat the back pain as soon as it starts to feel uncomfortable to avoid the occurrence of pain.

 

5. Some minimally invasive patients were left with serious sequelae after surgery, but recovered after receiving Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sports Injury

 

6. Lumbar disc herniation is easy to cause recurrence, Chinese Medicine can be repeated treatment and through healthcare treatment, it can avoid recurrence.

 

7. It explains that both Chinese and Western medicine treat lumbar disc herniation. Both ways of treatment for lumbar disc herniation, Chinese medicine takes natural therapy and corrects the position of the disc through biomechanics. Western medicine is based on mechanical principles, excised (minimally invasive), which is prone to recurrence and sometimes fails after surgery. It cannot be operated on multiple times, knocking in nails and causing mutilation. Therefore, I call this method a very bad treatment method and it should be cancelled.

 

8. I also tell patients how to talk to a specialist surgeon and discuss what kind of surgery it is. Will the back pain be relieved after the surgery? Or eliminated the disease or increased pain? Will the back movement function return to normal or even worsen? Will the pain or numbness of the lower limb muscles be relieved or aggravated? Will the lower limb muscles atrophy? Is the quality of personal independent life get better or decreased? Stopping one surgery can less one disability, it is also a contribution to society.

 

It took forty years to create awareness of this disease. Share it with everyone. Welcome to put forward different point of views.