Don't back down from this controversial back pain treatment Why do you suppose there are literally millions of therapists for back pain including masseuses, physical therapists, orthopedists and chiropractors? It's because almost everybody has back pain at one time or the other, or all the time. If it's not the most common complaint of the human race, it's certainly close. Instead of all those options, I recommend you try a spheno-palatine ganglion block. It's straightforward, non-surgical, and inexpensive. Not to mention easy to learn, if more medical professionals had an open mind. The procedure involves placing a Q-tip soaked in a 10 percent cocaine solution up the nose so that it rests against the SP ganglion, located behind the back surface of the inner nasal cavity. The ganglion is like a railroad yard in a big city, where all the tracks come together. All pain, from headaches to back pain, must enter this portal. The cocaine migrates through the membranes and the bone to anesthetize the ganglion. It's just about that simple. I know what you're probably thinking, I must be crazy to recommend cocaine. But the therapy doesn't require frequent application, so addiction is not an issue here. Usually, a series of daily treatments for a week will stop the pain for many weeks and sometimes months and even years. I used it with astounding results for 10 years while practicing in Georgia. Unfortunately, the required medical solution, liquid cocaine, is rarely administered in the U.S. because physicians fear potential backlash from the federal and state governments. So, Panama is probably the closest place where you'll find a qualified, compassionate doctor who will administer this therapy. It's also available in just about every country in Europe, and if you're in severe pain, the trip could be well worth it. Some specialists in this country are now using Xylocaine mixed with Valium in an attempt to duplicate the cocaine treatment. Some say it is "about as effective." I have my doubts. Ask your physician if he's heard of this treatment. If not, show him this e-mail and ask him to do some research on it. Looking for the next generation of myth-busters,
William Campbell Douglass II, MD | 
