Acute and chronic lower and upper back pain

Lower back pain as well as upper back and neck pain are among the top contributors to chronic pain among adults. It is estimated that up to 80% of the US population will experience back pain at some point in their lives.
Nearly 50% of individuals will experience some degree of chronic neck pain or frequent occurrences. About 10% of neck pain is associated with illnesses such as polymyalgia rheumatica, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, and infections. Depending on the type of onset and duration pain can be:

Acute: This type of pain typically comes on suddenly and lasts for a few days or weeks, and is considered a normal response of the body to injury or tissue damage. The pain gradually subsides as the body heals.

Subacute: Lasting between 6 weeks and 3 months, this type of pain is usually mechanical in nature (such as a muscle strain or joint pain) but is prolonged.

Chronic: Usually defined as pain that lasts over 3 months. Its exact source should be determined.

Neck and upper back

The neck is the part of the body that connects the head with the torso and provides the mobility and movements of the head.

The most common causes of neck pain are muscle/tendon strains and ligament sprains which heal within a few days or weeks. Many cases of strains and sprains result from overuse or overextension, such as from:

• Poor posture e.g. looking at a computer screen, phone or tablet (discomfort pain caused by this activity is sometimes called text neck).

• Awkward sleeping position.

• Repetitive motions e.g. while dancing or swimming.

• Trauma e.g. sports collision or whiplash from a car accident.

Pain in the neck area might not just be a soft tissue injury. In some cases, a problem in the cervical spine could be causing a neck muscle to spasm in response.

Common causes of chronic neck pain

When neck pain lasts or keeps coming back over a period of several months, it is typically due to spinal degeneration from wear and tear over time (also called cervical spondylosis).

• Cervical degenerative disc disease –

• Cervical osteoarthritis – wearing down of the cartilage in a cervical facet joint. Cervical osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic neck pain.

• Cervical herniated disc – happens when some of the jelly-like inner layer (nucleus pulposus) leaks through the intervertebral disc’s protective outer layer (annulus fibrosus), which has been partially or completely torn. This causes inflammation and pain.

With spinal degeneration progresses, there is an increased risk for a narrowing of the foramen (cervical foraminal stenosis) and/or the spinal canal (cervical central stenosis). This can cause a nerve root and/or spinal cord to become impinged, which leads to symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness that may radiate into the arms or legs.

Other causes of neck pain

• Emotional stress e.g. stress, anxiety, and low social support.

• Infection e.g. meningitis.

• Myofascial pain syndrome, a chronic condition with trigger points, which result from achy muscles and surrounding connective tissues, typically in the upper back or neck.

• Fibromyalgia, typically involves pain in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in severalareas of the body, including in the neck.

• Spinal tumor e.g. cancer.

• Spondylolisthesis, a condition that occurs when one vertebra slips over the one below it.

Many other causes of neck pain are also possible.

Common causes of upper back pain

The upper back/thoracic spine area of the spinal column has a great deal of stability and limited movement, which is why upper back pain is far less common. When it becomes painful it’s mostly likely due to an injury that has resulted in muscular irritation or joint dysfunction. Strains in the muscles of the upper back are one common cause of pain.

Some of the more common causes of upper back pain are:

• Poor posture.

• Improper lifting technique.

• Overuse e.g. painting a ceiling (working above the head).

• Accident or collision – trauma from a vehicular accident (car or bike crash), a fall from height (down steps or from a ladder), or sports collision (football, hockey, etc.).

Sometimes there can be a combination of causes, such as from both overuse and improper lifting technique.

Treatment of acute neck and upper back pain

Given the fact that in most cases the pain is related to the soft tissues the following programs should be tested: 533.1, 531.1, 532.1, 710.2, 456.0, 3140.0, 3431.0, 630.1, 460.8, 3082.0, 3083.0, 477.0, 3445.0.

Nerve pain related programs: 3076, 911.2, 651.0.
In addition, check the vertebrae related programs: 440.1, 341.3, 550.1.

Treatment of chronic neck and upper back pain
Block related programs: 3072.0, 3073.0, 3046.0, 3448.0, 580.2, 581.1, 582.0, 583.1,

915.1, 918.0, 538.0, 133.0, 433.2.
Jaw-joint block related programs: 530.2, 570.9, 550.3, 710.2.
Scar interference programs: 910.3, 900.2, 927.3, 341.4, 3432.0, 3458.0, 3459.0. Connective tissue programs: 3016.0, 340.5, 341.7, 3330.0, 3331.0.
Tissue regeneration programs: 925.0, 477.0, 951.3, 3040.0, 3124.0, 3125.0, 3445.0.

Meridian related programs: stomach related 330, 331, 3250, 3251, kidney related 380, 381, 480, 3390, 3391, gall bladder related 370, 371, 3380, 3381, bladder related 390, 391, 3220, 3221.

