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About Lawrence Gold
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Questions concerning herniated discs, back muscle spasms, lifting injuries, sciatica, whiplash injuries, dizziness, headaches, movement limitations

Experience
In practice since 1990. Two years on staff at a hospital Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

Organizations belong to
Association for Hanna Somatic Educators, Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals, Association for Humanistic Psychology

Publications
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, American Journal of Pain Management, Somatics: Magazine-Journal of the Mind-Body Arts and Sciences. More complete listing at somatics.com/gold.htm

Education/Credentials
Certifications: Hanna Somatic Education, the Dr. Ida P. Rolf method of Structural Integration (partial list)


Publications
American Journal of Pain Management, Townsend Letter for Doctors, Somatics - Magazine/Journal of the Mind-Body Arts and Sciences, Bodywork and Massage Magazine (quarterly) - partial list

   

You are here:  Experts > Health/Fitness > Back and Neck Injury/Chronic Pain > Back and Neck Injury

Questions Answered By Expert  Lawrence Gold 
In Category  Back and Neck Injury

SubjectDate Asked

Auto Accident/RearEnded in April 200710/7/2008
  Q: i'm a 20 yr old female 18 at the time of the accident my birthday is 5/31 In April of 2007 i was in ...
  A: Ashley, You've told me the answer to yourYou have a lot of muscles in contraction in your neck and ...
Lower back, hip, and leg pain10/6/2008
  Q: I am a 28 year old female. I began having sever lower back pain following a surgery on April 2, ...
  A: Misty. Your symptoms suggest muscle spasms along the spine at the low back or in the buttocks (more ...
neck, shoulder, arm pain, numbness, dizzy10/5/2008
  Q: I am a very athletic 44 year old male and work 8 plus hours a day on a computer. I recently ...
  A: Tom, The changes noted in the MRI suggest you mahy need surgery -- but before surgery, I recommend ...
Low Back Spondylolysis10/3/2008
  Q: I'm 25. I was wondering if you could tell the best sleeping positions and just about anything ...
  A: No sleeping position will relieve back pain of the type you describe -- and do you want to have to ...
severe back pain because of disc bulge10/2/2008
  Q: I am 40 years old. I am suffering with severe back since four years. Of late I am getting numbness ...
  A: Sekharsarma, Not only is that kind of problem usually correctable without surgery, it is also ...
Spasms and Neck Pain10/1/2008
  Q: Dir Sir, I am a 28 yr old female suffering from extreme and widely dispersed muscle spasms, nerve ...
  A: I believe I can help you. The general array of symptoms and the presence of the palpable "lump" at ...
Numbness9/30/2008
  Q: last night while standing at my counter my legs got numb and tingly (and my buttocks tingled) and i ...
  A: Given your history of LBP and your use of an orthotic, I infer that you have tight low back muscles. ...
Back injury-- herniated discs x 29/29/2008
  Q: ... First of all let me thank you in advance for answering my question. I have been searching for ...
  A: Robyn, First, I'll say that disc injuries are not my specialty. However, I can say some things ...
mri of lumbosaral and thoracic spine9/28/2008
  Q: Am 52 yrs old male and have been suffering from varied types of back pain ranging from middle to ...
  A: The key observation is "2,paraspinal muscles spasms". Such muscle spasms cause displacement of ...
back and neck pain9/27/2008
  Q: i landed on my neck falling from a trampoline and its been 4 1/2years and im still getting no ...
  A: Sure. In your fall, the landing triggered a protective, reflexive response to tighten the muscles ...
Lower back pain9/26/2008
  Q: I have chronic back pain. I recently had an MRI. I just talked to my doctor about the results and ...
  A: Disc herniations/protrusions commonly result from overtight muscles pulling vertebrae together. The ...
Recurring headaches from year old car accident7/26/2008
  Q: Last year, August 3rd, 2007, my mother, my cousin, and I were in a car accident, where we were rear ...
  A: How can we prove what another is feeling?? Your mother's best option is to get the headaches ...
trapezius pain thru the neck6/26/2008
  Q: I work as a CNA and I been having pain in my trapezius thru the neck it is been very painful, taken ...
  A: Jenny, Muscles get tight from three major causes: injury emotional stress repetitive use ...
Pain in arms4/27/2008
  Q: Dr, My name is Michelle. My question to you, is I have been having pain in my forearms. I thought ...
  A: Since you have had medical attention, I surmise that what you have is not a medical problem. You ...
c1 fracture4/26/2008
  Q: I have a fractured c1. Do you know someone who can fix it? the nerosergens here never had such a ...
  A: Johnny, If you had a fractured C1 vertebrae, any healing that must occur should have occurred long ...
compression fracture2/27/2008
  Q: Six weeks ago I suffered two compression fractures in my T-9 and T-11 vertebrae during rowing ...
  A: Your rowing has probably caused you to become musclebound, with attendant muscle fatigue and ...
Can you help me?2/26/2008
  Q: Good day, I would appreciate any help in proving that my current physical issues were related to ...
  A: Brenda, The neck and back pain sound like they could easily be related to your injury, as ...
Neck pain12/4/2007
  Q: Gold I am 24 year old female who is suffering with neck pain for over a year now. I have no idea ...
  A: Maria. I don't think you should try nerve block or steroids until you have tried somatic education. ...
Interpreting MRI12/2/2007
  Q: I had a serious MVA 2 years ago when a Mack truck ran a stop sign. Immediately upon consciousness I ...
  A: Nancy, The MRI results are inconclusive. Simple as that. Nothing in those results conclusively ...
T11-T12 injury11/25/2007
  Q: My back got "jarred" after a friend came and picked my up from behind. I jarred to the right while ...
  A: Jackie, Therapists have a tendency to think in terms of categories of diagnosis that align with the ...
Neck and lower back pain11/23/2007
  Q: I have fallen 3 times on my backside with a lot of force during my life, but never got it checked, ...
  A: Stella, Osteo-arthritis is not a disease in its own right, but the common consequence of joint ...
Nerve regrowth11/21/2007
  Q: I broke my neck Aug 1987. Compresses Fracture of C3 between 4 and 5. All are fused together with ...
  A: Paul, It would seem so -- but that's not my area of expertise. Would I would do, if you were my ...
C511/19/2007
  Q: My C5 is set in from the C4 and C6. Is there anyway that this can be realigned please. I know my ...
  A: Steve, Bones go where muscles pull them. One or more displaced vertebrae usually indicates ...
Neck Pain11/18/2007
  Q: I know whiplash is a violent movement back and forward usually from a car crash but what about too ...
  A: Pat. In a word, yes. Chiropractic adjustments involve a sudden stretch to muscles attached to the ...
lower back pain including pain in the right leg11/17/2007
  Q: I injured my back from a fall 12 years ago and I've experienced lower back pain every since, ...
  A: Tawanya, Changes of spinal curvature and lower back pain point to muscular contractures reflexively ...
neck shoulder and arm pain11/14/2007
  Q: 4,5,6,7th vertabre.I also have terrible pain across my shoulder down my left arm front and back and ...
  A: Carole, Arthritis won't cause the symptoms you are experiencing. You seem to have nerve ...
injury resulting inchronic pain and stiffness11/13/2007
  Q: About 3 years ago in Iraq,i was injured by an ied explosion about 3 feet behind me. There were no ...
  A: Josiah, Rib separation or not, you sound like you've got some very tight back muscles. Shocks and ...
Neck tenderness / r sided headaches11/12/2007
  Q: My daughter is 13. About a year ago, she developed rt sided headaches which occur daily. At that ...
  A: Your daughter's tenderness and headaches sound related to muscular tensions, which cause headaches. ...
C1 vertebrae fracture11/11/2007
  Q: Not sure if you have any experience working with people with this type of injury but, long story ...
  A: Brandon, Since I don't know your doctor's rationale for avoiding contact sports, I can't address ...
shoulder blade pain/injury11/9/2007
  Q: last 6-7 weeks, pain in my right shoulder blade.towards center of my back.cant sleep on my right ...
  A: Kenneth. Doesn't sound like a shoulder blade injury; sounds like pinched nerve in your neck -- if ...
Impairement rating11/7/2007
  Q: I just had a disk replacement last year in October. I had a blood clot due to the surgery and was in ...
  A: Mike. Your questions about ratings and legalities are not within my area of expertise. But I can ...
"Whiplash"????11/6/2007
  Q: In March of "06" I was in a fairly minor car accident where I was rear-ended at a red light, I got ...
  A: Nikki, Muscle spasms, headaches, and alignment deviations point to one thing they have in common: ...
Upper right back pain- diagnosed Myofascial pain11/4/2007
  Q: I have had back pain since May 2005. I can't narrow down the injury to a specific day or event, but ...
  A: Erik. Here's the bottom line: muscular spasms that produce the type of symptoms you're describing ...
Low Back Pain11/3/2007
  Q: I was involved in a car accident on 11/4/06. A couple of weeks after the accident I noticed a ...
  A: There's hope. The disc bulges and bruising are secondary. The primary problem are muscular ...
