Question
I have been to family Doctor, pain management specialist, and physical therapy, but I still have lower back pain. I'm 30 years old and have never had lower back pain in the past. I have been diagnosed with sacralization. I've done stretching exercises which make the pain worse. It's seems that when I do no exercise it gets better. I've taken pain medication with partly helps, I've used heating pads which seems to make it worse. What can I do to help decrease the pain? I feel if I don't do any exercise I'll just get weak and that will just cause more problems. I work for a wildlife agency, so I do a lot of bending, walking, and carrying large objects etc. Will I have to quit my job? Is a Chiropractor better than physical therapy?

Answer

Hanna Somatic Educatio Hello, Sean.

Your report on your results from stretching is consistent with my understanding.

Let me point you to the write-ups I've done on stretching and on back pain.

http://somatics.com/stretch.htm (a different approach, altogether, clarifies much)
http://somatics.com/back_pain.htm

Neither chiropractic nor physical therapy can effectively free you from the grip of the reflexes tightening your back.  You need retraining, not manipulation.

The write-ups give the answers you seek, plus something you can do for yourself.

While sacralization decreases mobility to some extent, it doesn't explain the pain, as it's an effect, not a cause of another condition that causes pain (see the write-ups).  You can recover your freedom of movement.  Just follow the instructions.

regard,
Lawrence Gold