Hi Leslie,

Craniosacral therapy can be very helpful with relieving back pain and
managing stress.

Craniosacral therapists are skilled in assessing the whole body, and in
particular the cranial structures and the spine, locating where the body
might be carrying the effects of stresses and strains, and releasing these
tensions through gentle techniques.

John Sarno, M.D., a physician and professor of physical medicine and
rehabilitation at New York University, believes that overwhelming majority
of back problems have psychoemotional origins. SomatoEmotional Release can
occur when the Craniosacral therapy is performed and the residue of stress
and trauma get unlocked. This process facilitates resolution which often
results in significant reduction of physical pain and discomfort.

A loss of tooth height will often lead to a compression of the spine. The
reverse can be true as well. Craniosacral therapist can help by gently
decompressing the vertebra when necessary, in your case that you likely be
L5-S1 intervertibral space.

The dental/low back connection involves several functional links: muscles
that connect the upper cervical area and a dural tube which surrounds the
brain and passes through the base of the skull and connects all the way down
to the sacrum. The meshing of the back teeth provide the point of contact to
stabilize the first and second cervical vertebrae. The teeth are thus a
self-correcting mechanism which resets the skull bones. Irregular alignment
of the teeth and loss of vertical (missing molars, worn down teeth or
indicate eruption) tooth support will cause the atlas and axis to go out of
positioned compression of spinal vertebrae. If that is the case with you,
treatment should focus in on rebalancing the skull bones by a qualified
craniosacral therapist in conjunction with your dentist providing balanced
vertical support to the teeth, which can be done in the form of resin
overlays.

Best Wishes,

Oleg


On 6/13/06, octafish2003 <octafish@...> wrote:
>
> Does anyone know if craniosacral therapy would be beneficial for a
> back pain sufferer? I'm trying to put 2-and-2 together and manage my
> back pain, but also find a way to manage the stress that is probably
> the root cause of my back pain.
>
> I know from x-rays that I have narrowing of my L5-S1 disc space as
> well as some early degenerative arthritis. I was seeing a chiropractor
> for a little while, but she would note that she could easily adjust my
> spine which meant that it probably easily came back out of alignment.
> I've had back issues for many years, but this chronic pain, which is
> at its worst when I'm lying in bed(!) so that I can barely turn from
> side to side, has only been a problem for the past year or so. It
> started out as spasms, and now is simply constant, but worse at night
> when lying down.
>
> I may have discovered the source ... although it may also be an
> unrelated malady. My dentist diagnosed me as having a dental
> abfraction problem, where the gums recede and stressor mark appear on
> the teeth. This is also a problem I've had for many years and my
> former dentist would constantly chide me for brushing too hard and
> threaten me with gum grafts ... I used to have sensitive gums, but
> that sensitivity went away as my gums further recessed. Abfraction is
> caused by either grinding of teeth, misaligned bite or the thrusting
> of the tongue against the teeth. That lateral force can be powerful
> enough to make the gums recede. My new dentist things the abfraction
> is causing my back pain and is trying to fix my bite with a dental
> applicance (orthotic) but it isn't helping. My personal feeling is
> that it's due to stress (constant in my life with work and a child
> with special health needs) and I have become conscious of my tongue
> thrusting.
>
> I'm seeking alternative therapy to manage the pain but also manage the
> stress and perhaps break the cycle. I wonder, and would appreciate
> anyone's feedback, if craniosacral therapy might help ... I'm thinking
> of the connection the spine and jaw may have as well.
>
> I look forward to your feedback.
>
> Leslie
>
>
>


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