It should be remembered that it is not uncommon for doctors to be unable to make a precise diagnosis of the cause of low back pain. Common causes of low back pain include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. Each of these is reviewed below:

1. Lumbar Strain (Acute, Chronic):

A lumbar strain is a stretching injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low back. The stretching incident results in microscopic tears of varying degrees in these tissues. Lumbar strain is considered one of the most common causes of low back pain. The injury can occur because of overuse, improper use, or trauma. Soft tissue injury is commonly classified as "acute" if it has been present for days to weeks. If the strain lasts longer than 3 months, it is referred to as "chronic."

Lumbar strain most often occurs in persons in their forties, but can happen at any age. The condition is organic hair shampoos - in luxury magazine characterized by localized discomfort in the low back area with onset after an event that mechanically stressed the lumbar tissues. The severity of the injury ranges from mild to severe, depending on the degree of strain and resulting spasm of the muscles of the low back.

The diagnosis of lumbar strain is based on the history of injury, the location of the pain, and exclusion of nervous system injury. Usually, x-ray testing is only helpful to exclude bone abnormalities.

2. Nerve Irritation:

The nerves of the lumbar spine can be irritated by mechanical impingement or disease any where along their paths--from their roots at the spinal cord to the skin surface. These conditions include lumbar disc disease (radiculopathy), bony encroachment, and inflammation of the nerves caused by a viral infection (shingles). See discussions of these conditions below.

3. Lumbar Radiculopathy:

Lumbar radiculopathy refers to nerve irritation which is caused by damage to the discs between the vertebrae. Damage to the disc occurs because of degeneration ("wear and tear") of the outer ring of the disc, traumatic injury, or both. As a result, the central softer portion of the disc can rupture (herniate) through the outer ring of the disc and abut the spinal cord or its nerves as they exit the bony spinal column. This rupture is what causes the commonly recognized "sciatica" pain that shoots down the leg. Sciatica can be preceded by a history of localized low back aching or it can follow a "popping" sensation and be accompanied by numbness and tingling. The pain commonly increases with movements at the waist and can increase with coughing or sneezing.

4. Bony Encroachment:

Any condition that results in movement or growth of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine can limit the space (encroachment) for the adjacent spinal cord and nerves. Causes of bony encroachment of the spinal nerves include foraminal narrowing (narrowing of the portal through which the spinal nerve passes from the spinal column, out of the spinal canal to the body), spondylolesthesis (slippage of one vertebra relative to another), and spinal stenosis (compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or other soft tissues in the spinal canal). Spinal nerve compression in these conditions can lead to sciatica pain which radiates down the lower extremities. Spinal stenosis can cause lower extremity pains which worsen with walking and are relieved by resting (mimicking poor circulation). Treatment of these afflictions varies, depending on their severity, from rest to surgical decompression by removing the bone that is compressing the nervous tissue.

5. Bone & Joint Conditions:

Bone and joint conditions that lead to low back pain include those existing from birth (congenital), those that result from wear and tear (degenerative) or injury, and those that are from inflammation of the joints (arthritis).

Degenerative Bone And Joint Conditions -- As we age, the water and protein content of the body’s cartilage changes. This change results in weaker, thinner, and more fragile cartilage. Because both the discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (facet joints) are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are subject to wear and tear over time (degenerative changes). Degeneration of the disc is called spondylosis. Spondylosis can be noted on x-rays of the spine as a narrowing of the normal "disc space" between the vertebrae. It is the deterioration of the disc tissue that predisposes the disc to herniation and localized lumbar pain ("lumbago") in older patients. Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the facet joints is also a cause of localized lumbar pain that can be detected with plain x-ray testing. These causes of degenerative back pain are usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises, and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation.

Injury To The Bones And Joints -- Fractures (breakage of bone) of the lumbar spine and sacrum bone most commonly affect elderly persons with osteoporosis, especially those who have taken long-term cortisone medication. For these individuals, occasionally even minimal stresses on the spine (such as bending to tie shoes) can lead to bone fracture. In this setting, the vertebra can collapse (vertebral compression fracture). The fracture causes an immediate onset of severe localized pain that can radiate around the waist in a band-like fashion and is made intensely worse with body motions. This pain generally does not radiate down the lower extremities.

 

Why Pain T.E.M. over Prescriptive medication?

 

Alternative medicine has become the choice of an increasing number of people over the past 5 years. These same individuals are also looking for a drug free alternative for pain management. Many individuals find themselves suffering with long term chronic back pain, but due to the prescriptive medication they may be currently taking, additional pain medication may not be advised due to the possiblilty of drup interaction.

Others however may just be looking for an effective may to control pain naturally. In answer to this growing demand Health Tech International has developed a unique and inexpensive disposable membrane that is charged with micro-current. This product was tested for four years and found to relieve pain in a wide variety of conditions, both chronic and acute at an astounding rate of 86%.

How does Pain T.E.M. Work Specifically for Back Pain?

The PAIN T.E.M. membrane contains no DRUGS or CHEMICALS. This membrane is statically charged and  placed directly over the area of pain.  The membrane is held in placed by specially designed surgical tape.  Once the membrane makes contact it releases its subsensory current of micro-current impulses over a 48 hour period.  Figure 1 & 2  PAIN T.E.M. works similar to a TENS unit in that it blocks the pain sensation, but goes a step further, in that it helps promote healing by neutralizing the positive field produced by injured cells and allowing the normal bio-processes to resume in that area. Pain T.E.M. provides a micro-current electrical stimulation that more closely approximates the naturally occurring bio-electric current in the body.  The cuurent therfore is considered subsensory and cannot be felt.  It provides "bio-stimulation" that stimulates cellular physiology and growth. It increases the adenosine triphosphate (APT) generation, amino acid transport and protein synthesis.  This causes the body to heal itself at a much faster rate. 

It has long been known that all life processes involve electricity, and that biological processes can be affected by electrical treatment. The cells of the human body are basically tiny electrolytic batteries, each with a potential current flow of approximately 4 picoamps or 4 trillionths of an ampere.

These microcurrents flow through the body in an orderly manner when there is no pathology present. However, since injury disrupts the bio-electrical functions of the cells, the electrical activity of damaged cells is quite different from that of healthy ones.

There is more electrical resistance in injured cells, so the normal energy flow through these cells is lower, impeding the healing processes and maintaining the presence of pain. If the electrical resistance of such injured cells can somehow be reduced, allowing the body's own electrical energy easy access to those cells, the health of the cells will improve. Inflammation may decrease, the healing process will be enhanced and pain can be lessened. 

Pain T.E.M.  administers extremely low electrical current to the area of injury. This energy can be stored and used by the injured cells to lower their electrical resistance and provide additional energy to aid the body's natural healing process and relieve pain.