New therapy aims to cure back pain without drugs, surgery

More than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic back pain — but a new drug-free groundbreaking treatment, pain reprocessing therapy, is helping patients and offering new hope. NBC’s Jacob Soboroff reports for TODAY.

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#health #painmanagement #chronicpain

[ilonahesseling]

As a nurse, I was always triggered by the phenomenon of phantom pain. Now I'm suffering from chronic pain night and day. And I often thought, if the brain can tell you that you are feeling pain in a part of the body that no longer exists, why shouldn't it work the other way around? this video gives me hope again.

[linesided]

I broke my back (t) snowboarding and have degenerative spinal arthritis which resulted in a stenosis for which I was in agony for months and offered surgery. I declined the surgery, stopped the meds and started very slowly and very gently following a program of healthy eating, exercise and stretching. It sucked. But, 3 years later I am virtually pain free and able to live a normal life.
Don't let injury, even to your spine, stop you in the long run. Not moving is the worst thing you can do.

[anthonymastrando]

Wow, I suffer with chronic pain everyday. The chances of living a normal lifestyle almost brings me to tears.

[drbettyschueler]

My father told me, when I was experiencing juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, that I had to move through the pain. He told me to "use it or lose it." So I kept moving the affected joints. And when I would get injured, playing sports, I would give the injury a few days rest and then go back to my normal activities. Decades later, I still do this despite stage 4 breast cancer, heart failure, Parkinson's, degenerative arthritis, and some autoimmune disorder, just to name a few health issues. I exercise every day and live as normal a life as I can. It isn't always easy, like today when I'm having a flare of my autoimmune disease, but I push through it knowing it will probably be much better tomorrow.

[Bri-ssgu]

This is incredible! Not the solution I expected at all. Hopefully this is able to bring a lot more people relief from their chronic pain ❤

[micheleboyle]

It’s amazing that this type of study finally got through because I’m sure pharmaceutical companies hate the fact that people don’t need those addictive painkillers…..my mother always told me that I needed to work through my pain and heal my own body…..I’ve always had such a high threshold…..there are so many things our minds can help us with ….

[mhxpnb]

This is great. Especially for people out there that are suffering. Chronic pain isn’t a joke. Takes a toll on you physically, and mentally. Who ever reads this, just have faith and keep pushing. Don’t give in to the pain. 🙏🏼

[ItsMzPhoenix]

My great-aunt has chronic back pain, even after having back surgery; I might share this with her

[CuteCatsofIstanbul]

I started suffering from chronic pain from around the age of 11-12 in the 90's. I thought everyone experienced pain (and thus exhaustion) because of the whole 'oh I have that too, just bite through it, it's called being an adolescent, your body is changing, just be positive' etc. but no matter what I did, I couldn't push through it so I felt lazy, stupid and weak. My life was all about distracting myself away from the pain - daydreaming, music, dancing in my bedroom and walking. I was finally diagnosed with a number of chronic pain causing illnesses in my 20's but distractions and listening and allowing your body to have an off/quiet day have been key ever since.

[warriorgooseseller]

Happy to see that this is finally getting bigger visibility. Everybody looks at me like I could have three heads when I say this is how I got out of chronic pain.

[lolacookie]

I did the Sarno method for chronic neck pain I had years ago. It worked for me!

[adamblackman]

My buddy was bed ridden for 6 years… just like this guy… he had almost given up after trying everything. All he needed to hear was pain was in his brain… he was programmed to fire pain receptors…. using a similar treatment he was fully recovered in 6 weeks… push through it!

[Loogy]

I've been doing mind body work for 4 years now and am pain free in multiple parts of my body now. This work included. I was diagnosed with connective tissue disorder with hypermobility and fibromyalgia. Debilitating pain everywhere, assisting devices to work from home. Had back pain for 20 years that is drastically lower to the point of it not being an issue for me. This is real but it takes a tremendous amount of work and time depending on how long you've had chronic pain and how severe because your brain has learned overtime and networks of neurons in your brain are now very good at creating pain. It also has to do with fear. I will tell you though you will go from darkness to light. People without chronic pain dont understand how amazing life is without pain. It is as good as you can imagine. I still have a way to go to be completely free of all my ailments though.

[howardrobinson]

In 1997, after maybe four years of chronic pain, with an MRI in 1997 showing a herniation at L4-5, I lowered myself to the bathroom floor one morning because the pain was so bad. And then, the most amazing thing occurred - I couldn't get up. The consideration as to surgery was over. Had a laminectomy to free up the nerve root that the herniation was pinching and I was walking around the hospital that day. Whew.

[Naldo_SK]

So many people missed the main point of the video, that this is AFTER healing up.

On a personal note, I've had two spine surgeries, one lower back and one neck with 7 discs replaced and screws and plates and all of that fun stuff. It is VERY real to be nervous or afraid to exercise and resume your normal life.

My physical therapist had to help me with the mental aspect of healing and reassuring me that my spine was stronger than it's ever been. She actually mentioned that it's a form of PTSD, where your brain is saying "you're still hurt! Remember what happened the last time!"

It's good that doctors and therapists are recognizing the mental aspect of things.

[nick]

I hurt my lower back about a year and a half ago couldn't hardly walk and had constant back pain before that, anyway went to the physio for a few months to build up strength again. The biggest thing is staying active, exercise few times a week and the biggest thing of all is have a strong core I've been pain free. If you can build your core up it takes the weight off your spine

[tkorte]

To clarify, it was stated that the treatment is for chronic pain that continues AFTER an injury has healed.

[karencady-davis]

I have chronic migraines. I am following this group from study and using their principles to stop my pain. I am seeing the benefits!

[wiegel]

Good for him to look into other healing modalities. I work in the OR, and I see so many unnecessary surgeries because people wanted a quick fix

[buglove]

I just had back surgery # 8 and disabled i would love love to try this!!!