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I know you are expecting to hear words of wisdom from Chef Bruno, but after we were honored to have him in our facility for consultation he asked me to write this article. He came to us complaining of long standing back pain. It is not uncommon to find in his profession numerous complaints of pain with no apparent reason. Regular doctors will offer diagnostic testing that are time consuming and render no additional information regarding the pain. In our facility, we concentrate on the particular person and his lifestyle. We use Eastern and Western methods to design an individualized treatment plan.
After Chef Bruno explained to us his long and renowned history in the pizza making industry, he was examined by Frances Lutz, a member of our Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine team. It was obvious after the interview and exam, that the pain was directly related to his occupation. All the years standing up for long hours, probably bearing the weight to one leg more than the other, had created a chronic pain syndrome related to damage to the vertebral bodes and the flexible discs in between. This damage affects the nerves coming out of the spine causing a pain syndrome that could manifest in any part of the back, pelvis and legs, depending on which area of the backbone is affected. Chef Bruno had lower back pain, which at times was very severe. Ms. Lutz immediately started treating Chef Bruno with acupuncture and physical therapy modalities. We believe in combining the Eastern and the Western modalities to increase our success and decrease the number of visits that a patient will need.
Chef Bruno was placed in a comfortable massage therapy bed. He was placed face down with his back exposed. The room has a dimmed light to decrease stress, which is sometimes the cause of back pain. Ms. Lutz proceeded to insert very thin needles in points in his back and other parts of his body. These points are known as energy reservoirs that can be stimulated to balance different conditions. Pain is directly related to the stagnation of this energy in inappropriate areas of the body. Chef Bruno had a stagnation located in the lower back medically known as the Lumbar Region. Ms. Lutz placed the needles to release the stagnation of energy in the lower back and cause a relaxation of the muscles. She also used hot packs and our physical therapy department took over to use electrical stimulation.
Everything taking place at the same time powerfully increases the effects of the treatment. Chef Bruno stayed in the bed for about an hour. The relaxation during treatment allowed Chef Bruno to fall asleep. Chef Bruno’s schedule has not allowed him to take a nap in years. After the treatment, Chef Bruno felt immediate results. He has come a few more times since the first time, and his pain is almost gone. He has recovered his full strength to go back into his busy life in the restaurants and many projects coming his way. His decision to seek treatment in our facility will allow us to enjoy his pizza and other culinary creations for many years to come.
Pizza makers and other chefs develop these chronic pain syndromes in different parts of the body. The most common areas are the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, lower back, knees and lower legs. In the upcoming issues, we are willing to answer any questions you may have regarding these syndromes. Our facility specialty is to get people out of the pain and back to work as soon as possible. We will also discuss in future issues, the many other conditions that people in this profession can develop such as allergies, migraines, and heart disease. We hope that you enjoyed this little note in the private life of Chef Bruno and his back pain treatment.
See you next issue,
Giovanni Lopez, MD, FACEM, Lac:Dfip.Ac.
Director, Acupuncture Solutions, P.C.