Subject: Lower Back Syndrome

From: [email-masked] (Romel Cordeiro)
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 1995 22:01:31 -1000

I hope that it is not too much to ask if anyone in this newsgroup would
share any case histories of theirs involving the treatment of the lower
back: especially cases where not too many points were used, or  where distal
points were the main approach to the treatment, and finally any treatment
using laser, magnets, moxa, acupressure, needle, etc. .
Could you also tell me of any relevant diagnosis that you made or any there
were made that isn't related to acupuncture, such as a MRI, an
Electomyogram, CT scan, or any orthopedic test, etc

Please send me this information  and put my name Janet or "lower back
syndrome" and I will get it. 

I hope to get some response out there!

Thanks!

Janet

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From: [email-masked] (Peter Gigante)
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 1995 02:25:58 -0500

Hi Jane,

I recently had an interesting case of a 79 year old European women who was 
refferred to me for a herbal consltation. She complained of a severe back 
pain which had persisited over 30 years. She described the pain as being 
like a knife thrust into her back and agitated everytwo or three minutes, 
tothe point where she could not breathe or move. Between these attacks she 
could not sit for any length, was very agitated and distressed and was at 
the end of her tether. She had had MRI's, x-rays, cat scans and had 
consulted neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, chiropractors, acupuncturists, 
medical prationers, and various others. She had been receiving shiatsu for 
about a year, which offerred only temporary relief.

Her pulse was tight and slightly rapid, her tongue was dull and sticky, her 
complexion was a little grey. She had no significant digestive disturbance, 
was lucid of mind, but feeling desperate. her abdomenal wall was taut, her 
back also, especialy around Ganshu UB 18. 
I asked her what happened at the time the symptoms first arose and she 
desribed a trip to Italy with her husband whcih culminated in the cessation 
of her marriage. Apparently a priest had advised her enough was enough, her 
husband was abusing her and she must have been very distressed at leaving 
her marriage without any other choice. (He allegedly was a "bastard") Soon 
after this she travelled with her daughter and son in law through Europe in 
a car, which was very uncomfortable for her, as her back had began to feel 
tight and sore. She later left for Australia. When I asled her how she felt 
throughout this time, she almost shook as she described her fury, hatred, 
and shame (at having these feelings!) 

She told me she had not explored these issues with any of the therapists she 
had seen since she did not believe they were medically relevent?!!

Since my only diagnosis avbailable after this was depression of Liver Qi due 
to emotional injury, I felt that the best treatment principle (since I had 
no analgesics stronge than anything she had already tried, and she had had 
two injections of Morphine in the last weeek with no effect, unlike previous 
occasions when she had resorted to this prescription, I determined to gently 
ease the Liver and promote circulation of Qi. I prescribed Xiao Yao Wan with 
Yan Hu suo added (only 3 gms daily) and applied acupressure to UB 18, GB 34, 
Liv. 3 and 13 and so on. I advised that the arisal of her repressed feelings 
could be expected. Two days later, she rang some friends suggesting she was 
breaking down, and when they arrived, she broke into a howling cry which 
continued on and off for around three hours. After this she realised she had 
very little pain which continued to clear for the remainder of the day, 
leaving her in a state she had not experienced for 30 years. She later rang 
the referring practitioner (whom she had rung with moderate scepticism of 
the emotional link after I had seen her) to report these events. She is due 
to return next week. I expect the story is not over, and she may require 
support as more of this history re-emerges, bu it illustrates the potency of 
emotional injury and the importance of treating according to a proper 
diiferentation of syndrome (bian zheng) even when symptoms seem overwhelming.

I am indebted to her, and hope her case is of interest. Being a shiatsu 
therapist, I see many people with back syndromes and have many such stories 
which I am happy to share.
  
Cheers, 
>I hope to get some response out there!
Peter Gigante

East West Therapies
TCM SHIATSU THERAPIES P/L
P.O BOX 1
Balaclava Vic.
AUSTRALIA  3183