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Bulging Disc: Sometimes the Problem isn’t the Problem.
Over the past few years, I have worked with people who were diagnosed with bulging discs multiple times. Three of them come to mind right now. Each of these clients had significant symptoms.
- They had intense pain in their low back.
- They had recently been unable to walk.
- They had received Cortizone shots from their doctor. Some were helped by this and some were not.
- They were all diagnosed with having a bulging disc.
The Hopeless Cycle of Chasing Symptoms
From the client’s perspective, this sort of situation seems hopeless. They have often tried multiple therapies such as chiropractic work, massage therapy, and various things that go along with that including heat, ice, traction, and pain meds. At best, they experienced limited relief.
But what if we start from a different set of assumptions?
What we view the disc issue as a symptom and not a cause?
What if the disk is actually not the source of the pain?
The Pelvis Is the True Puppet Master
Every time that I have successfully help these people, I have not worked with the low back, I have worked with the pelvis. You see, when the pelvis is restricted, the low back has to compensate.
Step 1: Free the Organs First
We start with doing some visceral work. Is the small intestine stuck? Is the bladder free to move? Is the uterus stuck to organs around it? You see, the body is designed to protect the organs and it will gladly tighten up the muscles in order to accomplish this.
Step 2: Unlock the Pelvic Floor and Restore Hip Motion
Once the organs are free, then we can move on to the muscles – particularly the muscles of the pelvic floor. If the pelvic floor is stuck, then the bones of the hips will not be able to articulate properly. If the hips can’t move, then the low back has to compensate. That’s where we get the problem. But once we get that movement, the results are often immediate, dramatic, and permanent.
Tears of Joy on the Table
I remember another prenatal client who came to me with low back pain. She had the same symptoms and her hips were stuck as well. I was able to free them and I went on with my work.
She was laying on her back on the table and she was crying.
She wasn’t crying because of pain, she was crying because of joy.
“You don’t understand. I haven’t been able to lay on my back for months and now I can do it with no pain.”
The Real Takeaway: Remove the Restrictions, Restore Natural Movement
Yes, you might have a bulging disc. You might have severe pain. But when we remove the restrictions and allow your body to move like it is designed to move, the results can be dramatic.