L5-S1 injury related to prostate pain?11/1/2007
  Q: First I'd like to offer a little background to put my situation into perspective. Twelve years ago, ...
  A: Brian. Lower back injuries usually mean lower back muscle contractions. With a head trauma, the ...
neck pain, arm pain, hand pain, headaches10/30/2007
  Q: In 2002 I was injured in a multi car collision. My car was impacted on all sides, totaled. I had ...
  A: Most of your symptoms, including change of neck curvature and disc bulges, are consistent with ...
The real story about my T12/L1 injury10/29/2007
  Q: In 1984 while standing on a 6 foot stump I was hit with a 100 foot log around the right hip area. ...
  A: Milton. What's wrong is that you have chronic Trauma Reflex activity -- muscular contractions set ...
T12/L1 fracture10/28/2007
  Q: I fractured my T12/L1 vertaba. I have had severe pain for for 12 years, then it slowly changed to ...
  A: Milton, There is a universal response to injury: we tighten up in muscles related to the injured ...
strained muscle10/5/2007
  Q: I've been very curious about this. I started to experience soreness in my upper back, left side, ...
  A: Tanya, You've just described how tension patterns form: repetitive use in poor position. We ...
L5-S1 L4-510/4/2007
  Q: I was injured 8-17-05 at work and am finally getting medical treatment.I have severe pain in my ...
  A: Dana: clinical somatic education Sounds like you have impingement of the sciatic nerve from ...
Bulging disk in neck10/3/2007
  Q: I have just been for physiotherapy as I had shoulder pain, with severe pins and needles down my arm ...
  A: Jackie. What you are describing are effects of muscular contractions in your neck: the pull ...
spondylolisthesis10/2/2007
  Q: I have been having lower back pain off and on for several years. 8 weeks ago I bent over and ...
  A: Nicole, Displacement of vertebral alignment, as in spondylolisthesis, commonly results from ...
BACK AND LEG PAIN9/29/2007
  Q: 2 Years ago I had a fall at work and discovered that I have 2 protruding disc from the trauma,since ...
  A: Amy, Here's what happens when we suffer an injury: muscles go into contraction from the pain or the ...
son has neck pain9/28/2007
  Q: my son whom is in his second year of college went to work out at the college gym a couple weeks ...
  A: Mia. I think your son provoked a muscle spasm from improper workout technique. Three weeks with ...
C-5 to C-7 Stenosis, Bulging Disc + trap and hand pain9/27/2007
  Q: I'm a 49 year old relatively healthy female. 20 years ago I was rearended by a truck which totaled ...
  A: ... what doctors are telling people ...(sigh) People have a universal response to injury: they ...
Cervical disc herniation9/24/2007
  Q: I am a 44 year old female. My job involves heavy computer use 8 hours a day. In June I started to ...
  A: I can't really answer your question about continuing PT. It depends upon the results. Some PTs are ...
neck pain/shoulder pain9/23/2007
  Q: I am feeling a burning,aching pain on my sine right under my skull down between soulder blades and ...
  A: Lisha, That kind of pain usually results from muscles in spasm. One would expect such a spasm to ...
Sudden Neck Pain9/22/2007
  Q: I was awakened in the middle of the night last night due to a very large "pop" at the top of my neck ...
  A: Your description sounds like a muscle spasm, which would also change the alignment of vertebrae and ...
Cervical disc herniation9/21/2007
  Q: I am a 44 year old female. My job involves heavy computer use 8 hours a day. In June I started to ...
  A: Janice, First thing: surgery is not the answer. Neither is Neurontin a "treatment" for the ...
Car Accident9/20/2007
  Q: My husband was in a car accident - T-Boned by someone who ran red as he was going thru green, and ...
  A: Leanne, Commonly, tingling, numbness, and back pain are related to muscle spasms reflexively ...
Painful scapula/back pain9/19/2007
  Q: For several yrs now I've been c/o pain in my scapula. The pain would sometimes radiate down my arm ...
  A: Andrea, It sounds like you are experiencing two different patterns of reflexive muscular ...
still having neck pain9/18/2007
  Q: i had surgery on my disc t1 and 2 in december.they put plates and screw and a piece of my hip ...
  A: James. Surgeries typically provoke a reflexive muscular reaction to the pain of the surgical wound ...
multi-level disc degeneration in the cervical and thoracic region9/17/2007
  Q: what does this mean ( subject ) because i have just been diagnosis with this and also with snapping ...
  A: David, It means that your back and shoulder muscles are so tight that they're pulling vertebrae ...
Cronic back pain9/15/2007
  Q: was in an a auto accident and for the past 6 months severe chronic back pain, thoracic area. mostly ...
  A: Melissa, There is a universal response to injury: we tighten up. It's a response of the nervous ...
Back fusion9/14/2007
  Q: My husband was involved in two car accidents, neither of which was he at fault. He is due to ...
  A: Expected range of motion is a question to be answered by your husband's surgeon. However, I call ...
Questions Regarding MRI Reports...9/12/2007
  Q: MRI Reports: There is a disc protrusion/herniation at T5-T6. This is primarily a right paracentral ...
  A: Interpreting MRI reports is not my specialty; however, tingling and numbness generally indicate ...
diffuse posterior disc bulge9/11/2007
  Q: my name is Elizabeth, I am writing regarding my 43 year old mother, Ann. She has been working in ...
  A: Elizabeth. If Ann has been doing repetitive tasks that involve leaning forward, she has probably ...
Headaches, Neck and Upper Back/Shoulder pain9/10/2007
  Q: I had an accident just over two years ago whereby I was unloading a container of washing machines at ...
  A: Hall, If you were my client, I would be examining you to determine if you had high muscular tension ...
Neck Injury9/9/2007
  Q: My son (age 24) had a bicycle accident last Monday. He went over the handle bars and landed on his ...
  A: As to the accuracy and motivation of the doctors' caution against turning the head, you must ask ...
6 year old sons neck pops when he nodes it up and down9/7/2007
  Q: My 6 year old son's neck pops every time he nods it up and down. Does any one know what might have ...
  A: Rachel. That's a bit unusual, for someone his age. Usually, popping in the neck results from tight ...
severe back pain9/5/2007
  Q: I have severe pain in my right shoulder, all day long my muscles contract, and several times every ...
  A: Your problem isn't a chiropractic one, nor one that can be fixed permanently by an adjustment; it's ...
Balancing things out. Core vs. lower back9/4/2007
  Q: Some time ago, I found out I am grossly out of balance. Physiotherapist suspected that my 'core ...
  A: My original comment about the kind of exercises you do not being capable of reaching the psoas ...
Back injury9/3/2007
  Q: I have a left shoulder injury. I have a burning sensation on the edge of my shoulder blade. It pops ...
  A: Julie, What you describe sounds like more than a shoulder injury; it sounds like the aftermath of a ...
General Pain in Lumbar and Mid to Lower Thoracic when Laying Down, and Other Symptoms9/2/2007
  Q: Hullo. Looong question. :) For some time now I have been experiencing a pain in the lumbar and mid ...
  A: Emily, Your description sounds like you have a pattern of contraction along your spinal musculature ...
neck pain and more9/1/2007
  Q: I am 9 months pregnant. The added weight to my chest has given my upper back some pain for months, ...
  A: You don't need to have a herniated disc to have these symptoms; muscular contractions in your upper ...
Back problem8/31/2007
  Q: Please help... My husband who is 28 years old is suffering terribly with the back pain and is not ...
  A: Maria, The problem with sitting at a computer all day at a high level of attention and with little ...
lower back pain/tightness8/30/2007
  Q: I am 23 155lbs. I hurt my back one day stepping out of truck. well its six months later and i've had ...
  A: Keith, The problem with back spasms is that they are controlled by brain conditioning and can't be ...
mri results8/29/2007
  Q: i was hurt at work while leaning over to pick up a 75lb oxygen concentrator. I am 42 mri results ...
  A: Margaret, Lifting injuries usually involve back muscles going into spasm. That same spasm can ...
mega back and neck pains7/12/2007
  Q: hey i had an accident on my bike bout 6 years ago as i fell straight over the handle bars at a high ...
  A: Matthew, When we get injured, there is a universal response: muscles tighten up related to the ...
leg pain7/12/2007
  Q: I fell at work 7 months ago I had surgery for a herniated disc on the right side. I am 4 months ...
  A: Theo, 1: yes disc pressure on a nerve root can cause pain 2: Surgery is usually not a good answer ...
miserable back pain and no insurance7/11/2007
  Q: I'am 22yrs old with two children,and for the last three years my back aches and throbes90% of the ...
  A: I have an answer for you -- but first. . . When you see your doctor, have him PALPATE (he knows ...
Cervical spine pain:Headaches7/11/2007
  Q: I have had headaches everyday for years. I have had sinus surgery and still my headaches are ...
  A: Shelia, All those disc bulges and changes of spinal curvature point to one thing: muscular ...
