Posts Tagged ‘Low Back Pain’


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Upper Back Pain Treatment

Back Pain can have an adverse effect on anyone who has it, and 80% of adults have experienced some form of it at some point in their lives.

No matter what part of your back experiences pain, it can be quite intense. The good news is that no matter where it is, the odds are there will be some form of effective treatment for it that will give you relief.

Low back pain is the most common type, but there are many people who suffer upper back pain on either their right or left sides. There are specific upper right back pain treatments that depend on what your symptoms are.The upper back supports the upper body and neck. And pain in your upper back can be caused by a muscle strain or injury or by some type of misuse such as sleeping on it the wrong way.These causes are classified as joint malfunction or muscular irritation.

Joint malfunction is most generally the result of an injury or strain to one or more of the joints. This can occur on either side of the upper back. There are different upper right back pain treatments for joint malfunction. A chiropractic massage treatment can loosen the muscles to enable the chiropractor to get them back in their proper positions. You can also use an osteopathic physician or physical therapist to accomplish the same thing.

In addition to the massage  or physical therapy treatment, your physician may also prescribe some anti-inflammation medication for the short-term pain. This is the common treatment for upper back pain.

Irritated muscles are usually the result of different causes than injury or strains. Muscular irritation is usually caused by poor posture or poor muscle strength due to a lack of exercise. This is where a physical therapist can help you strengthen your upper back muscles and give you an exercise regimen of stretching that you can do at home. As your back muscles strengthen, your pain will dissipate. Massage therapy and acupuncture are also effective in relieving upper back pain. Ans if your pain is severe, your doctor can prescribe some pain relievers to help you stop the pain until you start building up your back muscle strength which should then take over and relieve your back pain for good.

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Deal With Upper Back Neck Pain

If you suffer from upper back neck pain then you know that it is the worst type of pain. You whole body feels as though it is aching when you have upper back neck pain. Finding a back pain treatment as soon as possible is going to be …  

Upper Back Pain Relief | BACK PAIN SYMPTOM RELIEF

There are other options that are available for upper back pain relief treatment however. You may need to get something like a stability device. If you can’t get relief from these methods as a last resort you can ask you doctor if they …   

Why Use Physiotherapy to Treat Back Pain

Thoracic pain, commonly known as upper back pain or middle back pain, is due to a lot of reasons like degenerative disc diseases. It may also come about because a spinal disability. Sometimes, the constant repetitive movement in the … 

Upper Back Pain Relief – Back Pain Care

Upper Back Pain Relief – Get it Fast If you are suffering from any type of back pain, then of course you are going to want to get treatment for it as soon as…

Upper Back Pain Relief

Now, there are kinds of back pain relief exercises that will assist in upper back pain treatment. There are stretch exercises that target stiffness and pain problems in certain areas of the upper back. Of course, it isn’t the best idea… 

How To Treat Upper Back Pain

Upper back pain is primarily a result of irritation of muscles and while it is not as common as lower back pain, it can be very painful and restrictive. 

 Yoga For Upper Back Ppain

Yoga exercises are useful in integrating your mind and body. Yoga poses and yoga postures can also be used as a preventive treatment against a variety of diseases and disorders. … The reason why yoga is so effective for upper back pain….   


 


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New “Open MRI” Technology

See the full interview with Phyllis Newfield

New “Open MRI” technologies have been introduced to the market and now persons suffering from chronic back pain or spinal stenosis, lumbar stenosis, low back pain, sciatica, and virtually all other types of back pain can be evaluated by an MRI without having to climb into a claustrophobic cylinder. The new “Open MRI” scans the patient while he or she is standing.

p>I can personally attest as a sciatica sufferer myself that one of the things I most fear is getting an MRI. I mean I truly dread it even though I know it provides invaluable diagnosis of my back problems. And I don’t even suffer from claustrophobia, but it still makes me seriously stress out. This is truly good news!

What exactly is an Open MRI?

Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Open MRI) is an advanced diagnostic imaging procedure that creates detailed images of internal bodily structures without the use of ionized radiation (x-rays). Open MRI is able to produce these detailed images through the use of a powerful magnet, radiowaves and a computer. MRI can assist physicians in detecting and diagnosing diseases or other abnormalities in very early stages.

INSIGHT IMAGING is dedicated to the emerging technology of low-field, patient-friendly magnetic resonance imaging systems. Claustrophobic, obese and pediatric patients, along with those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, are often able to comfortably undergo MRI examinations in these “open architecture” systems while failing to tolerate traditional “closed” MRI systems. Open systems are quieter and more comfortable for patients. Open MRI systems are rapidly becoming a preferred choice for many healthcare consumers.

