 "Helped Prepare Me for Surgery" | 2009-08-31 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3NHUQ33CFH3VM |
Even with already 31 prior customer reviews, I feel my experience will be beneficial for those people destined for surgery. This book helped a lot because post-surgery recovery is much easier if you go in with a strong multifidus.
In my case, one disk was severely degenerated already - it had basically melted away over time and I had bone on bone. In fact, the upper vertebra above that disk had slid more than 40% off the lower one and finally cracked in one place just prior to surgery, and this caused a whole set of other long-term potential problems. I had constant pain and numbness in one whole leg including the foot, the common experience for people prior to this surgery. Activities were one by one getting eliminated from my life.
Therefore, my situation was not one where theories about chronic back pain mattered anymore. I had to get the spinal fusion operation. I did not see any alternative nor did any medical professionals with whom I consulted. When the upper vertebra cracked, I got scheduled for surgery right away and within days.
Before reading the book, I did not know about the multifidus. The author, Jim Johnson, P.T., did a great job explaining this very unique part of the anatomy to a lay person such as myself. He also provided key exercise(s) and instructions for performing them to strengthen the multifidus.
I used a fitness ball, hand weights and ankle weights every other night just as prescribed. I slowly increased the weight amount, the holding time, and the number of repetitions. I also did the exercises in reverse, facing belly up, to strengthen my abdomen muscles, which was not prescribed in the book. When I went into my spinal fusion surgery, a 5 ½ hour operation, I went in with a very thick and strong multifidus. You want to go in with a very strong multifidus. Afterward the surgeon commented on the unusual strong muscles there.
This was important because recovery after this surgery varies a lot depending on many factors. I am in otherwise very good physical condition. That is why I understand that this can happen to anybody. But the key, I believe, was that I followed the exercise instruction of the author. My post operation recovery, while extremely difficult for the first few days, turned out to be excellent. Now I am still recovering because it takes a full year for the bone to completely form in a fusion.
One thing I had trouble with before going into the operation was that I had never communicated with anybody that had this operation. It would have helped to have somebody to tell me their experience. There are a few testimonials that one can find on the Internet, but I never got a chance to communicate about this with a former patient of this operation. I would be happy to exchange email with an individual facing a spinal fusion operation. For this reason, I provided an email in my profile.
Separately, I was impressed with the medical staff at the hospital. I had never experienced anything that kept me in a hospital before, and I actually wrote 20 thank you letters to helpful and friendly staff. In such a helpless state as immediate post spinal fusion, I remain grateful to the many people that provided service to me at this particular hospital.
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 "Could work for some" | 2009-05-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: A28LFFLJ6TH7BI |
Interesting facts in this book, but errors, too. The most serious error is the assumption that multifidus will tag along automatically. For those that it will, this might work perfectly. However, I've understood that it is for some of us absolutely critical to learn to voluntarily contract our low back multifidus as well. And that important part is missing in this book.
I would recommend Rick Jemmett's book on Spinal Stabilization instead. That is a buy you won't regret! |
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| "Level headed and very informative." | 2009-02-12 |
| - Reviewed By deybwah |
If you want practical and realistic information on a very important part of your body, look no further. The Multifidus Back Pain Solution is a quick and concise educational read on the topic of the Multifidus muscles in your back...
I really enjoyed the way that Jim Johnson relies on clinical trials for his writings, I'm definitely a fan of that style of writing as there is very little room for fluff. He has a logical approach that is self-evident and there is very little room for speculation with the research provided.
And the best part is the simple exercise, which has been hailed as the golden egg by many chiropractors and patients alike. I have several friends who have noticed large gains in their overall strength to their legs and arms of all places. *nerves from the spine extend to limbs
This is a cheap purchase that you can pass around to your friends, although I recommend you pick up a copy for yourself to 1) have it in your personally library 2) support the author for a job well done.
Namaste,
Dey |
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| "Excellent!" | 2008-09-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A20EZ7E8WUH2GZ |
| Before starting any exercises, I read this book cover to cover. The author said to do this and it's quite necessary. All of the author's assertions are backed up by scientifc (blind) studies. He dispels some myths about what hurts and harms your back ---very revealing. My doctor recommended some exercises to strengthen my lower back. I have degenerative disc disease and stenosis with a curved spine. My pain level has gone down 70-80% since I started the multifidis exercises. The author shows 3 ways of doing the exercise. Can you spend 2 minutes a day 3 times a week? How can you beat that and you don't have to buy any special equipment, clothing, etc.. I did buy some ankle weights though as suggested. These exercises are very effective and far better than any stretch exercises that I've tried in the past. |
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| "Uniquely valuable but limited" | 2008-09-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3NWWWFSB52LBV |
The Multifidus Back Pain Solution is uniquely valuable because it shows 4 ways to do one key exercise. Its the only book I've found that shows how to do this exercise lying face down which is much easier on my joints. Brief and easy to read, it's a good place to start.
2 other books I've found of crucial importance are:
1. The Back Pain Book by Mike Hage, and,
2. Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation by Stuart McGill
Hage's isometric exercise for the abdominal muscles is superb when your back hurts doing curlups. And when you're ready for curlups, his way of doing them is easier than McGill's. Hage's sideways hip strengthening exercise has helped me stabilize my lower back, hips, and pelvis. Well illustrated and clearly arranged, Hage's book is also easy to read.
McGill's book, unlike Johnson's, is a review of his own cutting edge research. To me it represents the final authority as of 2007 (2nd. edition), but it is longer, harder to read and written more for physical therapists. However, using the detailed and clear table of contents one can pick and choose sections to read and/or read only pages 177-188 and chapter 12 for the exercises (chapter 13 for athletes).
McGill emphasizes muscle endurance as the key protective ingredient and so corrects Johnson's emphasis on building strength, though the 2 go together to a significant extent. And by pointing out how all the major muscle groups of the torso contribute to spinal stability and so protect against pain, he corrects Johnson's limited focus on the Multifidus. McGill advocates 3 primary exercises and a handful of others, and he has research to show that maintaining a neutral spinal position with a natural curve in the lower back is superior to flattening the back against the exercise mat.
However, because McGill is writing for therapists he provides no guidance on the number of repetitions or sets to do. Also, McGill doesn't provide enough alternate ways to build key muscle groups when his ways are painful.
In summary, Johnson's, Hage's and McGill's books are all uniquely valuable. Buy all 3, you've got nothing to lose but your pain.
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 "Good for giving you info on research" | 2008-05-03 |
| - Reviewed By shelblac |
| Most of this book gives alot of research info about what is true and not true about back pain. There is actually very little on actual exercises except for the 3 he describes which are excellent as there is one for every level of back pain you are in. I would have liked more exericises but what I do appreciate is that he points out once you reach your level of strength, you don't have to do them every day to maintain it. |
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