BC Members Christmas Cards 2007

[Lsufan]

been a long time......any time i gain weight I get the pain/sciatica again.....I found a guy on the internet and a local practitioner here that has worked wonders. I was always a power athlete and instead of getting diagnosis of back sprain/strain this guy tested my muscles and which fire and which do not....Come to find out i had a huge imbalance.....short hip flexors......tights quads....overworked low back, hamstrings and terribly weak tranverse abdominus.....

Within 8 weeks i feel great....this along with a neuro-muscular massage to break up trigger points has done the trick.....

They say if you can get muscular balance all back pain should be able to be healed....

if you want the info for his dvd it is $39.95 and it worked wonders for me.....tailor made for your specific imbalance and he talks about the more popular ones......almost all fall into this...

My problem is not muscular ... I have 3 herniated disks, plus a bone tumor in my hip. Doesn't help that I'm over weight, but I have lost some weight since I was diagnosed with diabetes in April.

I really can't have anything major done until I get disability and insurance.

Thanks for the write-up and suggestions though.

[jcindaville]

My problem is not muscular ... I have 3 herniated disks, plus a bone tumor in my hip. Doesn't help that I'm over weight, but I have lost some weight since I was diagnosed with diabetes in April.

I really can't have anything major done until I get disability and insurance.

Thanks for the write-up and suggestions though.

Good luck Jimmy with the disability, you will need it.

Took my mom forever with her degenerative discs. I will keep you in my prayers bro, i know the pain. I watched it just about kill my mom. Dont take oxicotin, that shit is the devil

[TwoTonTony]

My problem is not muscular ... I have 3 herniated disks, plus a bone tumor in my hip. Doesn't help that I'm over weight, but I have lost some weight since I was diagnosed with diabetes in April.

I really can't have anything major done until I get disability and insurance.

Thanks for the write-up and suggestions though.

not to be a dr. jimmy, but most disc problems are the cause of a muscular imbalance (forward tilted pelvis) that when the shortened over-worked muscles can not funtion it puts strain on the discs.....Good news is most discs heal.....however, by correcting musculature it acts like a guy-wire and supports your back instead of constantly straining it....

i.e. if your arm were in a cast bent....when you took it off the arm would be bent because the muscles are short and weak....now if you attempt to lift something in its shortened state it will spasm.....that is why it must be lenghtened and then strenghtened......however, with a lumbar situation there are nerves (sciatic) that get impinged when these muscles are inflamed or discs......however, with proper retraining they do all the work.....

I have battled this shit since 1986......when i had major surgery.....then was better for 16 years and then an accident......finally feel normal again.....i know what it is like to get injections...nerve blocks.....failed PT....chiros...etc...

I am sorry to harp....just want to offer some help.....I would send you mine if i make a copy if you are interested....You are too young buddy

[Lsufan]

not to be a dr. jimmy, but most disc problems are the cause of a muscular imbalance (forward tilted pelvis) that when the shortened over-worked muscles can not funtion it puts strain on the discs.....Good news is most discs heal.....however, by correcting musculature it acts like a guy-wire and supports your back instead of constantly straining it....

i.e. if your arm were in a cast bent....when you took it off the arm would be bent because the muscles are short and weak....now if you attempt to lift something in its shortened state it will spasm.....that is why it must be lenghtened and then strenghtened......however, with a lumbar situation there are nerves (sciatic) that get impinged when these muscles are inflamed or discs......however, with proper retraining they do all the work.....

I have battled this shit since 1986......when i had major surgery.....then was better for 16 years and then an accident......finally feel normal again.....i know what it is like to get injections...nerve blocks.....failed PT....chiros...etc...

I am sorry to harp....just want to offer some help.....I would send you mine if i make a copy if you are interested....You are too young buddy

I still have a few options left from my doctors ... Only a few. I really do appreciate your help and advice. I will contact you if all else fails.

I'm use to the everyday pains I live with. It's still pain, and it's not fun, but after 4 years, it's just part of my life .... Everytime I try something new, it seems my back get worse and takes forever to get back to the "normal, everyday pain."

I'm almost in the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" mode.

[TwoTonTony]

Why do discs herniate?

Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.

While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bluge is uneven compression and torsion that's placed on the discs.

This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.

The best treatment options

When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.

But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can't fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don't spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain as part of your recovery.



i was there too bro.....good luck....

[TwoTonTony]

I still have a few options left from my doctors ... Only a few. I really do appreciate your help and advice. I will contact you if all else fails.

I'm use to the everyday pains I live with. It's still pain, and it's not fun, but after 4 years, it's just part of my life .... Everytime I try something new, it seems my back get worse and takes forever to get back to the "normal, everyday pain."

I'm almost in the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" mode.

after 22 dr's i realize docs are not te
he best people for backs and back pain....they are mechanics....

i will shut up now

[Spark]

Great info Tony ... I too suffer with lower back problems ... Everyday of my life my lower back hurts ... Chronic for 5 years ..

