Posted on Dec 17, 2014
SSG(P) Instructor
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LBP - lower back pain
86% of the population will suffer with it at some point in their life.
It has mechanical origins and organic causes as well.
I ask that you open your mind to the CAM option for treating your neck and back pains. CAM - Complimentary and Alternative...includes everything except medications and surgery.
It does include, Massage, Yoga, Chiropractic, Spinal Decompression, Inversion Therapy, Manipulation, Acupuncture, and Naturopathy. Chiropractic is what I practice, and has been beneficial for cases thst have been 'uncomplicated'. Have you tried CAM therapies for your back pain? Feel free to message me with any specific questions you might have? If you have dived into the CAM world to treat your pain, which one worked the best for you?
Edited 10 y ago
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SFC Mark Merino
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We have to be careful with recommendations because there is such a huge degree of back pain and issues unique to the individual. I met only one person who got relief from steroid injections. That being said, other than physical therapy, that will be ground zero of invasive treatment (if xrays/MRI shows potential problems). If you have shrapnel or hardware already, DO NOT TRY TRACTION OR INVERSION WITHOUT CLEARANCE!!!!!! I loved inversion. It was the only time I ws pain free. Within 15 minutes of walking it was like I never had it though. I had multiple conditions that required 3 seperate surgeries. I was MISERABLE for years. The Mayo hospital did more to help with their surgery that everything else combined. I'd also like to add that everyone should seek a second opinion before allowing someone to mess with their spine. When boo boos are made, it is usually at a catestrophic level. After 3 surgeries on my spine, I am terrified to do anything "fun." The pool is great exercise post surgery (after being released by the operating physician).
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PO2 Jonathan Scharff
PO2 Jonathan Scharff
10 y
SFC Mark Merino I agree wholeheartedly! I guess we were writing basically the same thing at the same time (see my response below). Glad you have finally gotten some relief.

Great minds must think alike!
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SSG(P) Instructor
SSG(P) (Join to see)
10 y
SFC Mark Merino I just had a new client call in, she was diagnosed with a bulging disc and the doc wanted to schedule her for surgery...are you kidding?
I offer a unique (not really, but it sounds cool) treatment -- spinal decompression -- a form of mechanical traction which helps so many people with disc conditions, including degenerative stuff like arthritis, or degenerative disc conditions. Yeah shrapnel, I would guess that would really light up under tension. Did you get hit with an IED? Traction must be started a only 10-20 degrees from horizontal to see if you spine can handle it. The mistake everyone has it that they want to flip upside down on day one, when I tell them it can take over two weeks before we even get to 85 degrees and then they are floored to hear that we never need to go all the way upside down.
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SGT Michael Glenn
SGT Michael Glenn
10 y
I am currently waiting to have parts of L4 and L5 removed to gain access to the chanel that the L-5 nerve runs in to remove calcium deposits that are pinching the L-5 nerve as well as having portions of the Disc cut away because it blew out backwards and nor presses up against the L-5 nerve, talk about having good days and bad days !!!! I am just glad I am on here and can spend my long days conversing with some of you!!!
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SSG(P) Instructor
SSG(P) (Join to see)
10 y
Sounds like a Micro discretely and a foraminotomy...that should give you some relief...do not lay down for too long...even knee surgeries have you and walking within mins. Of your surgery...it's crazy.
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Sgt Adam Jennings
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Yep, I have disability for it. But the stupid VA won't cover the treatment that works for it because they define Chiropractic care as holistic medicine. Bunch of morons. First they want to drug me with pain killers then they want to cut on me. Not happy with the VA at all.
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SGT James P. Davidson, MSM
SGT James P. Davidson, MSM
10 y
I have sciatica now due to what started as a "spasm" from wearing the body armor. Army treated the symptoms with pain killers and muscle relaxers. The pain, however, was caused by my spine twisting nearly 90 degrees to the left, pinching my sciatic nerve. Completed training and deployment, and now have to see a chiropractor pretty regularly. No disability for it (VA says I saw a doc only once, which is factually incorrect), but did give me 10% for my knee going out - due to the back injury and subsequent nerve damage. Go figure...
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Sgt Adam Jennings
Sgt Adam Jennings
10 y
What blows my mind (which isn't hard because I'm a Marine) is that I'm drawing disability for my back injury but they won't give me the treatment I received while active duty because they consider it holistic. VA is a great service in theory, but they suck at taking care of us. I won't even get started on my deviated septum that they say o don't have, lol.
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Sgt Eugene Clarke
Sgt Eugene Clarke
10 y
I'm also drawing disability. The worst part is as I was EASing, during the final physical the Doc said it was unexplainable back pain. It wasn't until I got my own MRI that showed the issues I have. It's been a constant nuisance, and this year I had to have the injuries surgically repaired.
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CPT Eric Diaz
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Already developing arthritis in lower back which is leading to nerve, currently trying everything to avoid surgery yoga, massage, acupuncture soon, and rest.
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SSG(P) Instructor
SSG(P) (Join to see)
10 y
CPT Eric Diaz Try a Miracle Ball in your back. Start training with a Physio ball and working the core.
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CPT Eric Diaz
CPT Eric Diaz
10 y
i do a lot of core work, to include use of the physio ball. my problem is a few bad landings in my airborne years. I am trying to see if I can get a referral from my doctors for a chiropractor, or something along those lines. No luck yet.
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