Elaine,

What has been your experience working with individuals with persistent back
or neck pain after a spinal fusion? Those with known disc herniations ? Do
you limit them or treat them differently? Do you require a referral from
their treating providers?

Sally Garhart MD
Bedford Occupational and Acute Care
Bedford, NH

Dear Sally:

Having a spinal fusion or herniated discs is painful. Pain increases muscle
tension. Increased muscle tension is one of our bodies response to pain. We
cringe. We tighten, we are trying to find a way to almost protect ourselves
from feeling more pain. This of course exacerbates these problems. By using
the method to reduce the tension, a person can begin to breathe. During
their time doing the work they can feel the tight grip they have on their
muscles easing. As a result the pain eases. As a result many of these people
can begin to move which is essential for them to strengthen the areas that
have the difficulty.
Most therapies want a person to exercise but after surgery or when dealing
with areas that hurt, a person does not want to move. They then get more
stiff,muscle tension further exacerbates the problem and they end up with
the cycling of pain.

My experience working with spinal fusions and herniated disc has been
consistently successful because I am not challenging a person to feel more
pain and push thru it. I am first asking them to feel how much they are
resisting movement and holding their breath. As they understand this process
they can begin to let their muscles ease up enough to move. This then allows
them to lengthen and strengthen their muscles. This will relieve the
herniation and improve their overall range of motion. But first they must
spend time understanding the method enough so they feel confident they can
begin to move again without pain.

Hope this helps.

Best

Elaine
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Elaine,

I have a question about a person who suffers with shin splints. He is a very young runner (17 yrs old) and troubled so much that his training is reduced to aquatic running only.

Q. Is there something associated with this and what is there to look for - other than working with him? I wondered whether tightness in the calf and hamstrings may be associated with this condition. His calf and hamstring muscles are rock hard. Foot alignment problems and imbalance are also a concern, but is there a person he should see to help him diagnosis this? I was told he works very hard and much to his mom’s dislike pain and treatment are getting expensive. She has tried acupuncture, rest and other suggestions from medical personnel.

I had his mom look online at EPM for products and asked her to have him look it over and call with any questions. Are there any tips I should mention on EPM – or any other routines to use in conjunction with EPM for his condition? I also can have him look at other therapies perhaps. I personally have had loads of success with trager.com..this along with EPM has been the only relief for the QL (quadratus lumborum) muscle that has been irritated since the injury in 1983.

Thanks.
Albert Innamorati
EPM Certified Instructor-Level 2

Hi Albert

Good to hear from you and I look forward to working with you again. As for this young person with shin splints, your observations give you the answer as to what he needs to do. His leg muscles are tight so when he runs, the shock of his movements are all landing in his shins.

This can become chronic and of course painful. It is very common. He MUST ease up the tension in his legs so that he can feel the difference in his running afterwards. Simply beginning to use the balls under the back of the pelvis and down the legs is a must. If you

are working with him you can guide him to use the correct pacing. Obviously this might seem ineffective to him at first. Nevertheless it is his overworking of his muscles that is preventing his body from naturally recovering on a day to day basis.

Each day he adds more and more effort and tension to his workouts and he gets less and less satisfaction. The pendulum has swung one direction and he has to stop holding it there and let it swing the other way. That means he needs to allow his muscles to release. That understanding is thru the weight and the breath. It almost doesn't matter which ball placement he does. He needs to have an expereince that will begin to lead him to another wayof working. The sssss sound will guide his responses.If you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

Hope this helps.

Elaine
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