The challenge with back pain is finding the root of the problem. If the problem lies in the membranes underlying the vertebrae and an exclusively bone-oriented treatment is applied, the problem will only be resolved temporarily.
Many back problems are caused by restriction patterns formed years previously. These have slowly contracted the surrounding tissue to the point of nerve inhibition. The back is also a prime location for storing emotion and trauma. Unresolved back pain is very stressful to live with and many people seek surgical intervention to remedy the problem. From a Cranio Sacral perspective this complicates the problem by layering one trauma on another. Because of the reciprocal nature of the Cranio Sacral system, the cause of back pain may actually be originating far from that area. For example, falling down stairs and landing hard on the coccyx, can manifest years later as chronic neck pain.
Any invasion of the membrane surrounding the brain or spinal cord, including lumbar puncture and epidurals, can leave patterns of restriction. If the sacrum is compressed up into the spine it can cause sciatica. This can be the result of a fall but can also happen because of damage to the legs. This affects walking and over the years affects the sacrum.
The neck is particularly sensitive to physical trauma, acting like a shock absorber for head injuries and whiplash. Whiplash is a classic example of multiple patterns of restriction in the membranes. The neck is also an area where people accumulate stress which can lead to headaches and digestive disturbances.
Restrictions in the neck can also manifest as strange sensations in the arms and hands. Patterns of restriction in the neck and shoulders can develop into frozen shoulder. Uneven growth of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord, particularly in teenagers, can result in spinal curvatures such as scoliosis. Spinal curvatures can also result from trauma to the back and legs.
Some back pain can be traced back to a difficult birth. During birth a baby withstands enormous pressure. With each contraction, its body adjusts as needed, the membranes and small plates of bone in the cranium moving to accommodate the pressure. Even with the easiest of births the membranes of the skull can be restricted, setting the mould for growing bones to follow.
Not all births are easy. Sometimes, while still in the birth canal, the baby can feel the steely grip of forceps pulling it into the world before it is ready, or a suction cap dragging the soft head forward.
The umbilical cord can be wrapped around the neck, choking and tightening with the baby stuck and unable to do anything. Babies can strain for hours, head locked into the pelvis but unable to go any further, before their world is punctured by the Caesarean scalpel, causing sudden depressurisation, like a deep sea diver catapulted to the surface.
The body has a great capacity to absorb trauma and adjust as needed. A baby’s body is soft and pliable, giving it the best chance to withstand the rigours of birth. Once the baby is born the membranes of the cranium must reshape themselves after being pushed and compressed.
Restrictions and misalignment of cranial bones can remain throughout life. The full impact may not be evident until many years.