Neck pain and dizziness7/10/2007
  Q: I have been experiencing dizziness for over 2 years. Doctors have ruled out an inner ear issue. My ...
  A: Mike, There is a condition called, "cervicogenic dizziness." When muscles in the neck are ...
please help7/9/2007
  Q: my leftside neck ,shoulder hurts heat lot of heat,swelling in the shoulder its been like this for at ...
  A: Annette, Your follow-up question leads me to suspect that you have a nerve plexus in your neck ...
please help7/9/2007
  Q: my leftside neck ,shoulder hurts heat lot of heat,swelling in the shoulder its been like this for at ...
  A: Annette, I need the kind of information a physical examination would reveal: what's behind the ...
Middle back pain only in morning while sleeping7/9/2007
  Q: I am experiencing pain every morning starting around 4:00AM in my middle back on the right side of ...
  A: Rose, Sounds like a muscle spasm. Rather than an injury or strain, it could have to do with a ...
please help7/8/2007
  Q: my leftside neck ,shoulder hurts heat lot of heat,swelling in the shoulder its been like this for at ...
  A: Annette, Hmmm. Swelling. That implies tissue redness and puffiness -- which could be a number of ...
neck/back pain-dislocated disc?7/7/2007
  Q: Im a 23 year old female who has a history of back problems (due to a car accident 6 yrs ago) that ...
  A: Nicole, Unforunately, there's a big missing piece in people's understanding of injures -- and it's ...
neck injury - bad headaches7/5/2007
  Q: Just over a week ago I strained the muscles in the left side of my neck. When the incident occurred ...
  A: Lindsey, Sounds like what's causing your symptoms is what you describe as having "strained the ...
mid back strain feels like its in front of or behind the spine7/3/2007
  Q: Im 16 and for about a month now when i lean forward there is a strain in my mid back. it doesnt hurt ...
  A: Sounds like you have some tight muscles that are pulling on ribs or vertebrae in a funny way. Try ...
neck/back pain6/30/2007
  Q: Three weeks ago I was lifting in the the gym, I warmed up and stretched as I normally do. After ...
  A: Sounds like possibly you contracted your neck muscles so hard that you caused vertebrae to go out of ...
Sciatica6/30/2007
  Q: My husband was diagnosed with Sciatica two months ago. For the last three weeks, his ability to walk ...
  A: Leena, The first thing is, I would advise against surgery, as it doesn't address the problem ...
neck & shoulder pain6/27/2007
  Q: I sustained a right shoulder injury at work lifting a large pan out of the refrigerator. Having a ...
  A: Yes, traction could have made things worse, brought on the tics and worsened the headaches. When ...
Neck and Back pain6/26/2007
  Q: I am 41 and in fair shape. On Saturday April 8, 2007, I was trying to move my 23 ft boat. The pin ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in responding; I haven't been getting timely notifications of questions from ...
back pain6/26/2007
  Q: DR.GOLD I have bad muscle spams from the middle of my neck and it goes all the way to my lower ...
  A: Muscles spasms occur when conditioned reflexes -- generally from injury or stress -- take over ...
neck & head pain6/25/2007
  Q: While working out two days ago I was doing a seated leg press excruciating with 380lbs of weight. ...
  A: Mehran, First piece of advice: stop doing 380 lb leg presses. You're conditioning yourself to be ...
neck back buttocks pain6/25/2007
  Q: i was in a car accident in june, 05. a truck lost control and hit the driver's side of my car. i ...
  A: Stacy, From your description, along with possible torn ligaments, you have muscles in contraction ...
Neck Strain, Thoracic Pain6/23/2007
  Q: I had been seeing a Chiropractor for a lifting injury until he was unable to correct a problem ...
  A: Sorry to hear of your situation. All lifting injuries have one thing in common: muscles in spasm. ...
upper back pain6/23/2007
  Q: I missed a step climbing down a ladder. Fell back hard against a couple wooden steps. Have upper ...
  A: Lou, You might have to wait a long time for it to heal itself. That said, healing is probably not ...
whiplash6/22/2007
  Q: I'm at my wits end with trying to get help for a whiplash injury in a rear impact auto accident. It ...
  A: Sorry to hear your situation. If you were my client, I would be checking your neck for muscular ...
Pregnancy, car accident and herniated dick6/19/2007
  Q: I was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler carrying a 33,000 pound load when I was 36 weeks pregnant. My ...
  A: Alyssa, It's common for people to go into muscular contraction in reaction to an incident of the ...
Neck6/17/2007
  Q: When I turn my neck to my right side, it pops or cracks. This is really annoying and i am ...
  A: Matthew, That's typical of people with tight neck muscles. In my practice, as a person learns to ...
Neck, Arm Pain6/15/2007
  Q: I woke up a week ago with burning in my neck/shoulder area. I could not lift left arm higher then my ...
  A: Joy, From your description, I can't be sure what the lump is; it could be muscles in contraction, ...
Dizziness and neck cracking6/15/2007
  Q: Back in early April 2007 I had a fall. I thought I might have a concussion, but a doctor examined ...
  A: Mike, Dizziness such as you describe is related to neck tension through reflexes related to eye ...
Cervical Question6/15/2007
  Q: Gold, I am 28 years old. I sit at a computer for work, but I have since developed good posture ...
  A: Bonnie, The disc protrusion is indicative of heightened neck muscular tension, as is the change of ...
Expertise6/14/2007
  Q: Gold, I have read many of your posts, and am concerned. Your answers all mostly the same and only ...
  A: Leatherman, First, I must address the tone of your public communication. Your excorciating comment ...
Mri results and Would this be causing all my pain and Numbness?6/14/2007
  Q: My X-ray results read: There is straightening of the normal cervical curve. No bony degenerative ...
  A: Kacey, The curve of the neck changes according to the tension of neck muscles. Indications are ...
back pain6/13/2007
  Q: hey im cory, im 16 and I have random back pain. It also happens sometimes when I workout or play a ...
  A: Hey, Cory, Most back problems are the result of tight back muscles. You sound like your row ...
Right shoulder tightness and excessive neck cracking3/26/2007
  Q: Back in the beginning of January, I noticed that I was having lots of trouble with my right shoulder ...
  A: Rachel, Tight muscles account for your problems. You're musclebound there and the muscles are ...
clicking at base of skull with head rotation3/24/2007
  Q: Today while shopping I suddenly noticed a clicking sound and slight grinding feeling at the base of ...
  A: Kelly, Clicking and a grinding feeling in the neck indicate moderately tight neck muscles causing ...
lower back pain 2 surgeries3/24/2007
  Q: I fell 8 years ago and injured my back I have had pain throughtout the years but nothing i couldn't ...
  A: Tricia, There are two S1 nerve roots -- left and right. The pain in your leg sounds like nerve ...
Somatics for a chronically locked triceps?3/23/2007
  Q: My wife had a succesful operation for slipped disks in the neck part of her spine two years ago. ...
  A: Thomas, Contracted muscles in the neck cause both disc problems and can cause nerve entrapment, ...
NECK INJURY FROM AUTO ACCIDENT3/22/2007
  Q: I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN NOV. 06. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO P/T 3X A WEEK SINCE, MRI SHOWED 3 BLUGING ...
  A: Susan, One can't predict a time-line independently of your learning to relax your neck. "Learning" ...
lower back pain 2 surgeries3/22/2007
  Q: I fell 8 years ago and injured my back I have had pain throughtout the years but nothing i couldn't ...
  A: Tricia, You had a ruptured disc. The surgery removed the disc material that was pressing on the ...
head numbness3/18/2007
  Q: I have had about 3 instances over the past month or so where I wake up with a slight feeling of ...
  A: Mike, The numbness, no. It's probably a product of the neck tension. Over time, however, problems ...
upper back right pain3/16/2007
  Q: the pain is on right side,just below shoulder and upper lat muscle. i do lift weights, and played ...
  A: Paul, Sounds like you have cramped muscles. The fatigue accounts for the weakeness. You can't ...
pain in traps and in neck3/9/2007
  Q: i do not think i am working out unevenly, i do plenty of workouts which incoroporate me trap ...
  A: For the answers to your questions, please see the article On Weight Training at ...
pain in traps and in neck3/9/2007
  Q: and cannot figure out how it happend, or how to fix it..i am a weight lifter, and im into working ...
  A: Michael, I think your first guess is the correct one: you are musclebound from your way of working ...
MRI results translation3/8/2007
  Q: can you please tell me what this means in everyday language: There is degenerative disc disease at ...
  A: In general, a disc bulge signifies the presence of excessive muscular tension in the affected area. ...
Tests negative????3/6/2007
  Q: I took a spill at work that I cannot remember because of a concussion I received when it happened. ...
  A: It's common for muscles to go into contraction from a blow. You hit your head and your neck muscles ...
Lower body numbness2/26/2007
  Q: For the last 5 days when I lower my chin, I feel a radiating numbness from my hip area down past my ...
  A: Pinched nerves don't necessarily ease up. It's not a question of the nerves easing up, but of the ...
