Case Study:
Back Pain, Lumbar Disc Herniation. The patient is a 58-year-old retiree, formerly a marine police officer in the anti-smuggling speedboat team. It's no joke; chasing smuggling boats in rough seas was very dangerous and hard on the spine. Everyone's bodies were rattled to pieces.
In summer, they endured sun and rain, and in winter, they shivered in the north wind. When they were young, they could handle it and even found it thrilling. The retirement age for disciplined services is 55. He never thought that after retirement, things would get terrible. He saw doctors for two years for neck pain, back pain, and lower back pain, eventually even experiencing numbness in his legs. He was admitted to the hospital for an MRI, which revealed "sciatica," lumbar disc herniation, and degeneration of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine with osteophytes. Surgery was recommended, but he didn't know where to operate given problems in so many areas. The patient was also afraid of surgery. An old colleague recommended acupuncture treatment. At the time, the patient became emotional when describing his symptoms, saying the pain and numbness were unbearable, making him want to die. However, he couldn't bear to leave his wife, who had been steadfastly by his side, accompanying him to doctors everywhere.
It turned out the patient not only had back and leg pain but also anxiety and depression. Please note that among chronic pain patients in Hong Kong, 71% suffer from anxiety, depression, or both, and 38% have their work affected or apply for sick leave. To resolve anxiety or depression, the pain must first be addressed. Without pain, emotions naturally improve. After examination and diagnosis, a treatment plan was immediately devised. I told the patient, "If you don't want surgery, acupuncture combined with Tui Na and bone-setting is the best method. My professional training is specifically for non-surgical treatments." After several treatments, the patient felt much better and actively cooperated with the treatment. He frequently swam and applied heat to the affected area, leading to progressive improvement in his symptoms and a quick recovery. I also reminded the patient that after retirement, it's essential to find something to do, something to learn, even if it's a part-time job or volunteering. Otherwise, he would constantly be seeing doctors. For a man at 58, it's his prime!
Treatment Methods
1. Tui Na: Manual techniques to relax strained and stiff muscles in the lower back and buttocks.
2. Bone-setting: Repositioning techniques to relieve misaligned small joints and spinal disc displacement, reducing nerve compression.
3. Acupuncture: Acupoints selected at tender points in the lower back and buttocks. Acupoints unblock meridians, improve blood circulation, repair damaged areas, and have pain-relieving and swelling-reducing effects.
4. Oral Chinese Medicine: For qi stagnation and blood stasis type: invigorate blood circulation and relax tendons.
For cold-damp impediment type: dispel dampness and cold, unblock impediment and activate collaterals.
For liver and kidney deficiency type: nourish liver and kidney, invigorate blood circulation and unblock collaterals.
Acupuncture is most effective. Additionally, external application of trauma-healing and swelling-reducing plasters, and internal consumption of blood-activating and pain-relieving pills and spleen-strengthening and liver-soothing pills.
Warm Reminder
If lumbar disc herniation becomes more severe, it can lead to the inability to dorsiflex the ankle joint of the affected limb, or affect bowel and bladder incontinence, and severe muscle atrophy of the affected limb. If such symptoms are present, surgical treatment is necessary. Generally, disc herniation does not require surgery. Conservative, non-surgical treatment relies mainly on acupuncture and oral herbal medicine. What patients can do themselves is apply heat using a hot water bottle or electric heating pad to the affected lower back area. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, fried foods, and foods that are considered "damp-toxic." It is advisable to increase swimming; if you cannot swim, try kicking water or walking in water.
Pay attention to keeping warm. Patients with this condition are sensitive to rainy days, humid weather, or cold air conditioning. During the painful and swollen phase, it is advisable to rest in bed more to reduce pressure on the lumbar spine. Avoid lifting heavy objects and strenuous activities like running and jumping. Do not sit on soft sofas or sleep on overly soft mattresses. When working, wear a lumbar brace for protection, but not while sleeping. If the patient is willing to comply and cooperate, recovery will be much faster. Let me reiterate why acupuncture is effective: the key is precise and accurate needling. Acupuncture can stimulate signals to the brain, causing the brain to produce endorphins and other neurochemicals for pain relief. It can also cause immune cells, lymphocytes, white blood cells, and phagocytes to directly reach the affected area to reduce inflammation, swelling, and repair damaged tissues, causing the disc to retract and no longer compress the nerves. Therefore, it is a very good treatment method with no side effects. The main concern is the psychological fear of needles, and of course, the skill and expertise of the practitioner are crucial.
Source: [The Complete Book of Pain - By Zhang Yong]
WhatsApp to enquire or book an appointment (6848 4212)
Sheung Yee Tong Wan Chai Clinic
11/F, YU HONG BUILDING, 90 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Wan Chai MTR Station Exit C
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday 9:30 am-7:00 pm, Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Phone: 2736 7473
Sheung Yee Tong Jordan Clinic
3/F, Kinetic Industrial Centre, 59 Parkes Street, Jordan, Kowloon
Jordan MTR Station Exit C2
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10:00 am-7:30 pm, Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Phone: 2736 7033
Related Pain Conditions / Clinics: Urban Pain Guide · Back Pain · Neck Pain · Wan Chai Clinic · Jordan Clinic · Appointment Booking
Related Clinic-Formulated Products: Shop by Condition · Pain Topicals (Bone Tonic Cream / Plaster) · Signature Bone Tonic Cream · OsteoSoothe · MindRx 30 capsules · Clinic-Formulated Products Description