Chakra related programs: 5th chakra 940.1, 532, possibly 4th 962.0, 960. Vertebrae related programs: 440.1, 341.3, 550.1
Muscle related programs: 456.0, 710.2, 3140.0, 3431.0, 630.1, 460.8. Pain between the shoulder blades: 525.4, 423.4.

Soft tissue (ligament/tendon) related programs: 589.2, 3099.0, 3441.0.

Nerve related programs: 230.5, 231.3, 423.5, 911.2, 651.0, 3076.0, 3077.0, 586.0, 3074.0, 3075.0, 3138.0, 3340.0, 3341.0.

Calcification related programs: 821, 536, 652, 923.2
Circulation related programs: 240.5, 241.7, 502.1, 504.0, 469.0, 3022.0, 3031.0, 3032.0,

3061.0, 3062.0, 3126.0, 3300.0, 3301.0.
Shock related programs: 3017.0, 432.2, 241.4, 3093.0, 3094.0, 3095.0.

Joint related programs: 588.4, 3416.0, 3270.0, 3271.0, 3139.0, 320.5, 321.4, 3090.0, 3091.0

Place the input applicator on the problem area and the modulation mat below the input on the back when treating the cervical spine and on the front when treating the upper back. It can be beneficial to further support the treatment by charging a chip.

Lower back

The lower back supports the weight of the upper body and provides mobility for every- day motions such as bending and twisting.

Lower back pain can incorporate a wide variety of symptoms. It can be mild and merely annoying or it can be severe and debilitating. Lower back pain may start suddenly, or it may start slowly—possibly coming and going—and gradually getting worse over time.

Most commonly, mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries are the cause of lower back pain (mechanical pain). These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots (radicular pain), and improper movement of the spinal joints.

Mechanical pain tends to be localised to the lower back, buttocks, and sometimes the top of the legs. It is usually described as dull and aching. Radicular pain is typically felt on only one side of the body (sciatica). Its specific sensation is sharp, electric, burning- type pain and can be associated with numbness or weakness.

Common causes of acute lower back pain

The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament. The body also reacts to injury by mobilising an inflammatory healing response, which can cause severe pain.

Common causes of sprain and strain include:

• Lifting a heavy object, or twisting the spine while lifting

• Sudden movements that place too much stress on the low back, such as a fall

• Poor posture over time

• Sports injuries, especially in sports that involve twisting or large forces of impact

• Emotional distress such as guilt, financial or other insecurity may be the cause of muscle tension in the lower back area.

There is a significant overlap of nerve supply to many of the discs, muscles, ligaments, and other spinal structures, and it can be difficult for the brain to accurately sense which is the cause of the pain. For example, a degenerated or torn lumbar disc can feel the same as a pulled muscle– both creating inflammation and painful muscle spasm in the same area. Muscles and ligaments heal rapidly, while a torn disc may or may not.

Common causes of chronic lower back pain

Chronic pain in the lower back often involves a disc problem, a joint problem, and/or an irritated nerve root.

Common causes include:

• Facet joint dysfunction: There are two facet joints behind each disc at each motion segment in the lumbar spine. These joints can be painful by themselves, or in conjunction with disc pain.

• Lumbar herniated disc; The jelly-like center of a lumbar disc can break through the tough outer layer and irritate a nearby nerve root. This can cause severe pain.

• Degenerative disc disease: As a disc loses hydration over time with age, it cannot resist forces as well, and transfers force to the disc wall that may develop tears and cause pain or weakening that can lead to a herniation. The disc can also collapse and contribute to stenosis.

• Facet joint dysfunction: There are two facet joints behind each disc at each motion segment in the lumbar spine. These joints can be painful by themselves, or in conjunction with disc pain.

• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum at the bottom of the spine to each side of the pelvis. The sacroiliac joint can become painful if it becomes inflamed (sacroiliitis) or if there is too much or too little motion of the joint.

• Spinal stenosis: This condition causes pain through narrowing of the spinal canal where the nerve roots are located. The narrowing can be central, forminal, or both, and can be at a single level or multiple levels in the lower back.

• Spondylolisthesis: This condition occurs when one vertebra slips over the adjacent one. The pain can be caused by instability (back) or compression of the nerves (leg).

• Osteoarthritis (or spondylosis or degenerative joint disease): This condition results from wear and tear of the disc and facet joints. Spinal osteoarthritis is associated with aging and is slowly progressive. It causes pain, inflammation, instability, and stenosis to a variable degree, and can occur at a single level or multiple levels of the lower spine.

• Deformity: Curvature of the spine can include scoliosis or kyphosis.

• Trauma: Acute fractures or dislocations of the spine can lead to pain.