Unxplainable mid-back pain2/22/2007
  Q: Here are the basic stats: Patient is in early 50s, a dancer and choreographer, who was in good ...
  A: If you see a Hanna somatic educator, a breathing session (which involves free rib movement) would ...
Bulging Disc2/22/2007
  Q: I am 18 years old about 6-2 180 pounds. About five months ago I hurt my lower back in a lifting ...
  A: Matthew, This doesn't sound like an injury; it sounds like a muscle spasm (muscle(s) stuck in ...
can you read my MRI?2/17/2007
  Q: I was injured in the military (thrown from the turret of a humvee) I am out of the military now but ...
  A: John, It's pretty straight-forward. Your fall sent your neck and back muscles into spasm (fixated ...
back2/16/2007
  Q: the other day i hurt my back playing with my kids i kinda bent over and was stuck. it has been 3 ...
  A: Sounds like your psoas muscles are in spasm. This is not an injury, but a conditioning problem. As ...
MRI results2/15/2007
  Q: Please advise; thirty year old female RN by trade has become overwhelmed with pain and inability to ...
  A: Jennifer, Sounds like the stress of your job led to hypercontracted paraspinal muscles, with ...
Suddenly Stopping Exercise2/15/2007
  Q: To your knowledge, are there any dangers in suddenly stopping a vigorous workout routine? For many ...
  A: Stephen, It's rather the reverse of what you think. It's not stopping that caused the problem, but ...
lumber discs2/13/2007
  Q: My 15 yr old daughter has been experiencing low back pain for about 2-3 months. Xray reports from ...
  A: Low back pain is the common result low back muscles that are too tight and compress discs. The pain ...
back and leg pain2/12/2007
  Q: my mri showed central soft disc protrusion that contain annular tear my family doctor has me going ...
  A: A soft disc protrusion indicates muscular contractions in your back that can probably be relieved by ...
numbness in right hand2/12/2007
  Q: For a long time at night when im under the covers my right hand just goes dead,i cant feel nothing ...
  A: Bernadette, Sounds like either a circulatory condition or a pinched nerve -- the nerve either at ...
popping in neck after automobile accident2/11/2007
  Q: my 13 year old son was involved in an automobile accident a few months ago. He is experiencing a ...
  A: It's possible, but the muscular contractions that form in the neck during such an incident are ...
22yr. old male with Sciatica12/20/2006
  Q: I am very interested in Somatics and feel very strongly that with the right practioner I can be ...
  A: Robert, Basic information on sciatica exists at somatics.com/conditions.htm. It's possible that ...
Post Surgery Problems12/20/2006
  Q: the surgery was due to extreme pain in my left arm and I could not sit or stand due to the pain. An ...
  A: The only things that would put more pressure on the nerves when you use your arms is muscles. I ...
can you help12/20/2006
  Q: I'm writing to you for my boyfriend. He works out, lifts weights and runs on a regular basis. His ...
  A: Kim, Good he stopped working out; I would have suggested that. Pinched nerves come from overtight ...
pain in r shoulder and in the middle of shoulder blades12/20/2006
  Q: i have been having pain in my right shouler and in the middle of my shouler blades and sometimes in ...
  A: Edie Benoit, Sounds like you're musclebound and sore in the involved areas, as odd as these places ...
shoulder & neck pain12/19/2006
  Q: I was in a auto accident in September, we were hit from behind while we were sitting still. I had ...
  A: Jodi, The sudden movement of the accident triggered muscle spasms. That's the pain. TIght neck ...
Post Surgery Problems12/19/2006
  Q: After C6 and 7 surgery I have had continuos pain. But what worries me the most are two things that ...
  A: The swelling in your neck is in the C6/7 area, and it may not be swelling, but muscular contractions ...
pain12/12/2006
  Q: I was in an auto accident a couple years ago. MRI report showed at C4-5 and C5-6 mild central disc ...
  A: Tina, It means that muscles in your neck went into contraction and are compressing your discs, and ...
C5-C6 protrussion and annular tear following car accident12/12/2006
  Q: I am a 35 year old female who had a car accident back in Feb 2006, since then I have suffered ...
  A: Collette, Back off the idea of surgery, for now. The symptoms indicate compressed nerves, the ...
headaches12/11/2006
  Q: I sometimes get throbbing headaches that I think may be related to cracking my neck/back. Sometimes ...
  A: Emily, The desire to crack your neck comes from the discomfort of tight neck muscles. Tight neck ...
Numbness in thigh11/30/2006
  Q: I am 28 years old and have had no history of back pain or any back-related problems. (Occasionally ...
  A: It's already gone away; what you want is for it to come back. Back pain indicates excessive ...
Cervical double disc fusion surgury11/30/2006
  Q: I have been suffering for roughly 6 years with neck,arm/hand and shoulder blade pain,as well as ...
  A: Renee, Disc bulges indicate excessive tension in back muscles. Your neck, arm and shoulder blade ...
strained muscle inside ribcage (back)11/29/2006
  Q: I am a 45 year old form carpenter. A couple of months ago, while at work, I think that I pinched a ...
  A: Deborah, Could be (and sounds like) a displaced rib head, probably pulled out of position by ...
anterior annular tears11/27/2006
  Q: do you have any experience of anterior annular tears in the upper lumbar area causing localised ...
  A: Francis, I don't have experience with anterior annular disc tears. However TOS originates from ...
Severe Muscle Strain?11/20/2006
  Q: Dr. Gold, In May I hurt my neck...nothing that stands out happened. It was as if it came out of the ...
  A: By now, you know how effective adjustments, massaging and stretching are for the muscle spasms in ...
Auto Accident Back Pain11/20/2006
  Q: I was rear ended at about 35 mph. I was wearing my selt belt. Other than initially feeling shook ...
  A: The ER people were wrong. It's not muscle strain (implying damage); it's muscle spasm (contraction ...
Neck strain that never heals11/19/2006
  Q: Occasionally I get a strained neck muscle while sleeping. Pain on flexing of the deep muscle that ...
  A: Martin, It's important to distinguish between an injury and a spasm. Injuries require time to heal ...
back pain ankle pain11/11/2006
  Q: In Dec 2004 i fell down a man hole,my right leg went completly down the manhole my left ankle stayed ...
  A: Alex, The muscular reaction to injury is universal: muscular contractions. That alone can account ...
herniated disc11/10/2006
  Q: My name is Tina and I'm 20 years old. I got herniated disc 4 month ago while I was in the labor. I ...
  A: Tina, Yes. I think the pain is from contracted (tight, fatigued) muscles. The herniation is a ...
back/neck/arm problem11/8/2006
  Q: Pain started in right upper back w/spasm; radiated into shoulder and right lower arm. I have a ...
  A: John, Since you understand that you have a muscle spasm, the question becomes, "how do you end the ...
back is locking up11/8/2006
  Q: my back is locking up which causes me to fall. the concerning thing that the dr's can't figure out ...
  A: Chris, Your car accident is why your back is locking up and why you have bulging discs; the typical ...
Herniated disc11/3/2006
  Q: After two MRI's and two catscans, the doctors came up with different diagnosis.My symptoms began ...
  A: Ronn, A herniated disc is usually a sign of muscular contractions, which compress the disc. The ...
constant pain10/31/2006
  Q: my doctor says ive damaged my discs in my spine,ive been in constant pain for about 10 months now. I ...
  A: Lisa, Disc damage is either a long-term consequence of muscular contractions in the muscles along ...
Problem Abs10/29/2006
  Q: Am a 36 years old Indian male working in Dubai. I have been suffering from a condition since past ...
  A: Kalim, The first thing is to stop opening the door that way. You've conditioned your muscles to go ...
tingling fingers10/28/2006
  Q: When i sit upright my left hand tingles,if i tilt my head to the right ,it goes away.What could ...
  A: Mo, Sound like a typical nerve impingement in your neck. If so, tight muscles are involved. You ...
area above the hip10/19/2006
  Q: I have reduced somewhat the functional scoliosis that I did have as well as various bad posture ...
  A: Sounds like your obliques are involved and possibly the iliacus muscle. But no stretching or ...
numbness in hands and feet.10/17/2006
  Q: I was the victim of a brodside("T"boned) accident on may 2 2005 the result was minor wiplash and ...
  A: Chris, You can discount the degenerative disc disease and loss of disc height; these are long-term ...
Neck injury10/15/2006
  Q: I got into a car accident a couple of days ago, the other party was at fault, right afterwards my ...
  A: Laura, Delayed soreness is common with whiplash injuries. That sounds like what you've got, ...
Head & neck injury10/13/2006
  Q: I am doing some research for a friend. She was hit by a forklift at work 2yrs ago. Was knocked ...
  A: Sherrie, The first thing is that your friend must take responsibility for her own recovery. That ...
back craking10/13/2006
  Q:
  A: Yep, you're musclebound, probably the result of how you work out. Cracking and being musclebound go ...
neck pain part ii10/12/2006
  Q: I wrote Sunday about aggravating a neck injury from 1997. I saw a spine specialist on Tuesday, and ...
