Lower Back Pain

How Does Dr. Song Treat Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the most common pain problems. If you are suffering an LBP, you may have been told that it is a hernia of the disc, or lumbar spine degeneration, or muscle strain, or lack of core stability, and so on. You may have tried many different therapies with some improvement but getting rid of the critical problem. So, it is natural to wonder how will Dr. Song’s treatments be different.

When you come to Dr. Song with an LBP problem, he will give you a complete assessment at first. This assessment will help him to identify where your pain comes from:

· Musculoskeletal pain, such as osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, twisted lumbar muscles.

· Nerve pain (neuralgia), such as sciatica triggered by the hernia of a lumbar disc.

· Internal organ disorder triggered the pain, such as kidney stones, appendicitis.

The last type is not Dr. Song’s expertise, as he focuses on treating the first two types.

Based on his over 25 years of experience, most lower back pain comes from the muscles and bones: muscle tightness, weakness, and joint instability. After the assessment, Dr. Song will set up a hypothetical diagnosis with a treatment plan, which includes methods used (usually at least two ways: acupuncture and manual therapy), suitable exercises, and necessary changes in your lifestyle (such posture, sleep, or diet).

During the treatment program, Dr. Song will modify his original diagnosis and treatment plan since back pain is never a result of only one reason. Thus, it takes a bit of time to find all the contributing factors to LBP. Especially in a complicated case, one factor may lead to another, and only when most major factors are all resolved, can the patient feel significant improvement. This improvement is why you need a complete assessment and holistic treatment throughout your recovery.

An Example:

A 90-year-old lady hurt her lower back when she lifted weight. The pain was sharp, like a muscle spasm, occurring in a particular motion, and it was unpredictable. After an assessment, Dr. Song located the primary problem on her left abdominal oblique muscle, which was injured during the lifting motion. Acupuncture and manual therapy were applied, and right after the session, sharp, spontaneous pain lessened slightly. Dr. Song told her to wait for a couple of days to let the muscles recover. Three days later, the lady called and said to Dr. Song that the pain was gone entirely.

Edited by Albert Song