Compression fracture: This type of fracture is most common due to weak bones, such as from osteoporosis, and is more common in older people.

Less common causes of lower back pain

While considerably less common, lower back pain may also be caused by:

• Infection: Also called osteomyelitis, a spinal infection is rare but can cause severe pain and is life threatening if untreated. It can be caused by surgical procedures, injections, or spread through the blood stream.

• Tumor: Most spinal tumors are metastatic. The most common tumors that spread to the spine start from cancer in the breast, prostate, kidney, thyroid, or lung.

• Autoimmune disease: Back pain is a possible symptom associated with autoimmune conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s dis- ease, ulcerative colitis, fibromyalgia, and others.

• Reflex pain: Pain that originates from another part of the body and presents in the lower back (such as kidney stones, or intestinal problems).

Lower back pain varies on an individual level, and many factors influence the pain expe- rience, including mental and emotional health, financial stress, or exercise and activity level.

Treatment of acute lower back pain

Given the fact that an acute pain can be due to an injury it’s beneficial to check the following programs.

Tissue block related programs: 221.3, 211.2.

Scar interference related programs: 910.3, 900.2, 927.3, 341.4.

Connective tissue related programs: 3016.0, 3040.0.

Inflammation related programs: 922.2.

Muscle tension and pain related programs: 630.1, 460.8, 456.0, 3140.0, 3082.0, 3083.0, 710.2, 530.4, 3431.0.

Nerve related programs: 911.2, 651.0, 3076, 3077.
Vertebrae related programs: 440.1, 341.3, 550.1.
Intestinal treatment (also lumbar spine) programs: 560.1, 445.0, 822.2, 422.4, 921.2.

Treatment of chronic lower back pain
Block related programs: 221.3, 211.2, 580.2, 581.1, 582.0, 583.1, 915.1, 918.0, 538.0,

133.0, 433.2, 3448.0.

Jaw-joint block programs: 530.2, 570.9, 550.3, 710.2.

Scar interference programs: 910.3, 900.2, 927.3, 341.4, 3432.0, 3458.0, 3459.0.

Connective tissue programs: 3016.0, 340.5, 341.7, 3330.0, 3331.0.

Tissue regeneration programs: 925.0, 477.0, 951.3, 3040.0, 3124.0, 3125.0, 3445.0.

Meridian related programs: bladder related 390, 391, 3220, 3221, large intestine related 220, 221, 3320, 3321.

Chakra related programs: 2nd chakra programs: 970.2, 901 and 1st chakra programs: 970.2, 340.

Vertebrae related programs: 440.1, 341.3, 550.1

Muscle related programs: 456.0, 710.2, 3140.0, 3431.0, 630.1, 460.8.

Soft tissue (ligament/tendon) related programs: 589.2, 3099.0, 3441.0.

Nerve related programs: 230.5, 231.3, 423.5, 911.2, 651.0, 3076.0, 3077.0, 586.0, 3074.0, 3075.0, 3138.0, 3340.0, 3341.0.

Calcification related programs: 821, 536, 652, 923.2.
Circulation programs: 240.5, 241.7, 504.0, 469.0, 3022.0, 3031.0, 3032.0, 3061.0,

3062.0, 3126.0, 3300.0, 3301.0.
Shock related programs: 3017.0, 432.2, 241.4, 3093.0, 3094.0, 3095.0.

Joint related programs: 588.4, 3416.0, 3270.0, 3271.0, 3139.0, 320.5, 321.4, 3090.0, 3091.0

Place the input applicator on the problem area and the modulation mat on the front.

Problems in the spinal region – A summary

First and foremost, the proper flow of energy in the spine has to be ensured.

There are a number of programs for unblocking the energy flow: 580.2, 581.1, 582.0 and 583.1, 3448.0.

Then the programs that help to remove tissue blocks: 915.1, 918.0, 3016.0, 3040.0.

In addition, for the cervical spine check and run programs: 3072.0, 3073.0, 3046.0, 538.0 and for the lumbar and sacral spine check and run programs: 221.3, 211.2, 560, 3065.0.
Make sure there are no jaw-joint block: 530.2, 570.9, 550.3, 710.2.

The corresponding chakra of the spine area that manifests symptoms should be checked and unblocked as well!

Cervical spine – 5th chakra programs: 940.1, 532.
Upper thoracic spine – 4th chakra programs: 962.0, 960. Lumbar spine – 2nd chakra programs: 970.2, 901. Coccyx – 1st chakra programs: 970.2, 340.

Also check for “scar interference fields” in the spine: 910.3, 900.2, 927.3, 341.4, 3458.0, 3459.0.
The meridians that cross the pain area should also be addressed.

Cervical spine – stomach related 330, 331, 3250, 3251, kidney related 380, 381, 480, 3390, 3391.
Thoracic spine, upper gall bladder related 370, 371, 3380, 3381, bladder related 390, 391, 3220, 3221.

