I recently treated a 30 year old veteran from Iraq with severe low back and neck pain. He fractured many bones in combat, was in a coma from an IED blast and was told that his injuries, pain and MRI findings could only be addressed with spine surgery. He is one of the many wounded warriors with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) complicating back and neck pain. Musculoskeletal pain is the major reason for soldiers to be unable to perform their duties and low back pain is the most common disabling complaint.

The presence of PTSD should not lead to the conclusion that the pain is the result of a psychiatric condition since this would deprive the returning soldier of the chance to eliminate the pain despite the PTSD. That is the experience of the Marine who came to me. We first addressed the fact that he was very tense and that some of his pain was from muscle tension. He learned exercises to relax and limber.

When he had achieved maximum benefit from the low back and upper body exercises he was evaluated with the MPDD and specific muscles were identified and treated with relief of his pain and improved ability to stand, walk distances, move his neck and use his shoulders and arms. He doesn’t need spinal fusion but he does need to be treated for his PTSD and it will be much easier without back and neck pain.

May 3, 2010 - 6:24pm — Posted by Dr. Norman Marcus