Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site wucs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!wucs!mef From: mef@wucs.UUCP (Mark Frisse) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: Back pain -- Dr. recommendation request Message-ID: <609@wucs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 10:50:10 EST Article-I.D.: wucs.609 Posted: Mon Jan 14 10:50:10 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 15-Jan-85 02:24:08 EST References: <929@ihuxn.UUCP> <416@whuxl.UUCP> <623@voder.UUCP> Organization: Washington U. in St. Louis, CS Dept. Lines: 48 > [sciatic line] > > > > I hope someone out there can recommend a good doctor for the > > > treatment of chronic back pain. My wife has suffered for years, > > > Tom, I wonder if your wife has tried back excerises? Unless, of > > course, there is something *physically* wrong, i.e. damaged such > > as a pinched nerve or slipped disc, I recommed trying the excerise > > route. > > I am a sufferer with some physical back damage; for me exercise HAS helped. > I'll never be free of trouble (while alive), but I'm able to do such things > as vigorous Bulgarian folk dances. I don't lift refrigerators or VAXen > anymore, though. > The doctor at Kaiser Redwood City was useless except for one thing: he sent > me to the physical therapist there. > For those in other parts of the country, Kaiser is a large HMO (health > maintenance organization) with many hospitals etc. > > -- > Gene E. Bloch (...!nsc!voder!gino) > Extend USENET to omicron Ceti. >>>>I have to agree with the general inadequacies of M.D.'s when it comes to treating back pain. In one sense, if a physician is able to asses that the cause of the back pain is not a life-threatening disorder (e.g., retroperitoneal tumors eating away at your spinal cord, nerve root compression, fractured vertebrae), the physician is "useless" and one could have consulted a physical therapist in the first place. But the importance of this step has been made clear to those with serious organic problems who chose physical therapy techniques BEFORE consulting a physician. The key to the whole process is to find a physician who will refer you to the therapist without depleting your wallet first! In jest, I recommend 3 helpful hints for back pain victims: 1. If something works, keep it up. 2. If something doesn't work, stop doing it. 3. Avoid the surgeons!!!! Mark Frisse, M.D. *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***