  A: John, While cortizone is an anti-inflammatory, it also causes breakdown of connective tissue -- and ...
Disc/head pain10/11/2006
  Q: Trying to keep this brief...For the past 16 months, I have had a head discomfort. It is very hard to ...
  A: Ronn, Do not get a nerve block until you have tried the option I suggest. Surgery is irreversible. ...
Clicking in lower back10/11/2006
  Q: I have clicking in L4/L5 part of my spine. I also have a broadly herniated disk there and an MRI ...
  A: Could be bone-on-bone friction at facet joints or the twanging of tendons as they pass over bony ...
Tingling Face10/10/2006
  Q: A couple of months ago, I got my first neck adjustment from a chiropracter. A few weeks later, my ...
  A: The symptoms you describe are typical of contracted neck muscles. What's frightening to people is ...
neck,sholder and arm pain10/10/2006
  Q: i have pulled a muscle in right side of neck which pain goes all down forarm sometimes to wrist most ...
  A: Steve, Sounds like you have a muscle spasm. No fun, but not dangerous. Understamd your condition ...
Ruptured Disk10/10/2006
  Q: I am a single 73 yr old female with a ruptured disk which pinched the sciatic nerve with gel loss. ...
  A: Dr. Basmajian's exercises are harmless and can help with lower back pain. You should not refrain ...
Ruptured Disk10/9/2006
  Q: I am a single 73 yr old female with a ruptured disk which pinched the sciatic nerve with gel loss. ...
  A: Betty, It is my understanding that surgery for a ruptured disc involves aspirating (sucking out) ...
Trampoline Injury10/8/2006
  Q: I'm 37 and in good health/shape. 4 months ago I was at a party and got on a friend's trampoline. ...
  A: Will, They're right about one thing: it involves your musculature. But I think they're wrong ...
leg & back Pain10/8/2006
  Q: I have this severe pain in my lower back and my left leg. The worst pain is in the left leg. It has ...
  A: Diana, Sounds like muscular contractions, in this case a conditioned response, probably to a past ...
neck pain10/8/2006
  Q: This past summer I aggravated an old neck injury from 1997. In the initial injury, I fell headfirst ...
  A: John, Your doctors missed the obvious: muscular contractions -- typical of any kind of ...
Herniated disc10/6/2006
  Q: I have been suffering with back/leg pain for the past 5 years. I was afraid to get a MRI done so my ...
  A: Lisa, A more conservative (less invasive) approach is called for, first. I won't speculate on what ...
Neck Pain10/6/2006
  Q: I'm a 50 year old man and for about 5 years now I have had painful neck stiffness on the left side ...
  A: Brison, Yes -- what causes neck muscles to tighten (they don't stiffen) is your brain, the control ...
Pinched Nerve?10/5/2006
  Q: Last night I was awakened by terrible leg pain that seemed to run from the side of my hip all the ...
  A: Briana, Worry, no. Act, yes. You may have had a spastic tensor fascia lata, a muscle that ...
cervical collars10/5/2006
  Q: is there a way one can get relief from pressure points while wearing cervical collar. My daughter ...
  A: Mary, Until the tissues affected by surgery heal, the collar should be used. However, the reason ...
BACK AND LEG PAIN10/3/2006
  Q: MY DAUGHTER IS 9 YRS OLD AND SHE IS HAVING LOW BACK PAIN AND LEG PAIN THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 5 ...
  A: The "knot" in your daughter's back is in fact the most significant indication of what's going on: ...
posible confusion10/3/2006
  Q: Is it true that damaged nerve by epidural can't be fixed?My name is Tina and I am 20 years old. A ...
  A: Tina, A damaged nerve can't be "fixed", but nerves sometimes regenerate (heal) by themselves. It's ...
posible confusion10/1/2006
  Q: My name is Tina and I am 20 years old. A three months ago I gave a birth with epidural. I start to ...
  A: Tina, I can't answer your question about nerve compression from a herniation being confused with a ...
Neck pain whip lash they said9/30/2006
  Q: Answer - Scott, Whiplash injuries happen just the way you described. Muscles go into contraction ...
  A: Have you read the article, as I suggested? Once you handle the muscular control issue, the pain and ...
Back problems causing dumbness9/28/2006
  Q: two weeks ago a got a severe pain in my left side behind my ribs. less than two hours later I ...
  A: Barb, Sounds like nerve impingements. Surprised that MRT and CT didn't show that. Perhaps the ...
back9/28/2006
  Q: i was rolling a very heavy client on the bed which should have been two carers and there wasnt and ...
  A: You have contracted back muscles in a state of fixation. Please see the articles on back pain at ...
back pain prevention9/28/2006
  Q: I'm an amateur boxer from Belgium. After a training on the bags and some shadowboxing, I felt a ...
  A: Here are answers, in order. 1) Embark on a program of conditioning that improves your ability to ...
undiagnosed back injurie9/28/2006
  Q: I work on a shipping dock. While at work the product that I was lifting slipped on lotion that was ...
  A: Your doctor has missed the obvious: you have back muscles in spasm, provoked by the sudden ...
Back/Leg Pain9/27/2006
  Q: I fell down a flight of concrete stairs and have had 2 fusion surgeries (L5-S1 & L5) and also have a ...
  A: Cathy, First thing, don't panic. Both injuries and surgeries provoke the same kind of ...
pain in middle toupper back between shoulder blades9/24/2006
  Q: for about a month now ive been experiancing pain in my middle to upper back between my shoulder ...
  A: Muscular contractions cause those sensations, as well as the cracking and stiffness of the neck. ...
C5-C6 Herniation8/14/2006
  Q: What are some good exercises/stretches I can do to help with the stiffness? I sit all day at a desk ...
  A: First, stop thinking in terms of stretches and think in terms of getting enough control of your neck ...
Arm and leg numbness with pain8/13/2006
  Q: About 3 months ago I sustained a lifting injury with shooting pains from my buttocks and down my ...
  A: Sounds like nerve impingements with possible disc problems, provoked by your lifting action. Muscle ...
Bulging L5 disc and annular tear of same disc8/10/2006
  Q: I started having severe back pain in early 2002. I saw my internist, who ordered an x-ray. The x-ray ...
  A: Kristen, Whereas annular disc tears cause their own problems, the additional possible problem is ...
Back Pain8/8/2006
  Q: I have been experiencing some back pain in the middle of my back on the left side. It feels like a ...
  A: Pinched nerves usually come from tight muscles. Medication can't help with tight muscles, since ...
lower back8/7/2006
  Q: I was on a trampoline about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. I was jumping very high with another jumper and the ...
  A: A constant ache sounds like muscle tension. Try the movement pattern at somatics.com/page4.htm -- ...
Neck/upper back injury8/6/2006
  Q: I was at a child's playbarn on thursday when I fell backwards from a low height landing on my neck ...
  A: Anna, I can't be sure, from your description. Tingling down the arms could be from muscular ...
Shoulder/side pain/MRI8/5/2006
  Q: My husband had neck surgery about 8 years ago and back surgery approximately 6 years ago. For the ...
  A: The condition at L5-S1 would have nothing to do with shoulder and rib pain. Muscular contractions ...
Shoulder/side pain/MRI8/5/2006
  Q: My husband had neck surgery about 8 years ago and back surgery approximately 6 years ago. For the ...
  A: Here's the contribution of another Somatic Education provider: Mala J. Aeto: Lawrence, if the guy ...
headache8/4/2006
  Q: I am a 17 adolescent who always experience headaches and dizziness. I also felt very tired even ...
  A: Edwin, Sounds like you are beset by muscular contractions. Were you in a car or sports accident? ...
neck pain8/4/2006
  Q: i was in a car accident over 2 years ago i have been having neck pain ever since i have been to a ...
  A: Bones go where muscles pull them. Whiplash injuries set up muscular contractions in the neck. ...
Chronic Back Pain with nerve damage8/2/2006
  Q: I have had three back surgeries at L5-S1. The first a discectomy, the other a lumbar fusion, and ...
  A: Your inquiry reveals the basic flaws in surgery as an approach to back pain. There are two. 1) ...
BACK AND NECK8/2/2006
  Q: HAD A LIFTING INJURY OVER 2 YEARS AGO INJURED BACK AND NECK MOST PAIN IS IN RT SIDE HAD MRI ON BACK ...
  A: Yes. Lifting injuries typically involve back muscles going into spasm (contractions that don't let ...
Herniated Disk L-5 S-17/31/2006
  Q: I am a 42 year old female. I am obese, have carpel tunnel in both hands, arthritis, Asthma, ...
  A: It's unlikely surgery would help. Tingling and numbness are signs of nerve impingements, almost ...
no subject7/28/2006
  Q: male 54 yrs. old ,not sure how this started ,either lifting weight or as the result of sitting long ...
  A: The disc bulge is only one aspect of the problem and not the cause, to begin with. Being crooked is ...
BACK INJURY /FITNESS7/27/2006
  Q: I fell down a flight of stairs a year ago and the end results are spondylolistsis L4 & L5 grade 2 ...
