The Emotional Anatomy of Lower Back Pain
The Other
Side of Low Back Pain
If you find yourself full of joy, with a sense of
belonging and fulfillment, your back probably doesn’t bother you that
much. On the other hand, if you’ve been
suffering from chronic back pain—or perhaps you have some recent low back pain
you can’t ignore anymore—it’s time to look at what’s going on in your life that
would manifest itself as your aching back.
The lower back—this is the lower part of the back
starting at the pelvis going up to the lowest ribs of the back and also includes the inside front of the
hips.
On the outside of your low back where you might be
experiencing your pain, your body transmits the energy of activities you engage
in with others. Many of us in the
mind-body medicine professions have a sense of this.
Back Pain
and Core Flexibility
Some of us have the idea that increasing core
strength will help resolve chronic pain.
However, only a few of us are aware of the need for
core
flexibility, especially deep in the front hip muscles. It is good for the core muscles to be
strong. However, if these muscles lose
their flexibility, then the body becomes rigid, which forces our back muscles
to work harder and may even cause wear and tear to the joints, all of which can
be painful and frustrating. What gives
muscles good tone is a balance of strength and flexibility.
You need core
flexibility in the hips and low back as a foundation for all movement as
well as balance for your emotional body.
Where
Passion Lives—The Front of the Hips
The front hip muscles attach to the front of the low back bones, go down
through the pelvis and attach to the inside of the upper leg. Together they lift your legs when you are
standing, walking or running. They also
keep your low back upright when sitting.
This muscle group stores and transmits the energy
of your passion and charisma. We express
passion when our heart and soul are actively engaged in meaningful activities
and professional pursuits. There is even
something about the activity that reflects and completes something deep inside
us. Sometimes the experience is
perpetual, like in one’s relationships or life work. Sometimes it’s spontaneous and short-lived,
like craving chocolate or sharing a special moment with someone.
Time to
Reflect
If you are experiencing pain or discomfort in the
low back—the question to ask yourself is: “What am I doing that, maybe I used
to like doing before, but it’s no longer fulfilling for me? What’s missing now that
will give me those warm, fuzzies I really want to enjoy? What is next for me?”
A woman was doing some professional growth seminars
and got to a point where she accomplished her goals and reached a level of sufficiency
by applying the skills and tools she acquired with the organization. Around
that time, her back started to hurt.
With Reposturing Dynamics treatment and Reposturing
Yoga exercises, we helped her get rid of the low back pain. Coincidentally she was also completing her
agreements with that organization. Lo-and-behold, at the same time the stress
of her unfulfilling commitments was eliminated, her back started feeling
better.
Cause and
Effect—Flexibility and Freedom
It’s not that there is ever a clear “cause-and-effect”
to point to. What IS evident is
that there seems to be a correlation between how our body manifests physical
stress and our life choices and activities.
The connection I have found is this: The more
flexibility and freedom you give to your front hip muscles, the more passion
and pleasure you are able to experience and express. Remember, the front hip muscles start in the
front of the low back. Therefore, in
order to truly help your low back, you must stretch and release tension in the
front hip muscles. When you are no
longer passionately engaged in meaningful activity, you may experience low back
pain.
Again, when your back hurts, in addition to the
professional help you seek, the questions to ask yourself are, “What activities
am I doing just for myself? Is this
still fulfilling for me? Do I still enjoy doing it? Does it produce the results
I want in my life?”
Self Care
Action Plan
If the answers are no—find a way to complete the
unfulfilling agreements you have in place.
You can even decide that you want to have one crowning-achievement by
completing that project and move on with the rest of your life.
Of course, seek the care, support, and good advice
from health professionals such as chiropractors, physical therapists, and
orthopedists. However, the best self
care for low back pain is stretching the front hip and front low back muscles.
The Reposturing Solution
Some of my
favorite hip stretches from the Reposturing Yoga DVD are: Standing Quad
Stretch, Step-Up Lunge, and Standing Crossover Hip Stretch. These will get you started toward a pain-free
back.
More important, with the self care emotional
approach, you may also open the door to even greater happiness in your life.
