During a series of test matches played between India and the MCC, the opening batsman was found to be suffering from back pain on the first day of the first test match. As a result, he could not play in the match. He thought that the pain was due to sleeping in an air-conditioned room. His pain persisted in spite of the best possible treatment. All possible investigations were done and X-rays taken. Finally he was diagnosed as having a slipped disc of the lumbar spine, and advised complete bedrest for three weeks.
When he did not improve, his bedrest was extended for a further three weeks. Later he was referred to the physiotherapy department for shortwave diathermy and traction. He was also given a belt to wear and asked to do exercises which he did very vigorously since he was keen that his career should not be ruined. He was asked to undergo a disc operation. He refused this fearing that though the operation might rid him of the pain, he would never return to the cricket grounds as he would never be able to reach the required efficiency needed for a world-class batsman. He started treatment with an expert masseur who gave him a massage every day for half an hour, for six weeks.
This too did not help much. He still had pain while walking, and the pain would start after sitting for a while in a chair. Then he came to me for osteopathic treatment. I started him on manipulative treatment of the lumbar spine. He was recalled after one week. His anxiety was great as the time for the team selection at Madras for the Australian tour was approaching fast. He began showing improvement within six weeks; started playing inter-club matches every Sunday and doing his Keep-Fit exercises. At the end of eight weeks, he was ready to leave for Madras.
His performance was good. There was no end to his joy when he scored the highest number of runs in the semi-finals of the Duleep Trophy match. He was selected for the finals and was grateful to osteopathy, which had put him back on the field.
For one year a thirty-year-old housewife with a seven-year-old child suffered from low back pain which descended to her right leg. She also experienced pain during her periods. Stiffness of the upper back and neck followed, and lately, she had also started complaining of heaviness in the head. She was a keen sportswoman and used to a great deal of cycling. The pain had started after she had pushed a heavy almirah. She came to me and after being given osteopathic treatment for six weeks, she recovered. Her periods also became free of pain.
A lady advocate, 28 years old, was bedridden with severe backache. She had no injury preceeding this pain. The pain had started suddenly one day when she got up from bed. Before that she used to get feverish in the evening. The X-rays, ESR and other investigations showed normal results. She did not respond to drug therapy, rest, traction or diathermy. She was also Pregnant. Since she was running a temperature, her case was diagnosed as one of tuberculosis. She was advised antitubercular treatment and an abortion. Her family was upset as it was her first pregnancy. A high sacral belt was given to her. This was the time when she came to me. I examined her.
As every investigation and the X-ray were normal, I could not agree with the diagnosis of tuberculosis. I felt that her temperature was due to severe pain and decided on manipulative treatment for her spine. She responded well. The next time she came to me, she did so without a stretcher. She could walk from the portico to my consulting room. By the end of the third treatment she was a lot better and definitely hopeful. At the end of six weeks, she was back to work. Two more sessions of treatment at fortnightly intervals included back extension exercises. No abortion was done, and she delivered a normal healthy baby. It was a painless delivery.
A man aged 49 complained of low back pain which radiated to the right leg. It began when he tried to lift something heavy from the ground. He took medication, rest and traction, but all these did not help. He took recourse to auto-urine therapy for ten days but this did not seem to help either. He went to Poona and got himself thoroughly examined. An X-ray was taken and his lumbar spine was manipulated three times under general anaesthesia, but this too did not help. Ultimately he was brought to me.
He could not even sit. After examination I gave him manipulative treatment. He felt much better after the first session. The third time he came for treatment he was able to travel by train and bus. By his sixth visit, he was able to resume his insurance work. He recovered completely after two months.
A well-built mechanic, 41 years old, complained of pain in the calf muscles for fifteen years. He had pain in the upper back and both shoulders for eight years. But there was no injury. The pain was present all the time, sometimes a little less, sometimes more. He was better if he rested at home; otherwise, it would start in the morning and increase by evening. There was no numbness or tingling in the legs. He had difficulty even walking short distances.
After having tried several types of treatment and undergone other investigations, manipulative treatment was finally started. He felt much better following the first treatment. He showed improvement, and by the end of six weeks he had no pain at all. He was advised to sleep on a hard bed and keep on doing exercises for his back.