I am a 71 year old male still of sound mind and suffering, except since 2006 I have been having problems with lower back pain on the right side. This is because I spent thirty years teaching diving in the Middle East and diving with tourists. I carried about thirty kilos of diving equipment on my back almost every day. I have been treated by an osteopath and a physiotherapist, and I have tried ‘energy healing’, all to no avail. Do you have any advice?
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
When assessing low back pain, it is all about what is going on anatomically, and you can only find out through research, including a back photo. Based on your story – a lot of strain on the back, lugging heavy things, probably also a lot of sitting and standing in rocking boats (which gives enormous pulling forces to the back to keep balance) and swimming – it is likely that your vertebrae will have all kinds of calcifications in places where tendons attach.
This calcification is a mechanism to strengthen the attachment. This can limit the mobility of the back, and muscles and nerves can get ‘stuck’ more easily. In addition, it could very well be that you have developed osteoarthritis of the joints between the vertebrae.
I would start by looking for an orthopedist who understands the spine and have them make the clearest possible diagnosis. This will probably lead to specific advice from an orthopedist and physiotherapist about exercises and adjusting posture and movement pattern to limit the complaints as much as possible. I should point out that the chance of becoming completely pain-free is not that great. I would also talk to a doctor about using painkillers efficiently.
Also a health question? Click here and ask the question to an expert!
