don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Back pain is not a cheerful thought. Few if any are immune, in fact, my own back has been going out more often than I have lately! What’s a wellness-oriented person to do?

Well, start by giving up on the quest for easy answers or sure remedies. A recent Wall Street Journal feature (“Have I Got A Cure For You!” on 10/6/2000, W1) demonstrated the futility of shopping around for a cure, even if you have a lot of time to invest in treatment and plenty of money available to pay for it.

Next, learn a few fundamentals about back care, then resign yourself to the idea that, at times, you will probably have a few bad back days despite your best efforts to prevent such problems. Don't get sucked into the evolutionary debate about whether we were engineered to be upright. It's a done deal! It's too late to relearn the art of swinging from branch to branch, especially without a tail.

Failure to exercise sufficiently and properly, eat right most of the time, sit up straight, refrain from sleeping on your stomach, speak your mind and otherwise act freely and manage stress effectively are factors in back pain, though it will occur for most people even IF they do all the right things nearly always. It just won't happen so often if you do the right thing, usually!

In my opinion, back pain is just one symptom of an accumulation of lifestyle errors, little injuries (some of which are incurred trying to do the right thing like exercise), genetics, poor posture or lifting techniques, excessive stress, anal retentive attitudes and, of course, the machinations of the Devil!

Back pain occurs when nerves are pinched, when a disease (arthritis, for instance) sets in or simple muscle strains occur. Sometimes an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain reliever will help; as often, a bit of heat or even cold treatments provide some relief. A stiff drink can be helpful, as well. There are diversionary tactics, like sexual activity, though for many of us this affords only extremely brief respite! Indeed, prevention to the extent prevention is possible, is the key.

A wellness lifestyle is even better, but, as I noted, no guarantee. It also helps not to make a big deal about it or to look to others for much sympathy—they have their own back troubles to deal with. You know what to do if other things fail—always look on the bright side of life. Be well—with or without back pain. Cheers.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of adaptations and challenges. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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