  A: Tanya, First, understand that apart from tissue damage (ruptured disc), muscular contractions ...
disc bulge7/24/2006
  Q: I used to be an elite athlete rowing twice a day. September 09 2005 i no longer could row, the pain ...
  A: Daer Ashlyn, A disc bulge isn't an injury and therefore healing is not the issue; it's a sign that ...
neck and face tingling7/23/2006
  Q: I have been experiencing a few strange symptoms for the past 3 months. These include tingling in ...
  A: In a word, yes. Sounds like a nerve impingement. Generally, these results from entrapment of a ...
Past Surgery7/22/2006
  Q: I have had disk removel at L5/S1 with ray cages about 7 years ago with great results, about a year ...
  A: Bob, Here's the germaneWhy did you need to have the disc removed? Before you answer, go to the ...
Lower Back Injury7/22/2006
  Q: About three weeks ago I jumped off of a 40 foot cliff into water at a lake and sustained a lower ...
  A: Lyndsey, Sounds like you got shocked by the fall and have muscular contractions in your low back, ...
disc degeneration following a road traffic accident.6/19/2006
  Q: I was in a road traffic accident in october 2005 and I was diagnosed with whiplash injuries and and ...
  A: No, Nicola, you aren't losing your mind. Your medical practitioners just don't understand whiplash ...
neck injury - chronic pain6/17/2006
  Q: I strained my neck weightlifting about 26 years ago. I was doing a hack squat, and foolishly threw ...
  A: Dwight, Years ago, I had as a client an Olympic power lifter with a similar problem: neck spasms ...
Central disc protusion6/14/2006
  Q: I just got my results of my MRI of The Cervical Spine and the following was noted, what does this ...
  A: Leticia, Disc protrusions indicate excessive pressure on the discs, generally due to overtight neck ...
Thorasic Spine6/12/2006
  Q: Around four years ago, I was in a car accident, hit from behind at a stop light. MRI's of the ...
  A: Louie, I'm sorry to hear of your suffering. The key to understanding your condition has to do with ...
spinal cord6/11/2006
  Q: Can a mild curvature in the spine cause chronic pain for an adult, especially while sitting ...
  A: It's not the curvature the causes the pain, but the muscular actions that cause the curvature. ...
Neuralgia... Sciatica???6/11/2006
  Q: Gold, Let me give you a little bit of my history: Almost 2 years ago I was injured on a roller ...
  A: It's not true that there's not much you can do for nerve pain. Actually, it's a pretty basic ...
Back Injury Recurrance6/9/2006
  Q: I had a laminectomy of the L4-5 a few years ago. Everything worked out great and I even resumed my ...
  A: Dan, In a word, no -- at least, not usually. Surgery is not an appropriate treatment for sciatica ...
Injury6/6/2006
  Q: Yes, I would appreciate a reccomendation from you, that would be great. These muscles spasms mainly ...
  A: The problem is that muscles don't relax when in resting positions unless your brain conditioning ...
Injury6/6/2006
  Q: I beleive that I have injured my external abdominal oblique muscle on my right side. I have been ...
  A: Pain does not necessarily (or with muscles) usually indicate an injury, but a state of contraction. ...
back pain6/3/2006
  Q: Hey Lawrence, i'm a 15 year old athlete from Buffalo, NY. My back has been killing me... mostly my ...
  A: Jake, Tight back muscles get sore and lead to the desire to crack your back. You need to improve ...
Could my dizziness be from a neck problem?5/30/2006
  Q: I have had problems with dizziness for about 2 years now. I can no longer have a job. I have had a ...
  A: Your subject line, Angela, is more on-point. Neck, eyes, and balance centers (inner ear) are all ...
Lumbar disks and sciatica5/28/2006
  Q: In 2001, I had a multi injury resulting in rotator cuff tears bi-lateral, torn bladder and ...
  A: I think that you have a good option available to you, other than pills or the usual medical pain ...
Back/Neck Injury5/27/2006
  Q: I fell down a storm drain about 6 months ago. One of my legs had been hurting for quite awhile and ...
  A: I wish I could be there to help. I suspect that the symptoms result from the shock to your nervous ...
Am I out of options....5/26/2006
  Q: I have an L5 bulging disc as a result of suden weight gain. I gained a lot of weight in a short ...
  A: You have more than one option. First, we look to the reason you needed Prozac. Emotional distress ...
Movement of bones in neck5/25/2006
  Q: I am 28 years old. I was involved in a minor accident about 7 years ago and I suffered whiplash. I ...
  A: In my practice, when a person has neck trouble, we see three stages. At the worst stage, the ...
Annular disc tear L5/S15/24/2006
  Q: It is very helpful. I tried to view the pages you suggested, but it requires an authorization ...
  A: There should not have been an authorization password (technical glitch) and the problem has been ...
MRI result/head and neck pain5/23/2006
  Q: I'm still confused. I have had neck pain and burning sensation since Jan.05 and torn tendon in the ...
  A: In a word, yes -- but that's a bit of an oversimplification. Body posture and movement reflect ...
Annular disc tear L5/S15/23/2006
  Q: The MRI shows an annular tear L5/S1 and a herniated disc L4/5. The herniation is 15 years old and ...
  A: Christine, In my experience, annular tears require surgery. On the other hand, the symptoms may ...
MRI result/head and neck pain5/23/2006
  Q: I have had neck pain in the occipital area. I usually have right neck pain which radiates down my ...
  A: An array of symptoms can come from neck muscles in contracture, headaches being one of them. ...
thorasic/neck/shoulder pain5/22/2006
  Q: I was involved in a car accident 2 years ago. I was knocked out and was taking to the ER. I suffered ...
  A: Your therapists have, in my view, identified the situation: "... shifted vertabrae due to muscles ...
L5-S1 mild posterior disc bulge5/22/2006
  Q: I just had a MRI on my LSpine. The report reads L5-S1-mild posterior disc buldge that slightly ...
  A: Marybeth, It means that your back muscles are so tight that they're pulling your vertebrae too ...
neck pain5/22/2006
  Q: I have intense pain and swelling in my neck and below the shoulder on my right side. I have a clear ...
  A: You are musclebound in the involved areas. The direct solution is somatic training, whereby you ...
back problems4/28/2006
  Q: i have suffered with back pain for a while in my lower back,i woke up 6 weeks ago with chronic pain ...
  A: Your condition is a typical pattern of back spasm. Your back muscles are musclebound and the only ...
somatics4/24/2006
  Q: Mr. Gold, BACKGROUND: About 5 years ago, I had a spinal compression injury which slightly ...
  A: Bones go where muscles pull them. Stretching and chiropractic can trigger "rebound" spasms and ...
Neuralgia/Neurontin4/22/2006
  Q: After an injury that I sustained on a roller coaster injury a few years ago, I'm still having ...
  A: Your description is typical of muscular contractions the follow whiplash injuries, that, in turn, ...
arm and hand numbness4/18/2006
  Q: I wake up many times a night with a totally numb arm and hand. The side actually switches from night ...
  A: Jane, None of the conditions you cited is responsible for your symptoms; they are all secondary to ...
what could this mean?4/9/2006
  Q: : I went and had a catscan on my brain and neck the results of brainscan was all normal but the neck ...
  A: Kitty, These questions are better answered by your doctor. However, mucosal thickening shouldn't ...
I was wondering if throwing...4/8/2006
  Q: I was wondering if throwing out a disc can be caused by the same things that cause other minor back ...
  A: Jeff, You can't throw out a disc; discs are attached to (actually part of and continuous with) ...
Undiagnosed problem4/6/2006
  Q: I have been experiencing some right rib cage pain for about 4 months now. I first noticed the pain ...
  A: Kristy, Odd that all your doctors missed the obvious: muscle spasm. It fits your descriptions. A ...
what could this be?4/1/2006
  Q: my grandaughter layed her head back on my chest and i felt a popping stinging sensation above my ...
  A: The pain is likely muscular tensions between the involved ribs, which go around to the back. Tight ...
What's wrong with me?3/7/2006
  Q: I'm a 25 y/o female, 5'3 and 108 lbs. I've been experiencing right side pain for the last 3-4 months ...
  A: Kristy, Sounds like you are feeling a very contracted psoas muscle -- contracted and sore. Your ...
Muscle question2/23/2006
  Q: I have had a problem that has occured on the right side of my abdomen, which escallates to the right ...
  A: The simple answer is to feel. Use your hand. Pressure will evoke soreness if it's a contracted ...
whiplash2/16/2006
  Q: I was in a car accident 7 weeks ago where I was hit hard on the side passenger door by one car and ...
  A: Casey, I am not an advocate of traction or especially of massage therapy, as neither improves ...
Symptoms related to back injuries2/16/2006
  Q: My boyfriend fell down stairs and hurt his tail-bone. He ate dinner afterwards, but a little while ...
  A: Well, a fall shocks a person. There's a reaction in the nervous system. If it doesn't clear up by ...
