avoid lifting heavy objects.
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Try to use http://www.webmd.com they have great syptom checker.
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Try going to an experienced massage therapist, preferably one that has a background in medical QiGong. They can pinpoint your problem and try to release the spasmed muscles to relieve your pain. The medical QiGong is an energy treatment that will relax your muscles and ease or eliminate your pain.

There is a strong body/mind connection in any illness or injury. Muscle tension is obviously brought on by mental tension.

If you are in northern Illinois, I know someone who can help. If you are not, you’ll have to search yourself for someone local to you. If you are in California, you are in luck. There are many medical QiGong practitioners there.
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try this it will work.
go to the following web site and take it from there.

http://www.realimmortality.com/imusha2004
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Go to the Pain Management doctor. They are NOT psychiatrists. They genuinely help with the pain and are more willing to prsecribe narcotics for pain if they work than other doctors, because most docs (even specialists) are not trained in pain management or educated about pain in general very much. I was in pain for 5years, and SERIOUS pain for a year and half; docs tried to tell me it was all in my head and even after they found the root cause the doc treated me like a junkie because narcotics were what worked, but my Pain Management doc deosn’t and is wonderful. Like I said, they are NOT psychiatrists, they use many modalities to deal with pain. What made you think a pain doc was a psychiatrist?
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Chronic Pain Patient

I read your complaint
At first i have to say that I am a young doctor I am still a general practitioner but I am interested in rhumatology and rehapilitation and also orthopedics
in fact I can say that you put yourself in a dilemma .I think your proplem did not worth all that effort coz you ,as I got ,do not have a serious proplem to be delt with ,so you must know that the psychic factor is very important in the cure process so you must at first consult a well trusted doctor as for you and I have to repeate it ,only one doctor , you have to trust god as well and know that every illness has it"s treatment and nothing will say that your back is free better than the MRI and even if it was a disk prolapse as your history may support that ,it well be treated but you must have some rest and do not think in being athletic at this time till you regain your fittness, god welling ,and if you told me your adress I will try to guide you to consult the well trusted doctor
take care………..
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Don’t apologise for the long details, the more detail the better actually as it helps for practitioners online to see what is wrong.

Firstly the good news – from the sounds of things, you have had a few tests and scans, seen doctors, Chiropractors,orthopaedics and physical therapists. So if they have not found anything serious, then your problem is nothing to worry about.

The bad news – you are still in pain and it is affecting your daily life.

Most doctors and structural therapists are segmentally oriented. This means they only look at the area where you say your pain is – hence you say upper and middle back pain and they look there for the cause.

However the answer lies in what you were doing at the time. You said it started after splitting wood. I assume the pain was felt while you were doing this, and not a build up afterwards. If so then you have injured two main areas.

Firstly you will have muscles and joints in your upper back not functioning correctly. But primarily you will have pelvic and lower back problems. When you split wood, you are using your entire spine and the ‘grunt’ work is done by your lower back.

Although you may not have major pain in your lower back, there will be imbalances there. Once the lower back/pelvis is out of balance you will then create a twisting effect through the spine, which affects the upper back.

As the back tires you will then create the muscles that support the spine to tire also. This is why you get the burning starting in your lower back and then migrating up higher.

Muscles are designed to work in straight lines, hence when there is a twisting in the spine they work out of line. They tire easier and this creates the pain. When pain isn’t there you will also suffer from poor flexibility as the twisting creates this as well.

I know this may sound complex and confusing, but this is a very common problem with the activity you mentioned. Your problem is what can you do?

Firstly, if you decide to see another practitioner, consult a Chiropractor who specialises in Applied Kineisiology. These type of Chiropractors look at the whole spinal structure as well as feet, knees and hips. Find one in your yellow pages directory and call and ask for a FREE assessment first. If they don’t offer one, see some one who does.

If you want to do things at home, you need to look at balancing the pelvis and lower back first, then target the upper back with it. Combining stretches and strengthening techniques (not going to the gym – you need to improve nerve and blood supply to the muscles), along with joint balancing techniques (yes you can actually treat and adjust your own joints safely,easily and effectively).

Do this and your pain should ease even after a few days.

Like you I am sorry for the long winded reply. But to write more on this would take up a few pages, so I can email a instruction booklet on this, or go to http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-solutions-masters-course.html and subscribe to their FREE e-course. It has all the details on what to do for your condition.

Also feel free to email me and I can suggest other ways of finding a good practitioner, or things you can do at home.
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Professional Chiropractic Expert – since 1991, treating chronic and unusual structural conditions.