Comment on YSK that treatments for back pain can cost thousands. But some of the best fixes are actually free
JayleneSlide@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Sure, but if you’re suffering from radiculopathy (pinched spinal nerve root), the sleep deprivation and increased stress makes those interventions more difficult. The article failed to mention inexpensive and free physical therapy interventions.
If you are suffering from lumbar or cervical radiculopathy (or a slew of other joint pains), check out McKenzie Method therapy. It’s free/freely available, designed to be within reach of anyone, and can be done just about anywhere. Bob and Brad are prolific in providing exercises to get you back into fighting form. Robin McKenzie’s book “Treat Your Own Back” is also excellent.
Anecdote: I had a C4-C5 radiculopathy, and it was pushing me into disability territory. The orthopedist wanted to do all kinds of stupid, expensive, invasive shit. I stumbled on McKenzie’s back book and was back at work in two days. I also suffered from piriformis pain for over a decade. It was an L4-S3 radiculopathy. A few minutes of basic McKenzie stretches, and it goes away.
avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 4 days ago
Is this stuff that competent physiotherapists know about? I had lower back issues and was going to physio for recovery from another joint fracture. The physiotherapist gave me some exercises for the back pain. I don’t recall what they were but the pain disappeared and it hasn’t returned 8 years later.
JayleneSlide@lemmy.world 4 days ago
I can’t say for sure one way or another. But the rudiments of PT are all pretty similar for a given joint. There are finite variations on how human joints move and the muscles that actuate those joints.
CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
I did two rounds at a chiropractor years ago after injuring my upper back trying to remove a fallen tree (also had sciatica issues for a while previously) and after doing his magic told me to pull my shoulders back and down while squeezing my sides at my elbows to help with the upper back pain, and to hold my leg at a 90 with my ankle resting on my opposite knee while pushing down on the knee of the crossed leg for my lower back/hip joints. Previously, I couldn’t stand in place for more than 20 minutes without severe pressure on my lower back and had numbness in my arm from the upper back injury, but both have completely stopped since then.