Alternative Information

Low Back Pain


About 85 percent of the population will experience disabling low back pain at least once during their lives! That's almost all of us. The problem is so bad that at any one time, according to one researcher, 6.8% of the U.S. adult population is suffering from an episode of back pain lasting more than two weeks. That's a lot of bad backs. The estimated cost of this problem in the U.S. is over $50 billion a year.

The standard medical approach to back pain varies depending on the severity of the condition. Muscle relaxers, painkillers, rest and physical therapy such as traction, diathermy, ultrasound, hot packs and cold packs are sometimes used. This approach has not been found very helpful, however. If the problem doesn't improve or worsens, then surgery may be performed.

The medical approach is at times necessary - even back surgery has a place. But according to some studies, most spinal surgery for acute lower back problems should be rarely performed. Many people who have had back surgery report a recurrence of their symptoms within a year or two of the operation and may return to the operating table. In some cases the surgery makes no difference whatsoever.

As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of back pain. After a thorough neurological examination, I determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly. In many back pain patients, I find a high mesencephalic output.

There are three parts to the brain stem: top, middle and lower. The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem. A high output of the mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, the inability to sleep, or a waking, fitful sleep. Other symptoms might include urinary tract infections, increased warmth and sweating, and sensitivity to light.

Along with a high mesencephalic output, the back pain patient may present with a decreased output of the cerebellum. The cerebellum controls coordinated movement and al of the muscles of the spinal column.

No matter what the condition, it is imperative that the chiropractic neurologist performs a thorough and comprehensive examination to determine the exact nature of the patient's condition.

Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, one of only 700 in the country, with over twenty years of experience in private practice. He has completed over 850 hours of neurological studies and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His book "What Do You Do When the Medications Don't Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions" outlines his groundbreaking work in the treatment of chronic pain and is a national best-seller. It is available wherever books are sold.

© 2005 Michael L. Johnson, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.


MORE RESOURCES:

PG&E’s Alternative Power Surge
Red Herring, CA - 5 hours ago
by Michael Lee San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has announced that it will purchase 90 megawatts (MW) of renewable wind energy ...


Daley: Urban League suit a 'constructive' alternative to Meeks ...
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 8 hours ago
... challenging the school funding disparity between rich and poor districts is a "constructive" alternative to the student boycott championed by State Sen. ...


Voice of America

Sorghum: A Biofuel Alternative?
Voice of America - 14 hours ago
By Paul Sisco International research scientists are meeting in Houston, Texas August 19-22 to discuss various biofuel alternatives to corn, ...


Canada.com

Bloomberg Calls for Alternative Energy
Washington Post, United States - Aug 20, 2008
Speaking Tuesday evening at a conference in Las Vegas on alternative energy, Bloomberg said he will ask private companies to study how windmills, ...
Letter: Climate change-alternative energy Cayman Net News
NYC's Bloomberg Presses The Alt-Energy Key Forbes
Bloomberg eyes NYC skyline, sees wind turbines CNN
7Online.com - New York Times
all 322 news articles


NC to weigh alternative to Duke's Save-A-Watt
Bizjournals.com, NC - 10 hours ago
In its regulatory filing, the group calls it "an alternative to utility programs such as ... Save-A-Watt ... and as a supplement to those programs. ...


WROC-TV

County opens alternative fuels depot
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY - 10 hours ago
“Our work with alternative fuels is indicative of the potential our region has to be a national leader in alternative energy, and is an important step in ...
Monroe County Opens Alternative Fuels Station WXXI
Go Green: Fuel for Monroe Co.'s "Green Fleet" WROC-TV
Green Fuel Station One of Few in Nation 13WHAM-TV
News 10NBC
all 6 news articles


F-15 tests alternative jet engine fuel
Edwards Air Force Base, CA - 9 hours ago
19 using an alternative fuel. Engineers from the 830th Aircraft Sustainment Group, maintainers with the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and pilots from ...


Boston Globe

Obama pledges alternative energy jobs
Boston Globe, United States - 22 hours ago
AP / August 21, 2008 Democrat Barack Obama pledged yesterday to create millions of union jobs in alternative energy and to end tax breaks for companies that ...
Video: McCain: I'm Not Questioning Obama's Patriotism AssociatedPress
Extra Spout Off -- Aug. 19 The Northwest Florida Daily News
Warrior John McCain: Far More Dangerous Than Bush AlterNet
all 1,537 news articles


More judges pronouncing alternative sentences
Arab News, Saudi Arabia - 5 hours ago
MAKKAH: Discretionary substitute sentences have become an alternative form of punishment meted out by Saudi judges for crimes that do not normally invite ...


Peres: Solution to terror – alternative energy
Ynetnews, Israel - 11 hours ago
'Attacking oil wells will be foolish; fight back with alternative energy,' he says President Shimon Peres, who is celebrating his 85th birthday, ...

Alternative - Google News

home | site map
© 2006