16/09/2025
✨ The Surprising Source of Intense Back Pain — Not Just a Muscle Issue!
Lower back pain isn’t always caused by strained muscles or spinal discs. Sometimes, the real culprit lies in the urinary system — kidney stones or infections can trigger sharp, persistent pain that mimics musculoskeletal problems, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed care.
On July 16, a concerned wife called HTCM early in the morning: “Can you please fit my husband in? His back pain is unbearable.”
By midday, her 73-year-old husband — a retired taxi driver — arrived, moving slowly and clearly in distress. He had long-standing back pain that had recently worsened, making it hard to turn in bed or get out of a car. Years of driving with minimal water intake had left him with dry mouth, bitter taste, frequent nighttime urination, and constipation. Painkillers and muscle relaxants hadn’t helped.
After a detailed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) assessment, he was diagnosed with “low back pain due to damp-heat accumulation.” Treatment began with Liu-style acupuncture and herbal powders. His pain eased after each session, but still flared up with movement.
Then came a breakthrough: After the third session, he experienced a sudden spike in pain overnight — and his urine turned tea-colored. By morning, the pain had subsided. Two days later, his urine returned to normal, and the pain was gone. The hidden cause was revealed: urinary tract stones.
✅ Two more sessions were given to support recovery. His pain disappeared, urination returned to normal, and he smiled: "Now I walk with ease again!"
🎯 TCM doesn’t just treat symptoms — it looks deeper, identifying root causes through syndrome differentiation, pattern recognition, and body constitution. In this case, it helped relieve pain and support natural stone passage.
📌 Reminder: If back pain is severe, recurring, and comes with urinary symptoms (blood in urine, frequency, urgency), don’t ignore it. Painkillers may mask the real issue. Early detection is key!