Module 5: Back and Lumbar Pain Flashcards
The Lumbus is the mansion of the
Kidneys
Two ways to look at lumbar pain
obstruction of the local channels and failure of the Kidneys to nourish the lumbus.
patient has no history of back pain, acute onset, pain has a tight sensation, pain in the
neck, shoulders of joints, aggravated by cold weather:
exterior wind cold attacks the taiyang
chronic or intermittent attack which is aggravated by cold or damp weather, relieved
by warmth, dull or vague pain with a sensation of stiffness, range of motion is normal:
obstruction of wind damp cold
back pain with a burning sensation that is relieved by cold, aversion to heat:
damp
heat accumulation
acute onset, history of injury, extremely sharp pain with fixed location, resistant to
pressure, pain is aggravated by movement, back’s range of motion is limited:
blood stagnation
chronic and persistent low back pain that is vague, relieved by rest and aggravated by
overwork and cold weather:
Kidney yang deficiency
chronic back pain that is accompanied by pain in the lower back and knees,
sensation of heat in the palms and soles of the feet:
Kidney yin deficiency
low back pain that is relieved by slight movement, induced or aggravated by the
body remaining in one position for an extended period of time:
injury due to standing for
extended periods of time (lao sun) or repetitive stress
Fever and aversion to cold, headache, stiff neck, pain in the lower back, pain in the eyes, pain
behind the leg along the channel
Wind Cold Attacking the UB Channel
- Has a rapid onset
- Causes rapid changes
- Changes locations
- Induces paralysis and convulsions but also stiffness
- Causes numbness and tingling
- Affects the top of the body
- Affects the lungs first
- Affects the liver
- Affects the skin
- Causes itching
Wind
- Injures the yang
- Congeals the blood
- Contracts
- Causes clear discharges
- Pertains to the Kidneys
Cold
- Heavy
- Dirty
- Sticky
- Affects the lower body
- Internally created in the middle jiao
- Difficult to treat
- Usually chronic
Damp
Wind Cold Damp Bi (Painful Obstruction) (page 681)
Frequent and urgent urination, burning on urination, difficult urination (stopping in the middle
of flow), dark-yellow/turbid urine, blood in the urine, fever. thirst but with no desire to drink,
hypogastric fullness and pain, a feeling of heat.
Tongue: Thick sticky yellow tongue coating on the root with red spots
Pulse: Slippery-Rapid and slightly Wiry on the left Rear position
Urinary Bladder Damp Heat
Local Qi and Blood Stagnation in the Urinary Bladder Channel
Lower backache, dizziness. tinnitus, cold and weak knees, a sensation of cold in the lower back,
a feeling of cold, weak legs. bright-white complexion, tiredness, lassitude, abundant clear
urination, urination at night, apathy, edema of the legs, infertility in women, loose stools,
depression, impotence, premature ejaculation, low sperm count, cold and thin sperm,
decreased libido.
Tongue: Pale and wet.
Pulse: Deep-Weak.
Kidney Yang Xu
Dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, poor memory, hardness of hearing, night sweating, dry mouth and
throat at night, lower backache, ache in bones, nocturnal emissions, constipation, dark scanty
urine, infertility, premature ejaculation, tiredness, lassitude, depression, slight anxiety,
Tongue: normal-coloured without coating.
Pulse: floating-empty pulse
Kidney Yin Xu
Soreness and weakness of the lower back, weak knees, clear frequent urination, weak-stream
urination, abundant urination, dribbling after urination, incontinence of urine. enuresis,
urination at night. Nocturnal emissions without dreams, premature ejaculation,
spermatorrhoea, tiredness, a feeling of cold, cold limbs, in women prolapse of the uterus,
chronic white vaginal discharge, a dragging-down feeling in the lower abdomen, recurrent
miscarriage.
Tongue: Pale.
Pulse: Deep-Weak especially in the Rear positions.
Kidney Qi Not Firm
In children: poor bone development, late closure of fontanelle, deafness, mental dullness or
retardation
In adults: softening of bones, weakness of knees and legs, poor memory, loose teeth, falling
hair or premature greying of hair, weakness of sexual activity, lower backache, infertility,
sterility, primary amenorrhoea, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, blurred vision, absentmindedness,
decreased mental sharpness
Tongue: Without coating if this pattern occurs against a background of Kidney-Yin deficiency.
Pale if against a background of Kidney-Yang deficiency.
Pulse: Floating-Empty or Leather.
Kidney Essence Deficiency
Shortness of breath on exertion, rapid and weak breathing, difficulty in inhaling, chronic cough
and/or asthma, spontaneous sweating, cold limbs, cold limbs after sweating, swelling of the
face, thin body, mental listlessness, clear urination during asthma attack, lower backache,
dizziness, tinnitus
Tongue: Pale.
Pulse: Deep-Weak-Tight.
Kidneys Failing to Receive Qi
