Around 15 years ago I went to the Doctor because I was having lower back pain. I hadn’t done anything to throw my back out, I didn’t have a job that required lifting. It just hurt like crazy!
After tests and examinations, my Doctor diagnosed me with Lordosis. What? I never heard of it. Explain please.
So Doc sat me down and started explaining.
Lordosis is an increased inward curvature of the lower back. It causes pressure on the entire spine, which in turn causes, pain.
He said it is a cousin to Kyphosis, which is an outward curvature of the upper portion of the spine.(The thoracic portion), which gives the appearance of a huntched back. He also said it is a cousin to Scoliosis, which is a total curvature, like the shape of an S of the entire spine.
Okay, diagnosis is in and explained. Now what?
The treatment of all three diseases is basically the same.(IF caught early enough!)
You can be fitted with a back brace, to sort of force the spine into the correct position or put into a full upper body cast to do the same thing.
I cringed.
Or if that doesn’t work, a final resort would be surgery, if the Doctor thought the progression of the disease warranted it.
’So Doc’, I said.’How long for the brace?’
’Welllllllllll, ’ he said.’ Maybe forever, maybe not.’ It depends on the severity of the actual curvature is how I u nderstood it.
The cast?’Well, that could be 6 months or so.’
’How about the surgery?’ I querried.’Wellllllll, I don’t think you need to go that route.’
What to do? What to do?
2nd opinion time!
Next Doctor suggested some bending and stretching exercises, to be done each morning. This didn’t sound too bad.
He also said I should never sleep flat on my back. He said if I do sleep on my back, I should place a pillow beneath my knees to take pressure off the spine. Or if I sleep on my side, I should place a pillow between my knees for the same reason. Also, if the pain becomes uncomfortable, take 2 aspirin(or Tylenol).
I’ve now been doing these odd exercises, (on hands and knees, raising and lowering my back like a cat.standing with my back to a wall and pushing back as hard as I can against the wall, etc.) for 15 years, getting regular check ups and there has been very little progression of my Lordosis.
I ocassionally get my lower back pain(but don’t we all?).
It’s livable. The exercises work. And that’s all that counts!
My advice to you on disease is, GET A 2ND OPINION! I’d be in a brace or a cast if I hadn’t. Or maybe even have had unnecessary surgery!