Acupressure better than PT for low back pain

So says a new study in the British Medical Journal--

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/bmj.38744.672616.AEv1

BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.38744.672616.AE (published 17 February 2006)

"The mean total Roland and Morris disability questionnaire score after treatment was significantly lower in the acupressure group than in the physical therapy group regardless of the difference in absolute score (-3.8, 95% confidence interval -5.7 to -1.9) or mean change from the baseline (-4.64, -6.39 to -2.89). Acupressure conferred an 89% (95% confidence interval 61% to 97%) reduction in significant disability compared with physical therapy. The improvement in disability score in the acupressure group compared with the physical group remained at six month follow-up. Statistically significant differences also occurred between the two groups for all six domains of the core outcome, pain visual scale, and modified Oswestry disability questionnaire after treatment and at six month follow-up."

So how do you self-administer acupressure?

Some points are easy to pressure, but many are hard to get to on oneself, while trying to relax, too.

Better that someone else applies it.

Look at some books on the subject.

It's fascinating, and often works quite well.

Actually there are some books out on this if you are really interested. I have a book called "Chopsticks Acupuncture" (or something like that). The idea is that you use something like chopsticks instead of a needle on the acupoints. Plus I guess with chopsticks you could reach the points that may be in the back. I haven't really used the book that much but I have taken a Touch for Health class which is a way to balance meridians using acupressure. I use that quite a bit. The most complete and authoritative acupuncture site on the internet is www.acuxo.com

You can get a lot of different acupuncture protocols with just a 'net search. But there are books for lay people-- I would suggest that you read the Amazon reviews of them.

I love to rub my LI4 point--it can be very relaxing if I am tense--it is the webbing between the thumb and forefinger.

Don't assume that the points relating to the lower back are necessarily on the lower back (which would be hard to reach). Some of them might be, but some not. It may vary by person too. My favorite trick is to go to the acupuncturist and question him about the points that he is using and why, and then come home and use that information on myself.

a friend told me to roll on tennis balls to relieve some tremendous back pain. I could not walk across a room. About two weeks later I was walking and running 5 miles gain. So I religiously roll on two tennis balls under the small of my back every night. I've had pain when I have skipped, but it always works itself out with the tennis balls.

at the time the ortho's were touting 'seperation surgery'. I wanted none of that.

So I went to one of those places and the 'practitioner' went and put a half dozen needles in and then hooked them up to an alternating current source. He'd crank the AC right up to the point where my arms would begin flailing about like hooked marlin and then turn he'd it down a smidge.

At that point he'd leave me alone to go and answer his phones for the next 30 minutes. Most of the calls went like this:

"Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture... Yes, acupuncture the best way to quit smoking... You quit smoking after 3 or 4 visits... $39.95 (ask about our referral program) Goodbye!"

Yes - 3 or 4 visits was all it took for me to realize this wasn't going to work. I felt like such a rube.

What ended up being my problem? Too much time on the computer - now I switch off which hand I mouse with a few times a day and have a fancy ergonomic desk set-up. I also massage and ice my elbows when they get aching.

Sounds like torture to me. (A little funny, too. Sorry, but I can just picture somebody hooked up like that, listening to this idiot on the phone.)

And I've had good results from both of them, actually. I think success in PT depends a whole lot on the therapist. My PT is very hands-on. Others I've seen in a past have barely looked at me and then handed me a sheet of exercises to do at home. I've been really lucky this time.

My acupuncturist is only a little bit higher than the co-pay. But maybe it will be covered if studies like this keep coming out. Again, there are some things that you probably could do yourself--rolling on the tennis ball sounds good.

Numb that sucker immediately and keep it numb during the day.

I've found the pain to be a lot shorter in duration when I use ice.

Heat feels better, but the whole business spasms up as soon as I leave the heat source. Ice keeps it numb for hours.