I recently have had some severe lower back pain. So I was looking for different solutions to fix my problem (which I did in the end thanks to Tuina).
Since I like to teach my sons how to solve complicated problems, I regularly challenge them with difficult questions (such as this one, this one or this one). So why not how to solve back pain.
Here are my son’s answers:
1. Go to the doctor
The most obvious answer. He did add: …so that he can open you up and see inside what happened to your back. 
Not sure I’d like that drastic measure to come first….
2. Take medecine.
Where painkillers came to my mind, he said: ’4 days of a kind of syrupy drink will help.’ It is true that a lot of medecine for small children comes in the form of sugary syrups.
Now syrup is ‘a concentrated solution of sugar in water, often used as a vehicle for medicine‘ and research has shown that a little sugar can help reduce chronic pain.
So maybe next time I’ll take the little syrupy drink he offers me.
3. Use a stethoscope.
Yeeees?
Well, you listen with it on your back mommy. If somethings clicks it’s bad. Then you have to be operated so they can see what happened and fix it.
And then they use band aids or scotch tape to close you up again.
Aha. Glad to hear that… I could not find any relationship between a stethoscope and back pain relief…
4. Let it heal itself.
Aha! Not a bad idea. And Google is full of advice on how to do that.
But what if it doesn’t heal itself son?
Then you…
5….go to the dentist.
Huh???
But believe it or not, there is a connection…although googling showed that actually the dentists have a back pain prone profession more than a healing capability.
6. Massage.
Always an excellent idea. Even without any back pain.
Shall I rub your back mommy? ooowwww
7. Watch TV
Sure! Any excuse is good enough to watch cartoons when you’re 5!
But watching tv actually harms our back muscles. Unless you watch an educational programme on how to relief back pain, or a dvd with back strengthening exercises.
8. Eat.
Why?
Well, when you eat, it goes down, to your back. If you eat broccoli. Or carrots. Healthy stuff.
Good, at least some messages on ‘healthy stuff’ have been drilled in sufficiently, which makes me (if only temporarily) feel like a good mother. And good feelings must be good for backaches. So he gets a point here.
But what you eat does make a difference.
9. Drink
Milk…or water. It’s like the food. It goes through and heals it.
I am glad he elaborated on what kind of drink. A stiff drink surely numbs back pain, but is definitely not a cure.
So all in all no big news on the horizon. But all valid and doable options to try! So there you go, you know what to do. And no, he cannot be hired for backrubs!