Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

a24 health
Wednesday 24 January 2018

Crumbling Foundation

injured. Muscles cause dull aches while nerves ing years the female hormones have continu-
cause sharp pains. ously stimulated the sexual organs. Without a
Low back pain is the most prevalent cause replacement physical stimulation, the muscles
of disability in people under age forty five. If and ligaments weaken and are no longer able
you have any of the following symptoms, you to hold the organs in place. Many times I get
need medical attention. Pain is worse when a complaint from a menopausal woman that
you cough or sneeze; pain or numbness travels “something” from the vagina is protruding rath-
down one or both legs; pain awakens you from er than any pain or pressure feelings. A series of
sleep; you are finding it difficult to or loose con- ten to fifteen acupuncture treatment are usu-
trol of urine or bowel movement. ally all that is needed for these women to walk
There are several symptoms of lower back prob- normally again.
lems. Nearly all lower back problems present In the many years that we have provided pri-
with numbness, weakness, sciatica pain, stiff- mary care to our community, every new case
ness, or tightness. When nerve impulses aren’t of lower back pain has come to us with a di-
traveling properly from the skin to the brain you agnosis from an allopathic doctor that there
By: Dr. Carlos Viana will feel numbness. Weakness happens when is a “disk problem”. Either the disk is herniated,
signals don’t travel properly from the brain to which would mean that a rupture in the wall
As strong as your house might be, if the foun- the muscles or from problems in the muscles of a disk, between two vertebras or because
dation of the structure is collapsing the dwelling themselves. I see many patients suffering from nerves are being “pinched”. Of course, pain
will not last long. A strong foundation supports a Type II diabetes with these leg problems. medication is provided along with trite advice
strong building. The lower back is truly the foun- Patients who awaken early in the morning with to “take some time off to relax”.
dation of our body’s structure and an agoniz- stiffness are likely to be suffering from an inflam- It is important to tract down the source of your
ing lower back means your body cannot stand matory condition. Since there could be a more lower back problems if your pain is spontaneous
upright. In our clinic we have seen patients with serious problem, and a physician should rule out or regularly recurring. My mother, Nora, suffered
excruciating lower back transported to us in the infection and severe psychological problems. for years from low back problems; directly relat-
back of station wagons, SUVs, and hatchbacks. Tightness in the back, neck, arms and legs is ed to a somewhat serious automobile accident
The parts of the lower back include the bony most often due to changes in the muscles. Most in the years before belt restraints and airbags.
structure of your spine and pelvis; areas of mo- neck and back problems are a result of tight, At her eightieth birthday she walked effortless-
tion which are the joints of soft pads-discs, the achy muscles brought on by years of bad pos- ly and confidently to her birthday celebration
supportive structures that initiate motion are ture. Additionally, joint stiffness and pain, could and honored me with her first of many dances.
the muscles, ligaments which are the straps mean you are at risk for degenerative osteo- A living testament that lower back pain needs
that hold bone to bone and the electrical sys- arthritis. Poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle not be a life sentence.
tem supplied by the nerves. As the center of the have shown to increase the risk of the condition Get The Point! Anne Frank, the seven-
body, dancers and other athletes realize that all in later years. teen year old Dutch girl caught hiding
sustainable movement in your body originates Sciatica refers to pain that begins in the hip from the Nazis said “I simply can’t build my
in your body’s core or center, which includes and buttocks and continues all the way down hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery
the lower back. the leg. This pain is also in the lower back. The and death... I think... peace and tranquility will
Lower back pain can be a combination of the term “sciatica” indicates that the sciatic nerve, return again”. She was not writing about the
parts of the back. Injuries are caused either by which travels from the lower back into the leg, same foundation, but her words ring true for
one major trauma or by many minor traumas is where this pain is moving. While we treat this what you are going through suffering from back
that occur over time. If there is an energy im- condition successfully with acupuncture I check pain. The negative effects of back pain on fam-
balance, such as a rotated pelvis, a short leg the health of the prostate in male patients and ily relationships, your job, loss of self esteem,
or an increased or decreased curve in the low screen women in child bearing ages for urinary guilt, fear, and anger are very real. Accepting
back, there will be areas of heightened tension tract or vaginal infections. the sentencing that the structure of your back
that will be more vulnerable to irritation and in- In the postmenopausal female low back pain, has crumbled and your choices are to “live with
jury. When an injury takes place, there will usu- difficulty initiating stool or urination, urinary in- it, or get an operation” is ridiculous. There are
ally be a muscle spasm and swelling indicating continence, and pelvic pain or pressure is usual- more options. Call to make an appointment
inflammation of the discs or nerves. This is why it ly from a weakening of the supporting structures if you are ready to rebuild your foundation for
is common to feel multiple types of pain when of the vagina and uterus. During the childbear- some peace and tranquility. q