subject: Dorsopathy Caused by Oxygen Deprivation [print this page] Dorsopathy Caused by Oxygen Deprivation Dorsopathy Caused by Oxygen Deprivation
Dorsopathy caused by oxygen deprivation is one of the most common forms of chronic pain syndromes in the back, neck and limbs. There are many purely anatomical reasons why oxygen deprivation may occur, but these are rarely involved in most back ache conditions. Instead, the underlying root source of this purposeful restriction of circulation, and therefore, oxygenation, is the mindbody process enacted through the autonomic system.
Dorsopathy is a general term for symptoms which occur in the rear side of the body. Oxygen deprivation describes a condition when organic tissues do not receive enough of the necessary supply of oxygen in order to function properly. The technical name for this condition is called ischemia, which usually strikes back pain sufferers as a regional disorder affecting all the living tissues in a specific area of the body. While every cell in the body needs oxygen to live, some are particularly susceptible to deprivation and will demonstrate drastic reactions from even low levels of reduced oxygenation.
The theory of oxygen deprivation back pain has been championed for decades by the world renowned Dr. John E. Sarno, who practices medicine at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at The NYU Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Sarno is the author of many books on the subject and whose teachings have slowly worked their way deep into the traditional medical system and have now been accepted by a great number of physicians and complementary therapists. Living in New York myself, I was lucky enough to be treated by Dr. Sarno for my own horrible back pain, which changed the course of my life forever
Oxygen deprivation back pain is thought to exist due to a purposeful constriction of the smallest of blood vessels in a regional area of the body. This reduction in blood flow will almost immediately affect nerve fibers, explaining why so many patients have a constant battle with various neurological symptoms, including tingling, numbness and weakness, particular the subjective variety. Continued reduced circulation will begin to affect muscles and other soft tissues, as well, most commonly resulting in spasm, cramping and even antalgia is some patients. This is documented on many diagnostic imaging reports as a loss of spinal curvature, particularly in the lumbar and cervical regions, in patients with severe back and neck pain.
Research scientists have studied back pain due to ischemia and found the processes involved to be strikingly similar to the oxygen deprivation found in distance runners. Furthermore, reduced levels of oxygenation have been found in the cells of patients with fibromyalgia and other similar mindbody disorders which seem to strike without warning and defy all manner of medical treatments. Why this purposeful reduction in oxygenation occurs is open to speculation. Dr. Sarno teaches that the process occurs due to the subconscious mind using the symptoms as a defense mechanism against repressed or suppressed subconscious and unconscious issues. Other doctors who study the oxygen deprivation process cite other causes and contributors ranging from anger to repressed stress to unfulfilled desires to particular personality types. Personally, I see the validity of all these causative and contributory possibilities, as well as others, since the human being is certainly a combination of mind and body components. Remember, it is scientific fact that the mind and body influence each other constantly and each can enact or contribute to health or dysfunction in the other
I always suggest that patients with any type of chronic pain, which has not responded well to appropriate treatment, research ischemia for themselves. There is literally tons of information available on the subject and the more you read, the better you will understand how the theory of oxygen deprivation makes far more sense than the often antiquated and unenlightened structural model of pain embraced by the laughable Cartesian philosophy.
