Details of back pain client

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

Thought I'd see if anyone has any ideas for this client---I think she

would benefit from both herbs and acupuncture:

 

She is a 43 year old woman with several back problems. She has both

low back pain eveningly across the lower lumbar/sacral area and

midback pain around T4 to T7 or 8 (evenly distributed too). The low

back pain bothers her most. It is very tight and stiff, and she says

it feels like a board, " like its someone elses back " . Her back pain

started when she was 15 years old---she has scoliosis. She had a job

where she had to lean over a lot. Later she had a herniated disc at

about L4 or L5, she's not sure--the pain goes down lower to the

sacral area and is up above L4 to about L1 too. Sitting or standing

too long are very painful for her, as well as immobility---so she

moves around a lot---also has restless leg syndrome. The midback pain

started when she had bronchitis, but its not her main complaint.

Anytime she has a virus like a herpes outbreak her low back gets

worse. She used to be a dancer, and now does martial arts (but is

limited from the pain).

 

She tends to be cold, catches EPI's a lot, can get dizzy when she

stands quickly, and the low back pain can be dull and achey in a Kid.

def. way---so I think there is clearly deficiency (liver and kidney

deficient and wei qi)---so perhaps I should be thinking herbs. But

with her back being so stiff and tight I think that she would benefit

from acupuncture. Its been bad enough that she has gotten shots for

the pain, and has started taking anti-inflammatories. She also has

liver Qi stagnation/liver blood and yin deficient symptoms--in

personality and with stools that are dry, round pellets; floaters;

restless leg syndrome that gives her only 5 1/2 hours of sleep a

night (trouble falling and staying asleep). Tends to worry a lot, and

be pretty emotional. Has been " overwhelmed with compassion for the

pain in the world " ever since she had children. Also more irritable.

She says she has high energy---so that must be coming from yin

deficient heat or stagnation. Periods are heavy, and she often spots

from day 7 to day 15 of her cycle.

 

Any ideas about points and/or herbs would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Laura