lower lumbar...

[Guest guest]

Dear Jack and All,

 

I've been following the " Internal Wind... " thread. As I was

reading, I noticed that Jack had mention lumbar problems as a

possible symptom.

 

" Do you have lumbar problems... " ~Jack

 

I'm sorry but this is " off-the-subject " for Internal Wind. I have

a ? concerning the lower lumbar - my husband suffers in pain from a

lower lumbar problem that is pinching his nerve plus he does not

have any cartilage between the back joint where this problem exist.

(I hope that I have given you a clear image of his problem.)

 

He has seen a few " Western " Doctors - they indicated that the injury

is from his childhood. He tried acupuncture only once - he refuses

to return for more treatments. (Long story, I won't get into it.)

Can anyone recommend other treatments or remedies that I may be able

to perform or prepare in the comfort of our home?

 

Many thanks, Danamarie

[Guest guest]

It's best that your husband consult a trained TCM healer. Was the

acupuncturist he saw trained extensively in and using TCM. Not all

acupuncturists do.

 

Proper TCM diagnoses are very thorough. They will include an

examination of the tongue and a pulse diagnosis. There may be a lot

of questions. Plus, from the time a client walks in the door, the

healer is observing everything about him or her. How loud or soft

the voice, color tones in the complexion, how out-going or retiring

the person is, the expression on the face, how the person holds

him/herself and moves, etc.

 

Now for some basic TCM and insight into how TCM healers think.

Whenever a TCM person hears " back pain " - particularly if it's lower

back pain - the healer thinks, " Possible Kidney imbalance. Rule in

or rule out. " This is done by noting if there are other signs and

symptoms of Kidney imbalance (that can't be accounted for by another

imbalance or which are specific to the Kidneys).

 

Back pain is a general symptom of Kidney imbalance. Back pain by

itself doesn't tell the healer what the specific Kidney imbalance

is. It just points to the possibility of a Kidney imbalance. The

next step is determining what the specific Kidney imbalance(s) is

(are) if there is a Kidney imbalance.

 

According to what you stated about an injury in childhood, there may

or may not be Kidney imbalance. But if there is Kidney imbalance, it

is going to make the original problem worse than it would be.

 

Because there was an injury, there may be some unresolved Blood

Stasis and Qi Stagnation problems to the area. Two of the functions

of Blood in TCM is to nourish and moisten tissues. If the Blood is

unable to sufficiently perform its functions (because there is Blood

Deficiency or Blood is blocked from getting to the area as occurs in

Blood Stasis), this could account for the lack of cartilage. But so

could Kidney imbalance for reasons I'm about to go into.

 

TCM Organs are defined as collections of functions. The Kidneys are

not equivalent to the anatomical kidneys. (This is the reason why

the names of TCM Organs are capitalized. It indicates that it's the

TCM concept which is being talked about and not just the functions

of the anatomical organ.) The functions of the adrenal glands also

fit the TCM definition of the Kidneys. Now this is where it gets

really unusual (by Western standards). The bones are considered a

function of the Kidneys. (Which really isn't that strange if one is

aware of what the adrenal glands and some other glands do in

relationship to bone formation and destruction.) Odder still is

that the Kidneys " open into the ears " . There is a high correlation

between people having Kidney imbalance and people having problems

with their ears and/or hearing. (Though Kidney imbalance is not the

only possible cause of problems with the ears and hearing.)

 

From a Western alternative standpoint, you may want to research the

role of glucosamine (sp) and some other things in rebuilding

cartilage. You and your husband will want to research this topic

before he tries it so you're be aware of contraindications and can

reach an informed decision on rather or not to try it. If you're in

the US, this is readily available in most locales. BTW, vets have

been using it for years to treat animals with cartilage problems.

 

This is getting into TCM a little deeper than the basics, but when

the pain is in the lumbar region, I wonder about the possiblity of

the person having Bi Syndrome (aka Painful Obstruction Syndrome, aka

arthritis/ rheumatism). Do weather conditions like cold, damp,

and/or wind aggravate his pain?

 

Another TCM basic is does heat or cold make it better or worse or

have no effect? If the application of cold improves it, chances are

there is Heat. If the application of heat improves it, chances are

there is Cold.

 

Does pressure make the pain worse or better? When pressure improves

the situation, chances are it's due to Deficiency (like there not

being enough Kidney Yin or Yang or Jing (Essence)). If pressure

makes it worse, chances are the problem is due to Excess (Blood

Stasis and/or Qi Stagnation). If pressure makes the problem better

in some ways, worse in others, it may be due to mixed Deficiency and

Excess. NOTE: Be very careful in applying pressure to a person

with back problems. Pressure could cause problems to worsen and

possibly damage weak disks and bones. Apply very light pressure.

Believe me, just the pressure of a light touch can be enough to make

the person very uncomfortable in cases of Excess.

 

Stop any treatment immediately that makes one feel worse. (Unless

one has been warned that this is a part of healing. Like what

happens when yeast in the body dies off due to successful treatment.)

 

I hope your husband will see a trained TCM healer if there is one in

your area. If he has misgivings about TCM, he's welcome to talk to

the folks on here.

[Guest guest]

Danamarie:

 

You could always try Tui Na massage on him in lieu of

acupuncture. There are also electronic massage tools

that work well. Massage with an effective oil can

further relieve pain.

 

Do you know which vertebra is involved? Would you be

able to locate the place on an acupuncture diagram of

points?

 

Having no cartilage sounds real serious. Beyond

acupuncture and Tui na, there is a branch of Chinese

medicine that deals with spinal problems, there is a

school here in Guangzhou and one in Hong Kong that

teaches this method.

 

Spinal problems can translate into organ problems, if

they haven't already. If there is a nerve that is

getting pinched, that could well be the sciatic nerve.

This starts in the lower back and works all the way

down to the bottom of the feet on both sides.

 

Maybe if you lead your husband to pain relief through

massage, he may eventually be willing to do

acupuncture. No one really wants to live with pain if

they don't have to.

 

Good luck, Jack

--- das4145 <asenat45 wrote:

>

>

> Dear Jack and All,

>

> I've been following the " Internal Wind... " thread.

> As I was

> reading, I noticed that Jack had mention lumbar

> problems as a

> possible symptom.

>

> " Do you have lumbar problems... " ~Jack

>

> I'm sorry but this is " off-the-subject " for Internal

> Wind. I have

> a ? concerning the lower lumbar - my husband suffers

> in pain from a

> lower lumbar problem that is pinching his nerve plus

> he does not

> have any cartilage between the back joint where this

> problem exist.

> (I hope that I have given you a clear image of his

> problem.)

>

> He has seen a few " Western " Doctors - they indicated

> that the injury

> is from his childhood. He tried acupuncture only

> once - he refuses

> to return for more treatments. (Long story, I won't

> get into it.)

> Can anyone recommend other treatments or remedies

> that I may be able

> to perform or prepare in the comfort of our home?

>

> Many thanks, Danamarie

>

>

>

>

>

>

>