Hello

I've been suffering with lower back problems since hurting myself weight lifting two years ago. I saw a lot of various physios, chiropractors and osteopaths. I've had the most success with osteopaths but they can only give me temporary relief.

The problem seems to be that my right pelvis rotates forward. This is accompanied by tight TFL, Gluteus Medius and Piriformis on the right side. It makes my right leg appear slightly shorter. I'm not sure if the muscles spasming is what is pulling the pelvis forward or they're spasming because the pelvis has rotated and are trying to stabilize the area. The piriformis seems to also pull my sacrum out of position which causes the lower back muscles to freak out.

The left pelvis seems lose and clunks when I stand up from a seated position. If I do this: [www.savasayoga.com]
it seems to clunk back into place and stop hurting for a while. The pigeon pose also seems to give my piriformis a good stretch.

So far it's pretty much ruling my life and making feel constantly tired. It's worse in the morning or if I go out walking.

So far I have considered the following:

<> It might me stress making my muscles spasm which is pulling my bones out of place. Maybe TMS ala John Sarno.

<> It might be that something (maybe a ligament or tendon) has stretched and my pelvis is unstable, the muscles are constantly tight to stabilize the area.

I'm trying the Ergoscue e-sizes at the moment which seem to straighten me out for a while

Anyway, this a bit of brain dump more than anything, any advice would be appreciated.


Paul

Paul,

Have you considered a simple explanation for your chronic pain?

Specifically, the surface that one habitually stands or walks upon fundamentally determines the musculoskeletal and organic functioning of their entire body. I am referring, of course, to shoes, which everyone wears in modern society, but nobody suspects in chronic illness.

You may find my thesis on shoes and disease, including a comprehensive treatment, at www.shoebusters.com

I initiated an earlier discussion on this subject at http://forum.pandf.com.au/read.php?f=1&i=731&t=731

Good luck,

james

Symzie:

I could have written your post. My SI problems came originally from wide free squatting and trying to do that on one leg before I was ready.
I have used Egoscue also. I think the Sitting Floor stretch is very helpful. Need to follow form, though. Also, and I know this sounds hokey, try the Five Tibetans exercise. I don't buy into all of the chakra-talk, but I can tell you I have gotten good results with it. Google it or go to www.10ac.com, scroll down after the prelude, and do them slowly and with the breathing as directed. Don't be afraid to rest somewhat in between each repetition. Absurd, but they work. Good luck



&quot;Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil&quot; Thomas Mann

Another option is assess if the hip flexors are elongated and TFL has become over dominant. This could cause gliding of the femoral head and explain the shifting you are feeling in the hip.

Cheers

PS



phillip silverman

Paul,

I have 'endured ' a similar type of problem for many years and feel it is largely in control now, so hope my humble contribution may help.

The trick here seems to be that you need to do some detective work with comparative flexibility issues throughout the calf, hamstring, quadriceps, hip flexors ( the clunk may be due to an excessively tight iliopsoas), hip adductor and abductor muscles, gluteal, piriformis, quadratus lumborum, latissimus dorsi and erector spinae muscles - in similar fashion to the ONBP assessment protocol. Map out where the shortfalls are and stretch them preferentially as per Kit's books. This will if carefully done, expose the body to corrective stress, which if accepted, will make you feel improved. The contract - relax aspect of the stretches coupled with the static hold aspect will help re educate the body.

Comparison of the piriformis is vital - sit with legs outstretched in front of you. Bend one leg and place the sole of the foot against the inner knee of the outstretched leg. Bend carefully forward as if attempting to touch your toes, note when you develop any initial change of sensation anywhere during the movement, stop and observe how far your fingers are from your toes. Swap sides and repeat. Whichever side is more distant between fingertips and toes needs the piriformis stretched - use exercise 5 of Stretching and flexibility on that side and retest - if the test is even bilaterally that is excellent - maintain daily.

The next step in my case in progression from inability to walk to sprinting was to learn the intracacies of core stability, my preference was to work carefully with a Swiss ball. This finished the job over 12 months and I am now only required to maintain myself.

Long project but worthwhile - good luck


Michael Howse

No one mentioned Leg length difference; I have successfully treated one of the most famous power lifter in the world for symptoms like yours.

Understand that a rotated pelvis is a *necessary* adaptation to a leg length difference.

and, James, did you notice that the poster hurt his back weight lifting? Many power lifter don't wear shoes (they use those Chines slippers that are also used for martial arts); many still hurt themselves in this activity. Can you please stop posting this single explanation (that shoes cause all illnesses) on this board, please? There are many other causes of illness besides shoes. Shoes may cause some problems—no argument there—but when you want this one explanation to do all the things you want it to, it becomes improbable in the extreme. I intend to post my experiences with Australian Aborigines (and counter your position at a basic level) next week. Shoes do not cause the problems you claim.

Symzie, have someone check the level of your hips, following the detailed protocol in the new edition of Overcome neck & back pain. You might be surrised. If this is involved, using a lift in the heel of the shoe (sorry James: no shoe, no lift) can work wonders. cheers, kl

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Kit Laughlin
www.pandf.com.au
www.bodypress.com.au