[Lsufan]

Why do discs herniate?

Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.

While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bluge is uneven compression and torsion that's placed on the discs.

This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.

The best treatment options

When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.

But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can't fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don't spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain as part of your recovery.



i was there too bro.....good luck....

Great info TTT ... None of my Doctors have ever been this informative .... I've had 11 of them so far, well 12 if I count you in

I just printed this out and will give it to my doctor to see what he says. Thanks again T

With that said .... Here's your card ....

[rinna13]

Great info TTT ...

T, great job in explaining peoples options. It great to have someone like yourself here, that enjoys helping, when ever he can.

[TwoTonTony]

How to Finally Get
Lasting Pain Relief



by Dr. Robert V. Duvall, DPT, ATC, Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS and Steve Hefferon, CMT

of The Healthy Back Institute


Here at The Healthy Back Institute we have spent the last 10 years researching and studying back pain and sciatica and have personally helped tens of thousands of back pain sufferers...


We've tested nearly every treatment, technique and product available and what we've found is most treatments provide only temporary relief, if at all.

And the reason is, the treatments only address the symptom, which is the pain and they don't address the actual cause of the pain or condition that's causing the pain.


The "Hidden Cause" of Back Pain...


There's a hidden cause of back pain... it's something very few medical or healthcare professionals are even aware of... If they were, they wouldn't be treating conditions.



Instead, they'd be identifying and addressing what brought about the condition in the first place.



For example, if you were diagnosed with a herniated disc, instead of just treating the symptoms, they should be finding out what caused the disc to herniate to begin with.



Back pain does not happen overnight...



While the pain may appear suddenly, the fact is the problem has been developing for months or more likely, years.



The reason you have back pain is because your body and spine have been pulled out of their normal position and into what we call dysfunctions.



If you are like most people, you move around and live your life without ever being aware that you are forcing your body to work with these dysfunctions, and sooner or later your body breaks down.



An example of a dysfunction can be seen in the illustration below and as you can see, there is an excessive curve in the lower spine.


IN THIS GUIDE:
Back pain experts uncover the "Hidden Cause" of back pain... virtually unknown to the medical community...


The 2 words that are keeping you in pain and you've never been told about by your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist...


How to get the best possible care from your healthcare professional


Which treatments work, which ones don't and why...


The simple 3 step formula for quickly eliminating back pain



IMPORTANT

Add our site to your favorites! so if you need to refer back to it later, which you likely will, you'll be able to quickly and easily find it...


Normal Dysfunctional As you can imagine, it doesn't take long before this results in pain. It's very important to understand though, that these dysfunctions don't just appear out of nowhere – we create them!



Physical dysfunctions develop over time and are the direct result of imbalances between various muscle groups, what we call "muscle imbalances".



Did you know that while you may feel pain in your back, the actual cause of the pain could be the front of your thighs?



For example, an imbalance between the muscles of the thighs can pull your pelvis and spine out of position and this dysfunction can quickly cause all sorts of problems.




As you can see in the illustration below, back pain begins with muscle imbalances that over time create a dysfunction. Your body is then forced to work each day with this dysfunction and eventually this creates a condition, like a herniated disc for example.

Then the condition causes pain and as you know, pain is your body's way of alerting you to a problem that needs to be fixed... just as a light on the dashboard of a car alerts the driver to a problem.



Muscle Imbalances Are The
"Hidden Cause" of Nearly
Every Case of Back Pain and Sciatica...



What the heck is a muscle imbalance you ask? When a muscle or group of muscles overpowers the opposing muscle(s), you have a muscle imbalance. Think of it as a Tug-of-War.




When your muscles are out of balance they pull your bones and joints out of their normal position and this places them under constant and uneven stress.



For example, the position and curvature of your spine is determined by the amount of balance in numerous muscle groups like the thighs, hips and torso.



When muscle imbalances pull your spine and body out of alignment, the level of stress on certain muscles, bones and joints increases.



And even the smallest muscle imbalance can over time pull you out of balance and place tremendous amounts of uneven pressure and wear and tear on your body... especially the vertebrae, discs, spine and its supporting muscles.



Why Do You Have Muscle Imbalances?



There are several things that contribute to and create muscle imbalances such as how active you are, what activities you do frequently, if you exercise, the exercises you perform, how you sit, stand and walk, if you work, what you do for work, etc.



Also, it’s very important to note that everyone has muscle imbalances and as you may have already realized, muscle imbalances are responsible for more than just back pain and sciatica. But just to make sure you understand and grasp this concept, here’s a quick analogy to help drive home the point.



What happens when you drive your car with unbalanced tires or your steering out of alignment? Your tires will wear down unevenly and quicker than normal and eventually you'll have a blowout... the same is true for your body!



Think about this for a minute...



Even if you injured your back while lifting something or gardening, we are certain that it isn’t the underlying cause. What caused it was the months and years of uneven pressure and wear and tear on your body caused by muscle imbalances.