Back problems2/15/2006
  Q: Since a couple of years I have lower back problems that coming and going.I'm 43 now and I'm training ...
  A: Andreas, The sensations you describe usual come from tight muscles, incapable of relaxing due to ...
herniated disk2/12/2006
  Q: i have a herniated disk that cause pain to my left foot,what is my options ,i take medicines arcoxia ...
  A: Yes. Disc herniation (bulge) is caused by overcompression of discs by tight back muscles. The ...
lower back pain1/2/2006
  Q: I have the following problem "When I sit down and after half an hour I get up, I cannot stand ...
  A: What you have sounds like a muscular tension problem, particularly of the psoas muscles. An ...
I have degenerative disc disease...1/1/2006
  Q: I have degenerative disc disease and multiple herniated discs, including in the cervical spine area. ...
  A: First, understand the origin of degenerative disc disease and herniated discs: disc overcompression ...
whiplash12/26/2005
  Q: I was in a car accident on Sat. morning and I think I have whiplash as a result of it. I will ...
  A: Casey, The point is not whether one receives PT, but whether one restores normal muscular control ...
Somatics book vs Free Yourself from Back Pain12/19/2005
  Q: I have had back pain since the age of 18 am now 48 and have suffered many rounds of back spasms and ...
  A: In a word, yes. But keep on with and complete Thomas Hanna's somatic exercises. If you want, you ...
NHS treatment of slipped disc12/17/2005
  Q: I am suffering from severe sciatica which I beleave is due to a slipped disc. I had a sudden ...
  A: I'm going to bypass most of your questions and go to the heart of the matter. Sciatica can be ended ...
lumps on my back12/5/2005
  Q: I recently was feeling extreme pain on my lower back. The pain was like no other pain I ever felt ...
  A: Miguel, When muscles contract, they shorten and thicken; those are the lumps. Contracted muscles ...
Pain in Neck and Back12/2/2005
  Q: I have been having pain in my neck and back for a minimum of 6 years. I am now 23 years old and at ...
  A: OK. In brief, you need to retrain your control of your neck muscles, and that should be altogether ...
Bulged disc in neck10/24/2005
  Q: I am 23 years old. About 4 years ago, I noticed this 'burning' type of pain in my back/right ...
  A: Rachel, What you're describing sounds like one or more tight muscles in your neck. Tight muscles ...
head pain and neck pain10/24/2005
  Q: I am 27 and i am female, white. I have been diagnosed with migraines and high blood pressure. For ...
  A: The doctors who said you have muscle spasms are correct. If your other doctor doesn't listen to ...
herniated disc10/17/2005
  Q: I have a herniated disk in my lower back. I have been seeing a chiropractor and his tretments have ...
  A: Yes to a recommendation: First of all, understand that it's not the strengthening that is helping; ...
Noticed bumb right below tailbone9/18/2005
  Q: I noticed a second bump about 1/4-1/2" below my tail bone. It goes down through (for lack of a ...
  A: There is no second bone -- but there is a muscle, the "levator ani" (look it up). There's a ...
chronic neck pain9/18/2005
  Q: my boyfriend can't laterally turn or flex his head to either side. It began about two weeks ago, ...
  A: There's nothing you can do. He has to retrain those muscles, himself. His best bet is to see a ...
neck injury9/17/2005
  Q: In June I was lifting an overstuffed laundry bag and felt a pain at the left side of my neck and ...
  A: The likelihood that the incidents are related is high. However, you almost certainly already had ...
back pain (UK)9/4/2005
  Q: Hope you can help. When I was 16 (now 36)I worked in a brewery and used to wash out the beer ...
  A: Tony, Sounds like you are muscle-bound in your back. You need to reset the resting tonus of those ...
back problems9/4/2005
  Q: I have a friend who's been having back and hip problems. He said it's always there. It has its good ...
  A: N. Most of the symptoms you describe may originate from muscular tension and muscle fatigue -- ...
Surgical possibility?8/29/2005
  Q: Seven years ago, I was involved in a car crash. I was at a complete stop, as was the car in front ...
  A: Surgery is a crude option. Understand that discs don't just sort of ... "bulge" ... They get ...
arm and leg numbness/aching8/22/2005
  Q: I recently began a new job where I am sitting at a desk all day. I noticed in the first week of ...
  A: The feeling of limbs falling asleep is probably due to nerve impingement (probably in your neck and ...
neck pain8/22/2005
  Q: I watch a seven month old baby 2 days a week .I notice on these days that i get a pain sometimes on ...
  A: Avoiding jokes about babies being a pain in the neck, that kind of pain is usually from tight, ...
SI JOINT / piriformis stretch8/21/2005
  Q: i am now a 38 year old male of good health except i have all kinds of problems or possibly pain ...
  A: Let's cut to the core of the issue: stretching. Stretching, despite the overwhelming popular and ...
hip muscle spasms8/17/2005
  Q: I am a 67 year old active retiree. I have recurring problems with spasms of the large muscle over ...
  A: Yes, Mary, Muscle spasms occur in muscles over which you have lost some control. The reasons for ...
Dear Sir, My husband had...7/27/2005
  Q: My husband had two back operations to remove cartridges from discs 4/5 then again in discs 5 and 1. ...
  A: If your husband is having nerve pain, then something is pressing on the nerve, somewhere along the ...
Back Pain7/24/2005
  Q: My name is Daxton, and I am 26 years old. Firstly, and I hope this email does not turn into a ...
  A: The pain and loss of function you describe correspond to excessive muscular tension in the areas of ...
Back pain7/22/2005
  Q: I have been suffering from lower back pain in my kidney areas on both sides for about ten years now. ...
  A: As to water, start with small amounts many times during the day. Without adequate water, it is very ...
Back pain7/22/2005
  Q: I have been suffering from lower back pain in my kidney areas on both sides for about ten years now. ...
  A: Your kidneys are not in your lower back area; they are in your mid-back area. Sounds like you're ...
neck7/9/2005
  Q: Compresed disc at C5,C6.in injury in 1998. Had injection treatments in 2000. am now haveing stabing ...
  A: C.J., I can't address your memory loss -- except that by observing your spelling, it makes me ...
BACK INJURY7/6/2005
  Q: ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND WAS REFERRED TO A CHIROPRACTOR FOR MY LOWER BACK ...
  A: See an orthopedic doctor to rule out vertebral fracture or disc tear. If your problem is strictly ...
Lower Back pain and Vax D7/5/2005
  Q: I have lower back pain, had it now for probably 10 years, I have had some Chiropratic, and it has ...
  A: I don't have information on Vax D. The method I recommend does not rely upon external devices or ...
defining a medical term7/5/2005
  Q: could you kindly explain what the term "permanent and stationary"as it pertains to a disability.i ...
  A: The term, "permanent and stationary", means that your medical practitioners believe there is nothing ...
Chronic Low Back Pain6/27/2005
  Q: I have had chronic low back pain for 10 years. It started with my last pregnancy (#2) and worsened ...
  A: The array of symptoms you describe point to pinched nerves exiting your spine at the low back. If ...
Low Back 5mm disk bulge6/26/2005
  Q: I have experienced low back pain for 6 months now. I had twins a year ago. Eight weeks after I ...
  A: Cameron, I am a yoga instructor with expertise in prenatal and postnatal fitness and yoga. I ...
back pain and carrying of babies6/24/2005
  Q: using biomechanics to explain, can a woman with back ache in the lumbar region carry a baby on the ...
  A: Akosua, On further consideration, I believe I misunderstood your question. Carrying a baby on ...
lower back pain6/24/2005
  Q: I have a lower back injury, caused possiably by lifting or strain. However i am worried that it may ...
  A: Tim, The whole thing sounds like muscular contractions and muscle fatigue (soreness). Accidents ...
compressed disc6/23/2005
  Q: My mom had a hip replaced and now has a compressed disc that is painful. Any connnection between ...
  A: Neil, The common response to injury and pain (including surgical wounds) is to cringe/tighten up. ...
Back pain6/20/2005
  Q: 4 years ago I had surgery for an L2/3 hernation. It has left me with numbness to the left of the ...
  A: Elaine, First clarification: muscles don't cause other muscles to tighten up; the brain causes ...
neck, back, jaw injury6/15/2005
  Q: About 3 months ago, I was injured when my airbags deployed in my car. Since then, I have been ...
  A: Your GP is incorrect. Dizziness is a common consequence of neck tension, as the muscles of the ...
spinal cord injury6/11/2005
  Q: i injured my spinal cord about 3 years ago. my right leg felt like a sudden lightning bolt from my ...
  A: If your paralysis went away, then you didn't injure your spinal cord. You probably had a pinched ...
I need to know which treatment may be best6/9/2005
  Q: I have had two back surgeries, both for hearniated disk. Since my last surgery a year ago, I have ...
  A: Of the two options, negative pressure is the better choice -- but neither is the best choice. The ...
Reptured Disk6/5/2005
  Q: " I have a reptured disk in my lower back,causeing pain down my right leg.about 2 mounths ago i went ...
  A: Please see the articles on back pain at somatics.com/page4.htm for detailed answers to your ...