This new “Open MRI” is fully covered by most health insurers at no additional cost vs. the older “traditional” MRI technology used all other imaging centers.

Stand Up or Sit Down and Watch TV during your Open MRI scan!

Fear of claustrophobia or being squeezed into a tube is non-existent in the totally open MRI scanner.

http://www.washingtonopenmri.com

High Field Stand-Up MRI vs. the Traditional Open MRI

Washington Open MRI now has the revolutionary high field full-body Open MRI scanner that can scan back pain patients in the sitting or standing position.

The new Stand-Up Open MRI technology allows you to watch TV during your Open MRI scan!

Fear of claustrophobia or being squeezed into a tube is non-existent in the totally open MRI scanner.
The world’s Patient-Friendly scanner  available at Washington Open MRI’s Stand-Up Open-MRI centers.

This technological breakthrough is second to none in the MRI imaging world, and fully reimbursed by all insurance carriers at no additional cost to the patient.

The revolutionary open MRI scanner features the only MRI-compatible, motorized, multi-positional, patient positioning system, which has been engineered to be fully functional Inside the scanner’s magnetic field. It can position the patient for the full range of conventional “lie-down” MRI scanning, or upright for weight-bearing studies. The full length of the spine can be imaged in the normal weight-bearing posture, even with the patient touching their toes for full flexion images of the lumbar spine. Unusual patient positions that are impossible on conventional “lie-down” MRI scanners are routine on Washington Open MRI’s new Stand-Up Open MRI.

The patient positioning system is tilted back slightly in order to stabilize the patient and avoid body motion during stand-up scanning. Patients can be positioned facing the poles, which enables a large range of motion for scans of the shoulder. Scans can also be obtained with lateral flexion of the lumbar spine NO OTHER MRI can perform this diagnostic procedure.This new Stand-Up Open MRI is based on FONAR’s proven high-field technology, and FONAR is the PATENT HOLDER for MRI scanning technology – all others license this proprietary technology fror their MRI equipment. So who do you think will always be at “the cutting edge”.The combination of the transaxial magnetic field and any of FONAR’s array of high signal-to-noise solenoidal surface coils is one of the key reasons why the new Stand-Up Open MRI is second-to-none in image quality. And as FONAR is the patent-holder of this technology Its full range of advanced software features and state-of-the-art pulse sequences provide unparalleled diagnostic precision.

In Modern Medicine…

Often an upright position is the only position in which the patient’s issues can be diagnosed. Certain cardiovascular and neurological disorders can only be properly diagnosed when the patient is upright. The same is true of the GI tract and the spine and joints, including the upper and lower back, neck, hips, knees and ankles. With the revolutionary MRI’s unparalleled ability to “see” soft tissues, Stand-Up Open MRI gives physicians a more global view of pathology and its impact on function.

From the perspective of medicine, Stand-Up Open MRI provides a dramatic view of the body’s interior. For the first time, Washington Open MRI brings to the medical practice the newfound ability to see all the body’s organs and tissues in their normal position of function – upright.

For more information visit us on the web at:

http://www.washingtonopenmri.com

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Published by Relief For Back Pain

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Why not consider the world’s most advanced Open MRI …

Why not consider the world’s most advanced Open MRI for your next MRI scan? This technology accepted by all major insurance companies. The newest and best technology at no extra cost to YOU, the patient!

The World’s First High Field Stand-Up Open MRI that can scan you …

President/CEO of Washington Open MRI The World’s Most Advanced High-Field Open MRI Would you trust your health to a diagnostic tool that is the product of “older technology”? Multiple locations serving the Washington DC, Baltimore, …

Why Pediatric MRI should not use sedation for everyone – BEST OPEN MRI

blog for: BEST OPEN MRI. title: Why Pediatric MRI should not use sedation for everyone. Preview: Some facilities insist on using general anesthesia for sedation for their pediatric patients. Our scanners have new technology called BLADE …

InBusiness » Business Health Care » Advanced diagnosis: technology …

St. Anthony’s in Crown Point boasts similar imaging technology, including its own 64-slice CT and multiple MRIs, including the latest in open MRI technology. The new 83000-square-foot, $38 million Franciscan Point campus “includes all …

Cartilage imaging needs 2mm thick sections – BEST OPEN MRI

Submit Your Comment. Of course we can see the dermoid cyst much better with MRI than with any other technique. It is up to your ophthalmologist to decide if he wants it with the best technology! BEST OPEN MRI, July 06, 2009 …

Access Sports Medicine MRI garners national accreditation …

EXETER — A new open MRI machine at Access Open MRI Center at Access Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics makes it possible for people who need MRIs exams of their spine and musculoskeletal areas, to rest in an open pavilion during the scan. … It also allows the MRI technologist who conducts the scan at Access to have immediate contact with the treating physician if there are questions about the scan or patient, Bronson said. The idea to bring the technology to…


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Lower Back Pain Rehab

Free Back Pain Video and eBook

Lower back pain is a condition that affects nearly everyone at some point or another in their lifetime.  Low back pain will interfere with work, daily activities or hobbies and recreation.

