Oops I did it again.. lower back pain

Honestly, I don't remember when I last hurt my back.  It was an awful feeling waking up last Saturday not being able to move. I met up with a friend later during the day who offered some muscle relaxant which I hesitatingly took and insisted that I see a doctor if the pain doesn't go away.

Well, the pain worsened and the first thing I did yesterday was to hobble to Intercare to get some kind of relief. Luckily, the rehab doctor Dra. Annie Dizon was there to attend to me. She ruled out sciatica, pinch nerve and said that the cause was muscle-related. She also mentioned that I had the same issue as early as 2007.   (Note: I now love medical records!) Specifically,  she diagnosed left lumbar strain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction:

Since the pain was unbearable, Dra. Dizon recommended that I undergo daily treatment consisting of Physical Therapy (i.e. hot packs, light massage, ultrasound with tense and stretch), myofasial therapy (deep tissue massage) and chiropractic treatment with Dr. Martin Camara. She said that the cause may be attributed to stress, improper bending or lifting and even poor posture.

I did a postural alignment test, actually a video of my spine was taken using the Kinesio Capture, an iPad app. As shown in the video below, the result indicated that my spine is off a few degrees in certain portions of my body. One of the doctors of Intercare pointed out that the misalignment may be causing the muscle strain and tension and thus, over time triggered the lower back pain. He added that good posture and chiropractic treatment may help relieve the tension in the low back area.

The axiom health is wealth is a popular cliché but after this week's bill plus next week's (unfortunately, Intercare is not covered by my insurance policy), it is best to take this dictum to heart. Prevention is the key to good health. After this week's experience, I made a list of resolutions that will prevent such hiccups  and let me go on doing the things I love to do.

All taped up

Here's my list of resolutions: (1) Because core muscles support the spine, focus on core stabilization and strengthening exercises; (2)  Always stretch especially the hamstrings and piriformis - i.e. after work out, sitting for a prolonged period of time, and before sleeping;  (3)  Book a massage at least once a week (preferably, myofasial release); (4) Lift objects properly by bending knees (hmm.. I have to check with Miggy though regarding  dead lifts); (5) And lastly, apply kinesio tape (left) to support the strained areas - back, legs, shoulder.

Since it's Buddha's birthday this week, let me end with a quote from him To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

Weekend bout with Sacroiliac

Just sharing my wknd bout with sacroiliac dysfunction, low back pain (midline). Man, it was painful to walk or drive. I initially felt pain on my lower back brewing last Friday and the next day (Saturday), after my meeting in the afternoon, headed straight to the traditional chinese wellness center recommended by Zenaida Seva at Ortigas Center called Beijing Tong Reng Tang or TRT (tel# 638-4382), touted as the most authentic herbal pharmacy in China which is now in Manila.
A Dr. Wang diagnosed me by checking my pulse and tongue and assured me that pain will "go away." The treatment started with ox-horn scrubbing (guasha), cupping (ventosa) and then acupuncture with electric current and heat. He then prescribed an assortment of chinese herbs which was cooked in TRT and packed in an airtight plastic pouch (total of 14 pouches); and also prescribed a marble-size medicine called 'Tongren Dahuoluo Dan' to be swallowed whole. The protocol to be taken twice a day was to "expel wind-evil and relax the tendons" and to remove "pains in the limbs and trunk... stiffness of musles and joints, having difficulty getting about."
The first treatment somehow alleviated my lower back pain but it transferred to my right leg, radiating from my groin down my knees to my toes and it was very very painful to drive. So the next day, went back for another treatment. This time, Dr. Wang did acupressure on my back and then addressed the right leg area (groin-knee-toes) with acupuncture and electric current. Believe it or not, the pain instantly disappeared. But he said my lower back may take some time and recommended to have it x-rayed.
I trotted to Medical City right away to have my back checked and x-rayed. The resident said I had degenerative bone (L1-L2) and my problem is just muscular-skeletal and presciibed myonal (muslce relaxant), arcoxia (pain reliver) and of all things Voltaren (!!!) which has been taken off the shelf by FDA because it may cause serious cardio vascular side effects, such as MI or stroke, which may result in hospitalization and even death.
Unfortunately, this is my second misdiagnosis at the Medical City ER department. First time was 2001 when the ER doctor described my stomach pain condition as gastroenteritis and 3 days later, I was opened up for acute apendicitis at MMC. I showed my x-ray to chriopracter Dr. Sonny Uy last Monday who said that the xray indicated sacroiliac and did the usual cracking of bones (aligned my hips, etc). He said that I twisted my hips and need to be bedridden to avoid putting weight on my hips - i.e. no sitting, walking or diving.
The chinese herbs of TRT helped put me to sleep most of yesterday. So, now I'm okay (hopefully) and need one more adjustment with Dr. Uy.
According to Dr. Michael Amaral of back.com, this ailment typically strikes 30s or 40s women who has had children. "It is thought that the relaxation of the sacroiliac ligaments necessary for childbirth does not fully reverse, and that a subsequent minor trauma may sublux (partially dislocate) the joint and cause pain." I'm more of the "younger women may develop sacroiliac problems as a result of sport or other injuries. The condition also occurs in men, but less frequently and usually from more severe injuries, often involving lifting while the trunk is in torsion." Ha ha... I don't know how Liana can bear the pain though. She has a similar problem but I guess more acute.