The event simply was your body finally breaking down.



The Secret To Getting Lasting Relief Is...



In order to get long-term relief from back pain you have to start at the beginning, and that’s with the muscle imbalances. This means you have to identify the muscle imbalances that you have and then work towards correcting and improving them.



While this may sound complicated, the good news is it isn’t! Just by reading this advisory you should now have an understanding of how back pain develops and because of this your recovery will be much easier and faster than most other back pain sufferers.



So how do you do find out which muscle imbalances you have?





Use This Simple 3 Step Formula To Eliminate Your Back Pain...



Identify the Cause



The first thing you need to do is identify the dysfunctions you have and the muscle imbalances that have created it. You can do this by performing a series of what we call "self assessments".



We have found that there are four primary dysfunctions that are either directly responsible for, or contribute to, nearly every single case of back pain or sciatica. And you will be able to easily identify them using the simple tests we teach you in this system.



Once you’ve identified your dysfunctions and imbalances, then it’s time for step two.




Treat the Symptoms



You can’t correct the problem if your pain is so severe you can’t move. So in this step you'll implement various strategies to help reduce and manage your pain so you can focus on correcting the dysfunction(s) that are responsible for your pain.



Then you’re on to step three, which is…




Treat the Cause and Condition



Remember, pain is just a warning signal from your body telling you that you need to fix a problem.

So in this step you work on treating the cause, which is the dysfunctions and the muscle imbalances that created it and also implementing additional treatments and strategies that are specific to the condition you may have been diagnosed with.



Beginning any treatment plan without first identifying all of the muscle imbalances is a recipe for failure and frustration. And unfortunately, that’s what typically happens in today’s medical community.

Hopefully at this point you are saying to yourself, this makes so much sense…



Did Your Doctor Ever Talk To You About Muscle Imbalances?
Why Didn't My Doctor Teach Me Any Of This?




There are several reasons why you likely haven’t heard of or been taught about this approach and these concepts before…



The first reason is, unfortunately, most healthcare professionals just aren’t aware of it. While this approach is based on an understanding of basic human anatomy and biomechanics, it just isn’t taught in the various medical schools.

It’s so unknown to most healthcare professionals that if you asked them about muscle imbalances they may not have a clue about what you are saying and even look at you as if you’re crazy!





And while you may have had an evaluation or assessment performed by your doctor, it’s highly unlikely that they looked for muscle imbalances.

Another likely reason is the poor set up and design of the medical systems in most countries. For example, in the United States most patients are rushed through their appointments as the doctors have to and want to see as many patients as they can in a given day.

In Canada, many people are forced to wait months or even years just to get an appointment to be seen!





Which Of These Traditional Back Pain Treatments
Have Failed To Give You Lasting Relief?




Physical Therapy
Chiropractic Care
Orthopedic Therapy
Massage Therapy
Surgery
Cortisone Shots
Trigger Point Injections
Anti-Inflammatories
Ultrasound
Electrical stimulation



Click here to hear an audio explanation



While some of these treatments may offer some benefit, they almost always fail to deliver lasting relief because they don’t address the underlying cause of the problem. If these options really worked so well, you wouldn't be reading this AND your back would be feeling great, right?



What About Those Generic Back Pain Exercises They Gave You?



You know the stretches I'm talking about, they look something like this...



They are on that sheet of paper you get when you go see a doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist.



It's the same sheet they give every single patient who comes into their office with back pain or sciatic pain...



It's NO Surprise These
Exercises Don't Work...



Let me ask you this, how can those generic exercises and stretches be right for everyone? More importantly, how can they be right for you and your specific situation?



While the solution to back pain does involve exercise, the generic back pain exercises and stretches that nearly every healthcare professional gives out, won't work most of the time because theexercises and stretches may or may not be the ones that YOU need to be doing!





Click here to hear an audio explanation



In order for exercises and stretches to be effective, and deliver long-term pain relief, they must be targeted and specific to your imbalances, dysfunction and condition...



Also, you have to understand and acknowledge that money is a factor and both surgery and ************ medications are very big business. For example, how does a orthopedic specialist make money? Surgery. So don’t be surprised if surgery is on their list of treatment options for you.



Now, we are not saying that all doctors are bad and out to take advantage of you... not at all... in fact, we think most are genuine, caring and honest people...

But the fact is, most just aren’t using this approach so it’s up to you to ensure you take the information you’ve learned here and put it to work for you so you can benefit.

No one cares about your back and health as much as you do and therefore, you need to take charge

[jcindaville]

No one cares about your back and health as much as you do and therefore, you need to take charge

amen

[longnex]

i will shut up now

So much for that comment.

[TwoTonTony]

So much for that comment.

a fucking comedian

[jcindaville]

bump

[KazDog]

"I'm not a Doctor ,
although I play one on BC"....

- Two Ton Tony