There are many things that you could do for a low back injury especially if it is chronic and not caused by some recent unfortunate accident, so that your insurance company’s offer covers expenses. First, identify the cause of the problem. Do your research or go straight to a trusted doctor. The first thing I did was google and ask friends for advice. I did the heat therapy and stretches on my own since this is what most of my sports buddies recommended. My back is relieved from the therapy but only for a short period of time. It feels ok for about 1-2 hours then the pain goes back.
1. Heat Therapy
2. Chiropractor
The next thing I did was visit professional Tyler chiropractor. Please note that not all chiros are the same. Do go to a referred doctor and research on the same doctor. Unfortunately, the first chiro I visited does not have a specialty on my condition. He was honest about this. Yet, he did treat me and charged as well.
Then I got an x ray for my sacro-lumbar so I could be ready for my next chiro Dr. Jameson Uy is known to be the godfather of chiro in the Philippines. Even the other chiros would adhere to this. He has 32 years of experience. He was highly recommended by friends.
Dr. Jameson Uy
- Room 1406 Jollibee Centre, San Miguel Avenue
- 633-4204
As Dr. Jameson Uy looked at my sacro-lumbar xray he did not find anything wrong with my bones so he recommended that I go get an MRI so he could treat me. From his experience, he suggested that this could be muscular from overtraining. He asked me to go for MRI and he could treat me for 2 weeks or just rest it for a month. I only paid P500 ($12) for his consultation.
I, then, computed for the MRI ($400) and his fee ($100) and ended up choosing the latter. A week passed by and I was uneasy. I cannot accept that I would not workout for a month until my back heals. Equipped with more learning, I googled what I can do. Walking and swimming are exercises that would work for me. I spent an hour walking or swimming 6x a week.
3. Low Intensity Laser Therapy
Researching some more, I ended up looking at this new therapy called low intensity laser therapy. Recommended by a friend, I visited a clinic in Ortigas called Integrated Laser & Complementary Medicine. They helped me with my low back pain with 12 sessions of laser therapy. They also call it needless acupuncture. http://www.babetravelling.com/2014/11/12/low-intensity-laser-therapy-for-aches-and-pains/
Low intensity laser therapy is known to increase healing for a sore patient. It increases the speed of tissue repair and decreases its inflammation. There are several clinic that has this new technology but I could only recommend what I have tried.
- Integrated Laser & Complementary Medicine
- Unit 2414 Medical Plaza Ortigas, San Miguel Ave., Ortigas, Pasig City
- (02) 477 06 44
- www.integratedlasermedcine.com
My back pain was relieved after the first session but I aggravated it the next day with strenuous activities. I was back to zero and agreed on a 12 session for healing. The first 5 sessions, I felt only a little bit better. Then it was gradually healing from the 6th to the 12th session.
4. Sports doctor
Lastly, another set of friends recommended the known sports doctor for many athletes in the Philippines. He is Dr. Raul Canlas with 26 years of experience.
- Dr. Raul Canlas
- St. Lukes’s
- SEC. YOLLY- 436-7900 /09195208083
This doctor is famous and usually busy but I was able to meet with him. He checked on me and advised that my problem is muscular. I also have a slight lordosis due to my posture. He asked me to stretch my hip flexors and strengthen my hip extensors.
So these are what I have to go through for my back injury. I have learnt from the chiropractor and sports doctor that the pain is from a muscular strain. Heat therapy and stretches helps it but the direct laser therapy sped up its recovery. I also took some anti-inflammatory remedies like drinking turmeric tea and green tea. I said no to tomatoes, nuts and sweets for awhile because they cause inflammation.