Posture/pain6/4/2005
  Q: I am 19 and for years now my family has yelled at me because I have a bad habit of leaning my head ...
  A: Tom, That kind of posture is usually NOT the result of weak back muscles, but of overly tight ...
neck posture5/29/2005
  Q: i am a 22 year old female ,all through grade school to college i remember being the only one ...
  A: The pain has nothing to do with chocolate, but a head-forward position puts strain on the back and ...
Mri Results and treatment options??5/13/2005
  Q: I just recently had a lower back MRI after experiencing numbness is right foot, outside right lower ...
  A: Disc herniations commonly result from overcompression. Overcompression is most commonly caused by ...
back pain5/12/2005
  Q: About a month ago, my airbags in my car deployed unexpectedly. Since then, I have had neck ...
  A: It's probably not about your jaw, but about the shock of your car's airbags inflating and the blow ...
Lifting injury5/10/2005
  Q: I received your e-mail with the preview and will have to get instruction on how to download it, in ...
  A: Until you get those muscles under control, they are likely to cause the same problems with the same ...
bulge of L4-L5 disc5/9/2005
  Q: among the other back problenms that i have i also have a bulge of the l4-l5 disc. that is what the ...
  A: You have proceeded in a most intelligent manner. There is something effective you can do. The ...
lower back pain5/8/2005
  Q: My boyfriend has been to many specialists including an orthropedic surgeon nothing seems to help he ...
  A: Michelle, Lower back pain is usually a result of tight back muscles. These muscles often relax to ...
Lifting injury5/5/2005
  Q: I'm a female, 52, good health. Lifting rocks started my current problem. I have read your Q&As and I ...
  A: The pinching usually comes from tight muscles in the area. Likewise, soreness. Thinning of the ...
Micro Discectomy and Laminectomy5/4/2005
  Q: I had a microdiscectomy and laminectomy of the lumbar 4-5 area. I herniated the disc all the way out ...
  A: Most often, herniated discs result from muscular contractions of the muscles along the spine, which ...
Neck discs4/3/2005
  Q: Had an MRI and it showed degenerative disc disease with narrowing of spinal canal.Disc 4-5,5-6,6-7. ...
  A: The multiplicity of symptoms indicates that more may be going on than spinal problems due to ...
lower back pain3/29/2005
  Q: What type of exercises and stretches should I do to strengthen my back so that I can avoid lower ...
  A: Leighton, Generally, back problems involve muscles in contraction (the back muscles being ...
Pinched nerve3/24/2005
  Q: I've been experiencing pain & numbness in my legs for over 3 months. If surgery is necessary what ...
  A: James, I can't answer the question as you have asked it; not enough information on your special ...
lower back injury - safe exercises3/24/2005
  Q: My husband has had 8 lower back surgeries and a failed pseudo-fusion in the past 10 years. He has ...
  A: Yes! First, Shari, reconsider stretching. A better approach than stretching is available: ...
Ibuprofin Long term Use3/20/2005
  Q: I take 800 - 1600 mg of Ibuprofin daily for back and neck pain from disc issues (issues since 1984). ...
  A: Dave, You're asking the wrong question. The question to ask is, "What are the long term ...
Cronic Back Pain3/16/2005
  Q: My husband has had 3 back surgeries and now had a herniated disk and siatica. He is on high doses ...
  A: Nancy, Herniated discs and sciatica typically result from contracted muscles. No surgery can ...
Back probs3/10/2005
  Q: I have been seeing a chiropractor now for a few mths as some low left back pain started back in ...
  A: Nicola, Muscles can get conditioned to stay too tight and that can cause pain and joint locking. ...
MRI reading3/1/2005
  Q: I had an MRI done of my cervical area. The results came back as degenerative disc disease with 3 ...
  A: Debbie, Bone spurs, narrowing discs, headaches and nerve symptoms arise from heightened and ...
muscle recovery/pain2/28/2005
  Q: An injury occured on my left rotator cuff a couple years ago when im out on the driving range ...
  A: Soreness and restricted movement are indications that the muscles involved are tight and fatigued. ...
neck/shoulder pain2/24/2005
  Q: I have had pain in my shoulder area for about 3 years. I have recently been told that I have a ...
  A: Pinched nerves commonly come from muscular contractions in the area of the pinch. Disc herniations, ...
lower back spasms2/20/2005
  Q: I have recently began the first somatic lessons (loosing extensors and flexors) from Hanna's ...
  A: Spasms are a sign that you haven't developed enough control of the involved muscles or that muscles ...
MRI Report2/15/2005
  Q: I have been having almost chronic lower back pain for about 5 months. I have been going to a ...
  A: Disc bulging, pain, nerve sensations (around hip bones) and scoliosis are typical consequences of ...
lumbar strain1/11/2005
  Q: I have a lumbar strain this is the 2 time. I would like to know if a back support would help me not ...
  A: Sherri, The problem with lumbar pain is generally tight muscles; those are all there is to get ...
BULGED DISC IN NECK W/CYST AND ARTHRITIS1/6/2005
  Q: I had an MRI FOR THE FIRST TIME OF PAIN FOR 3 YEARS NOW, I was told 3 years ago that I had a Cyst in ...
  A: Crissy, The cyst may require surgery, but should be relatively minor surgery. Discs bulge when put ...
Question about pinched nerve?? Well possile pinched nerve??!?!1/6/2005
  Q: Yes, I am a white female in her mid to late 30s and for the past 2 months I have been noticing ...
  A: Tammy, It does sound just like a pinched nerve in your neck, and it won't cripple you, but you ...
bone spur--neck1/5/2005
  Q: The Somatics website looks very interesting but will take me awhile to go through it all. I now ...
  A: Steve, The matter of dietary deficiency (or excess) wouldn't explain why bone spurs form WHERE they ...
bone spur--neck1/5/2005
  Q: I had an x-ray because of neck pain. The x-ray showed I had a bone spur. Do you know what causes a ...
  A: Steve, A bone spur forms at the attachment of tendon (muscle-end) to bone and forms in the ...
ears or neck1/3/2005
  Q: ----DEAR LAWRENCE it's so hard to believe that muscles can cause so much agony and fear i guess you ...
  A: The best option is to see me or a somatics practitioner proficient in dealing with that area of the ...
ears or neck1/1/2005
  Q: need some help here have recently been having some problems with ears..nose and throat...I have had ...
  A: Helen, There are muscles that run down the back of the throat and up to the eustachian tubes. ...
Nerve freezing12/31/2004
  Q: My wife had a polar fusion in her back back in February. The original pain in her back is gone but ...
  A: Can't answer about success rate, but there's another factor. It is most common for back trouble to ...
back pain12/25/2004
  Q: "sir/madam..my age wife 40...my wife get back pain in early morning after intercourse on night..what ...
  A: If your wife has back pain, it's probably because the muscles are tight and fatigued (sore). ...
pinched nerve12/23/2004
  Q: my husband has been in pain for 2 months with a pinched nerve in the shoulder and first they said it ...
  A: What you have described sounds typical of a pinched nerve. Anti-inflammatory meds are not useful, ...
Neck pain12/20/2004
  Q: 8 months ago my 6 year old son was hanging on the back of my hatch back of my suv and brought it ...
  A: The typical response to any shock or injury is to tighten up -- in this case, the muscles of your ...
muscular physique12/19/2004
  Q: Are overdeveloped muscles permanent? If not, what is the best way to lose them?
  A: Jane, One reason muscles overdevelop is that they are opposed by other muscles that are too tight. ...
Neck Problem12/16/2004
  Q: In late Auguast 2004, I was thrown off a mule in Yosemite Park. I was airlifted to a hospital and ...
  A: Joel, It's probably related to the fall -- as a whiplash injury, which sets up neck muscle tension. ...
Back and neck pain12/16/2004
  Q: My partner has recently been diagnosed with having muscular sketetal spasms after 15 months of ...
  A: There is indeed hope for your partner; there is at least one good method of alleviating muscular ...
neck vertabrae12/11/2004
  Q: In 1991 I was in a rollover car accident, I was fine, I thought, until 2 weeks after when I started ...
  A: Holly, Yes, the problem could be muscles. It's typical of whiplash injuries (and surgeries) that ...
Shoulder & side rib/abs with chronic pain12/7/2004
  Q: For 3 years I have had a pain which is I think - in my muscles around the right ribs and this ...
  A: Robert, You're describing what sounds like tight intercostal (between the ribs) muscles. Have you ...
Pain in Right Arm12/6/2004
  Q: Last week I had a pain in my neck on the right side, what older people called a "crook in the neck", ...
  A: Sonja, First of all, the technical term is "crick" in the neck. Nixon was a crook. Do you have ...
lower back spasms12/5/2004
  Q: Husband, 65, has for over a year experienced a 'deep abdominal/lower back spasm' as soon as he goes ...
  A: Your description sounds familiar. It will be necessary for your husband to learn to relax those ...
bulging disks12/3/2004
  Q: I posted earlier in the we