 Interestingly money in the U.S. tops 50 billion dollars a year to diagnose and treat lower back pain.    Back pain is the second most common neurological condition in the U.S. and is the most common cause of job related disability and leading contributor to missed work.

Lower back pain comes as an acute problem which is short term and lasts only a few days to a few weeks or chronic pain, which is measured as lasting more than 3 months and can be progressive.

The treatment for low back pain usually incorporates the use of non-invasive recommendations and usually doesn’t involve surgery.  Rehabilitation with a physical therapy will involve the use of analgesics or pain medications, protocols to help reduce inflammation, restore proper function and strength.  Most patients will recover without any residual functional loss.

 

There are several things that a patient can do at home to start caring for their back.  The first is NOT to stay in bed all day.  Bed rest used to be the treatment of choice but now physicians and physical therapists understand that by resting the back completely patients are allowing the muscles to stiffen which makes the pain even worse.

Using ice or heat, although never scientifically proven to quickly resolve low back injury, may help to reduce inflammation or swelling.  As soon as possible after an injury an individual should use ice pack over the area.  This can be a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel.  Use ice for 20 minutes several times a day for 2 to 3 days.  The ice will help to reduce the inflammation.

If the pain and discomfort isn’t reduced after 72 hours you should consult with a physician for treatment protocols that will help to rehabilitate the area so that there is no functional loss in the mobility of the back.

Using warm baths or hot packs after 3 or 4 days will help to relax the muscles and increase the blood flow to the area.  Individuals should never sleep with a heating pad which can result in burns and other tissue damage.

Believe it or not exercise is an important aspect of rehabilitation of the lower back muscles, even within one week of the injury.  Now, this doesn’t mean Olympian efforts but rather slowly building muscle strength and flexibility.  A routine of back-healthy activities should be included each week that will keep the muscles moving and speed the recovery process.  These activities will include stretching, swimming, walking and movement therapy to improve coordination.

Yoga is another method of incorporating stretching and strengthening into your exercise routine.  At the start of exercising there may be some mild discomfort but this should disappear as the muscles grow stronger and more flexible.  If the pain is more than mild or persists for longer than 15 minutes during the exercises then you should stop the activity.

Rehabilitation specialists will also incorporate over the counter medications to help alleviate pain and relax muscles.  Sometimes doctors will also use anti-convulsant  (anti-seizure)  to treat certain kinds of nerve pain.  Antidepressants are also used to relieve pain and help with sleep.  Opioids are used to treat severe pain but should only be used for short periods of time because they are addictive.

Acupuncture may be used to help relieve pain by inserting thin needles to trigger the release of naturally occurring painkilling molecules.   There are current clinical studies being done to measure the effectiveness of this method compared to other more conventional methods that involve the use of chemicals and drugs.

Other treatment modalities may include biofeedback, interventional therapy (injections to block pain), traction, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and ultrasound.   All initial treatment modalities attempted are minimally invasive to reduce the risk of unnecessary surgery.  But when the most serious cases don’t respond to conventional and alternative therapies then surgery may be considered.

It’s important for the individual to keep doing the exercises even after the pain has resolved.  Back pain, although acute the first time, can become chronic if the patient doesn’t take good care of their back.

Published by Relief For Back Pain 

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Lower Back Rehabilitation 

Rehab for the lower back pain or sciatica patient should include natural, safe therapies such as chiropractic care, spinal decompression, muscle massage,low back stretches, and lower back strengthening exercises… 

Sciatica – Can You Find Relief? 

It typically begins as acute lower back pain and then travels down the back of either lower extremity. When really “fired up”, you may feel a burning pain extending from the back, through your buttocks and down your leg…

 Surgery For Low Back Pain: A Review of the Evidence 

For nonradicular back pain with common degenerative changes, fusion is no more effective than intensive rehabilitation, but associated with small to moderate benefits compared to standard nonsurgical therapy…. 

