Expert: John Quackenbush DC - 9/30/2009

Question
ABOUT A MONTH AGO I SUFFERED FROM MUSCLE SPASMS DOWN MY LEFT SIDE OF MY BACK,I NOW HAVE A VERY SORE SPOT ON MY SPINE,AND THE AREA I HAD THE SPASMS ARE STILL VERY SORE AND IT HURTS TO LAY ON THAT SIDE,PLUS WHEN I TURN I FEEL LIKE THERES SOMETHING MOVING OR POPPING LOOSE AND IT MAKES ME CATCH MY BREATH.THE PAIN IS FROM UNDER THE BACK RIB DOWN TO MY WAIST.WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT MIGHT I NEED TO DO FOR THIS

Answer
Dear Odessa,

You more than likely are suffering from a common ailment called Subluxation which means one or more of the bones in your spine is "out of kilter" and when this happens your body has a built in warning system to let you know of the potential serious problem by pinching nerves that exit from between the vertebrae in yoour spine. This pain can range from dull to sharp and intermittant to constant. This is something you should have a competent Chiropractor examine. The most dangerous words you can say to yourself is "maybe it will go away". It won't! Now maybe the pain will but the (subluxation) will not and will "go out" again and probably at the most inopportune time.

In the mean time ice is best. Take a gallon ziplock baggy and fill it with ice..do not overstuff the bag. Now you will need to lay the ice bag down on a carpeted area of your house and then you are going to lay on the ice. Get your ice and back situated so the point of pain is covered by the ice. You must only have two layers of paper towel between you and the ice. Anything more and it is to insulative! While laying on your back bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor. The ice should feel very cold but it should not be stinging. I suggest you ice for 15-20 minutes then get up and move about for 20 minutes then re-ice again as stated above. Do this until you can see a Chiropractor. You can do this 20 on-20 off-20 on up to three times per day.

Ice feels very cold at first and may be some what uncomfortable at first but the results from this comes after the ice therapy is completed. Heat feels good while it's on but you will feel terrible about 45-1hr after the heat.

This ice therapy will work for you if you do it. BUT IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE TO SEEING A TRAINED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE A CHIROPRACTOR THEN PLEASE GET A MEDICAL DOCTOR TO examine YOUR BACK.