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September 4, 2007
An Interesting Conversation About Back Pain
I had a conversation with a fellow massage therapist and blogger Matvey Kipershtein about back pain following a comment he posted regarding the development of my ganglion cyst (see comments connected to ganglion cyst, August 27,2007). I thought our correspondence was interesting enough to post here:
Fingertips:
What I have is chronic low back pain that I've had since before massage school over ten years ago. I thought it was an SI joint dysfunction and despite having it corrected repeatedly and taking supplements so that it would hold, it comes back. Since then I have tried various techniques. There has been some success with visceral manipulation applied to the sigmoid colon and uterus, but some days I get out of bed and I feel like I'm 80. Of course, I present a challenge to the peers in my community to help me with this problem.
One conversation led me to believe that the intention behind my stroke, which comes from the hara at the core just below my navel, may be translating into low back pain. Does this mean I'm weak and need to do core strengthening exercises? You'd think after eight to ten years of using myself this way, I'd have developed the strength that I need to do my work. So the conclusion a peer and I came to is pelvic instability. I am scheduled for a myofacial treatment to correct this. After looking at your website, I can see that you are familiar with many of the techniques and philosophies that I've mentioned above. So, do you have any input about what might be going on so I can share it with my therapist? I'd appreciate your input.
Matvey Kipershtein, BA RMT responded:
Unfortunately it is impossible to give any therapeutic suggestion based on the information you’ve given me without performing a very detailed health history and assessment. But this is what I think:
You are right -- any sacral problem will involve uterus and sigmoid colon just due to its connective tissue attachment to one another. But if you have work done for the SI joint and the viscera and it doesn’t hold, that means to me the key problem is somewhere else. For example, any dural tension coming from above, be it a membranous strain in the cranium or a strain resulting from C1-C3 lesion just to name a few, can severely affect the sacrum, because the dura attaches at C0-C3 and S2. It can also be a strain within the sacrum or ilium themselves that you’ve gotten from a fall on your bum so long ago that you might not even remember. Your pelvic muscles not holding the core can be a problem with the nerve conduction from the lumbosacral plexus. Very often the SI joint will be involved when there is a problem with the tarsal bones, so that old ankle sprain can be still affecting the myofascial chains in your lower extremities. Maybe it is a diaphragm tension that is constantly pulling on its lumbar attachments thus affecting the psoas and creating a tension in SI joint through the iliac fascia. It might as well be an emotional issue affecting the fluid balance that manifests itself as pelvic discomfort.
Every possible connection should be explored, and treating just the painful area, unfortunately, brings only temporary results.
Kipershtein, BA RMT is a massage therapist trained in Canada. Tomorrow I will explore the difference between Canadian massage therapists and American massage therapists.
tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health
Posted by linda at September 4, 2007 6:43 AM