Back Pain Relief Tips

‘Take a seat and make yourself comfortable,’ the receptionist at a prestigious back pain relief rehabilitation clinic told the strong-backed husband of a low back sufferer. He did – in a plush, leather chair whose rounded back defied …  

Rehabilitation For Low Back Pain with a Massage Chair 

My Original Blog Post: http://dance-wear.tilido.com/wp2/rehabilitation-for-low-back-pain-with-a-massage-chair/).  Do you know that 80% of us will have low back pain during our lifetimes. Our spine is very important to our …   

How do you fix low back pain from a slipped disc?.

Hopefully after this series of posts, you’ll be a little less confused about what’s probably one of the most confusing aspects of low back pain: the famous….

Massage Chairs Help Rehabilitation For Low Back Pain 

Low back pain can come from disease, injury and even stress. Even slight discomfort may be signs of needing attention. Healing and rehabilitation are important to restore and maintain the vitality of the spine and its soft tissues.

 http://www.linkfacts.com/l.php?l=16709


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Disc Degeneration

Free Back Pain Video and eBook

Low back pain can sometimes be traced back to a degenerative disc problem in the spinal column.  In order to understand why the pain happens it’s first important to understand how the spinal column is formed.  The spinal column is a vertical row of small round bones that are interconnected or articulated so that the bone can bend.  Through the center of the these round bones runs the spinal cord which is a bundle of nerves that travels from the base of the brain out to the rest of the body.  The spinal column protects the cord and gives the body flexibility and mobility.

Between each of the round bones, called vertebrae, are soft discs.  These discs are there to cushion the motion between the bones so there isn’t bone rubbing on bone during motion.

Degenerative changes to the spinal column are common and the intervertebral discs are one structure that is prone to those changes.  They are associated with wear and tear, aging and misuse such as smoking.  Long before any changes might be evident on imaging studies there are biochemical and structural changes that may seem to be similar to osteoarthritis.

degenerative disc

The term degenerative disc disease refers to the changes to the discs which causes low back pain.  But, despite the rather dramatic label, this condition is very common among individuals.  It is estimated that approximately 30% of 30 to 50 year old people will have some degree of degeneration of the disc space.  And, after a person reaches age 60 this finding is expected and the exception.

Although the description of degenerative disc disease appears to be straight forward there is some degree of disagreement in the medical community about the description and the implications, especially when x-ray findings indicate changes in a young adult.   But, while there is some debate about the disease itself it is known how the changes in the spine cause pain.

Generally the pain that is associated with degenerative disc disease and low back pain are thought to stem from two different factors.  These factors are the inflammation from the changes to the disc and abnormal micromotion instability.

When inflammation occurs in the body there is release of chemicals that irritates the musculature which results in spasms of the muscles around the area.  If one of the out rings of the disc is damaged or worn it isn’t as effective in resisting motion in the spine.  This micromotion instability isn’t associated with gross instability such as a slipped disc but still causes pain or discomfort in the area.

Both the micromotion instability and the inflammation cause muscle spasms in the lower back.  As the body attempts to stability the lower back the muscles spasm further creating more pain.  This cycle is a reflex of the body and although it isn’t necessary to protect the nerve roots it can also be painful and result in an individual who appears crooked from one area of the back to the next as the muscle spasms pull the back out of alignment.

Published by Relief For Back Pain

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With time and repeated episodes of pain and degenerative changes which occur in the discs and facet joints, the back can become stiff and develop chronic back pain. Gravity tends to force fluid out of the disc under load and is …

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Best Mattress For Low Back Pain

Free Back Pain eBook and Video

In a recent nationwide survey on back pain, most survey participants reported using a firm mattress with a 2 cm plywood bed board between it and the box spring. But many of those who expressed the most enthusiasm about their sleeping arrangements suggest omitting the box spring and putting an extra-firm mattress on a platform bed.

This study was limited to a small number of participants and it reflected the experience of persons experiencing back pain for only a brief period before the survey was taken.

Persons with chronic back pain might want to explore  Memory Foam Mattresses ,which do not use a spring-coil network for support. Spring-coil mattresses push back on your body when you try to sleep and the pressure sometimes irritates the sensitive areas where back pain is located.

Memory foam is very comfortable and literally conforms to your body’s shape. Your body does not feel anything pressing against the sore muscles or tissue that come into contact with your spinal cord, which causes your back pain. Better yet, if you’re sleeping  with your partner, you are not jostled whenever your partner gets in and out of the bed nor when he or she tosses and turns. Many times in a spring-coil mattress, when your partner tosses and turns, you awaken and are deprived of the sleep you finally managed to find!

If your bed is too hard (as may be the case with some ‘orthopedic beds’), try placing a duvet between the under-sheet and the mattress. This gives a softer surface, especially for a more petite sleeper. Remember that what feels firm to someone of 50 kg (8 stone) is very different to what feels firm to someone of 115 kg (18 stone).

