A Tui Na Case of Lower Back Pain

By Dr. David Song

Male, 40+
In the spring of year 2000
He had acute lower back pain for 2 weeks.
The pain came to the lower back in a sudden when he put his coat on in the morning 2 weeks ago. He tried physiotherapy, but no effect. The pain is always there on a fixed spot, and getting worse whenever he moves his back. He had no injury on the back, and no shooting pain down to the legs.
He is used to be quite healthy, and doing office work. He is afraid of needles.
Examinations:
Spine (-); Motions: left 0° right 0° forward 10° backward 10°
SLR (-); Pressing pain (+++) on right side of L4~5, pressing pain (+) on both sides of TianZhu (BL10), WieZhong (BL40); Stiff muscles on both side of lumbar spine.
Diagnosis:
Lower back pain (acute myofibrositis)

In TCM view, this pain was caused by cold. Although the patient didn't catch cold at all, but the early spring temperature drop could cause the tight muscles on the lower back and some small motion triggered muscle spasm, usually this type spasm should disappear in half to one day, but did not happen on him.
According to the above understanding, I gave him Tui Na massage (The patient refused to use needle). After 4 sessions, the pain was gone and he could move freely again. He had 6 sessions in total.