1. Ultrasound for Lower Back Pain
You have probably seen ultrasound in a doctor's office. The ultrasound machine at the clinic or hospital generates 2 to 5 million low-power sound waves every second to create a radar picture of the tissues inside the body.You probably have not seen the lower-power ultrasound machines used for pain relief. Generating just 1 to 2 million pulses per second, these ultrasound generators are designed not for seeing deep tissues, but for heating them.
The simple reality is that you can't apply a heating pad inside your back. And to get the right amount of warmth deep down, you would probably have to burn your skin. Ultrasound is a great way to restore flexibility to deep tissues so that massage or chiropractic treatment will be even more successful. You do not, however, use ultrasound when you have especially acute inflammation.
2. TENS (Transcutaenous Electrodermal Nerve Stimulation)
TENS is a good way to reduce swelling and pain. A TENS machine works on the same principle that a stage magician uses to make you think you have witnessed a feat of supernatural power. The TENS machine generates a tiny current across the skin of your back that is very slightly irritating. Your central nervous system "pays attention" to the TENS rather than to your back pain and the net effect is pain relief. TENS is also helpful for relieving back spasms and swelling.What's wrong with old-fashioned ice packs and heating pads? In a word, nothing. The only drawback to these tried and trusted healing modalities is that they don't work very deep.
You can only heat about 1/2-1 inch (1-2 cm) of the very top layer of tissue over your back, and you probably will not be able to chill more than 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) deep. This just is not deep enough to stop spasms, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. Ultrasound and TENS are what you need to reach deeper with healing energy.