Lumbar spine – bladder related 390, 391, 3220, 3221, large intestine related 220, 221, 3320, 3321.
Other programs to consider:

Vertebrae related programs: 440.1, 341.3 (indicates displacement of an intervertebral disc – hernia), 550.1 (vertebrae precipitation).

Muscles related programs: 630.1, 460.8, 456.0, 3140.0, 3082.0, 3083.0, 710.2, 530.4, 3431.0.
Nerve related programs: 911.2, 651.0, 3076, 3077.

Calcification related programs: 821, 536, 923.
Shock related programs: 3093.0, 3094.0, 3095.0, 432.2, 241.4, 3017.0. Inflammation related programs: 922.2, 3037.0.
Degeneration related programs: 923.2.
Tissue regeneration programs: 925.0, 3124.0, 3125.0.
Input: flexible applicator on the pain area.
Output: modulation mat.
It can also be beneficial to further support the treatment by charging a chip.

2nd channel support

In order to further support the therapy programs there is the option of including ortho- pedic ampules in the input cup of the 2nd channel and/or use substance complexes.

Here are some substance complexes that may test depending on the condition of the treated person.

Schussler salts: Magnesium phosphoricum D6 (muscle relaxant).

Locomotor system: Injury acute, Intervertebral disc degeneration, Muscular pain, Spon- dylose (tension neck syndrome) chronic, Strain, Arthrosis, Muscular pain.

Neurology: Neuralgia (ischialgia, etc.), Stress, Deep relaxation (vegetative dysregula- tion).

Case studies

• 58 year-old female patient, came in because of a whiplash injury on the same day (23/3/22).

  Right jaw-joint (both jaw-joints were treated together with the cervical spine segment): 530.2, 550.3
  Nape: 910.3, 900.2, 533.1, 456.0
  The pain went away the same day before she returned home after the treat- ment and she has not returned. The patient has only come back for the treat- ment of other health issues she has.

• 48 year-old female patient, with chronic cervical pain on the right side.
  1st session (13/01/22): 3017.0, 911,2, 651.0, 3076, 456.0, 3140.0, 3431, 460.8, 3380, 3381, 370, 371, with the input applicator on the neck towards the right side and the mat on the front of the body.
  2nd channel: Muscular pain, Input cup: emotions.
  2nd session (02/02/22) – The pain has improved: 580, 583, 911.2, 651.0, 3076 Input cup: emotions.
  3rd session (02/03/22) She has had no pain: 911.2, 630.1, 710.2, 3076.
  In the following treatments there was not any need to treat the cervical spine area!

• 62 year-old male patient, with chronic lumbar spine issues and acute sciatica. 1st session (23/06/22): 550.1, 911.2, 456.0, 310, 3431.0, 922.2, 970.2, 710.2. 2nd session (07/07/22) – Reported sciatica pain to his right leg after moving some heavy boxes: 221, 550.1, 456.0, 440, 651.0, 911.2, 2nd channel: Neuralgia.

  3rd session (21/07/22) – The sciatica pain has gone away: 221 x2, 550,1 x2, 456.0 x2, 651.0 x3 + 2nd channel: Stress, 911.2 + 2nd channel Muscular pain.

• 44 year-old male patient, with sleep apnea and herniated intervertebral lumbar discs L3-L4, L4-L5 which at this time do not give him any symptoms. Occasion- ally, he suffers from lower back pain.

1st session (01/02/22): 530.2, 570.9 (Jaw-joint unblocking), 582.2, 915.1, 3040.0, 3448.0, 550.1, 710.2 (lumbar area).
2nd session (09/02/22) – His snoring improved and feels his lower back is much lighter: 530.2, 570.9, 550.3 (the right jaw-joint was still blocked), 582.2, 915.1, 3448.0, 3140.0 (lumbar area).

3rd session (17/02/22) – He has had no discomfort from his lower back although he carried some heavy objects!: 530.2, 570.9, 550.3 (jaw-joint treatment), 440.1, 550.1, 710.1, 460.8.
He is still coming to get help with his sleep apnea and snoring.

Important notes:

• Where there is no decimal point after a program to indicate the exact indi- cation it’s being used for, please note that this is intentional, as the place- ment of the applicators does not match any of the stored indications. The input applicator is to be placed on the pain area and the modulation mat on the front of the body (or from the thoracic spine segment and downwards in case of treating the cervical spine area).

• The programs that are in bold letters are the ones that, according to my ex- perience, resonate well more often than others.

• The treatment of less common causes of pain in the spine area has not been thoroughly addressed in this lecture. In the case of infection, tumors, auto- immune disorders or reflex pain their causal factors need to be identified and treated, in order to achieve improvement in the spinal complaints.