Of the 15 US survey participants who turned hopefully to water beds, 8 switched back to firm mattresses and bed boards, complaining that the bed couldn’t be made hard enough to suit them. They also said that the water produced a ‘rolling action’ that made it difficult for them to control their movements and positions.

(However, this has become less of a problem with more recent advances in water-bed technology.)

The other 7 were happy with their water beds so long as the mattresses were kept ‘filled to the top’ and ‘firm’. They said the water enabled the spine to align more comfortably, and that the floating sensation eased the pressure on the spine and muscles. You can also regulate the temperature of water beds, which can be an advantage for treating chronic low back pain.

Some back sufferers give up mattresses altogether and take to the floor when their back pain flares up. But lying on the floor is not recommended for incapacitating pain and muscle spasm, primarily because getting up from and down to the floor may add to your pain. Also, if your low back pain is accompanied by pain and spasms in the hips arid upper legs, even a carpeted floor can put too much pressure on inflamed and sensitive areas, causing more pain and spasm.

The solution for the best back pain mattress is the memory foam mattress technology. But there are other options, which some back-pain sufferers prefer. We will have more on this soon, and, in fact, will soon be introducing a separate site devoted to this subject. In the meantime check out this resource for the best mattress for back pain.

Published by Relief For Back Pain

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Mattress Buying Tips

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Mattresses: The Qualities You Need to Look For

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What Can Heated Mattress Pad Offer

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Best Affortable Mattresses

There is no single mattress style or type that works for all people with low back pain. Any mattress that helps someone sleep without pain and stiffness is the best mattress for that individual. Patients with low back pain should choose …

Back Pain-Get a bed that’s just right: Consumer Reports Health Blog

But a new industry-financed study found that at least some people with chronic back pain sleep better on a waterbed or body-conforming foam mattress. Other research suggests that medium-firm surfaces are often best. …

What Kind of Mattress is Best for Lower Back Pain?

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You may try laying down on a mattress or a hard surface and resting on your side or your back. This will help relax your muscles and take the stress off your spine and is another way to keep you from getting back pain. … Refraining from any heavy lifting is something to consider if you need back pain help. Of course, that is not always possible, so when you are lifting it is best to lift up by bending your knees first and to hold the object close to your body…

What’s the best mattress for back pain?

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Author: Michelle Spencer

Tens of thousands of people are laid low with chronic back pain every year. For some, the lucky ones, it resolves within a few weeks with a judicious combination of exercises supplemented by painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. But what of the rest? There are a myriad of different specialists involved in providing back pain relief, each with their own opinion as to the likely explanation and the best way of putting it right. At http://TopBackPainReliefTips.com you will find solutions and advice for all types of back pain that work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Spencer

 

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Lower Back Pain

Free Back Pain eBook and Video

Low back pain is a condition that affects many people in the world today.  One reason may be that the reasons for having low back pain are varied and the second reason may be that much of today’s employment involves individuals sitting at a desk or standing in a manufacturing plant for hours.

Both of these activities promote poor back health which leads to spinal disc problems and poor muscle strength.   Lower back problems are also the root cause of the majority of workman’s compensation claims and a large number of lost work days.

When an individual suffers from low back pain they will experience a reduced ability to do daily living activities, hobbies, recreational activities and will have difficulty with work.  One of the hallmarks of back pain is that it is almost impossible NOT to use the back.  You may be able to splint an arm, cast a leg or even decrease movement to splint ribs but it is impossible not to use the back muscles when you are walking, sitting or standing.

At all times the core muscles of the body will be motion holding the body in place and making minute changes to the muscles to hold the body in balance.   For this reason the only place that people may find relief is when they are lying down, and then, only in certain positions based on the placement of the injury or disability in the back.

Individuals will find that they suffer more pain in certain circumstances than in others.  In other words, some will find it more difficult to stand while others will have more difficulty with sitting.  In most cases though, individuals will find relief with walking and movement or with lying down.

The relief found in lying down often leads people to lie down more often and thus increase the amount of time it takes for a back injury to heal.  Doctors have found that the maximal amount of time a person should spend on bed rest is two days.  And they have found that those people who don’t use bed rest as a means of rehabilitation will recover faster than those who do.

The reason that this is the case is because as the individual ‘rests’ on the couch the muscles in the back become stiff.  Because they are either injured from a muscle injury or spasms from a disc problem, the muscles get stiff and shorten when they aren’t being used.  Then, as the individual gets out of bed those same muscles are asked to work again. Because, remember, they can’t be splinted in any way.

This movement from spasm to shortening to work again only leads to more pain and discomfort.  Sometimes this leads the person to stay in bed and repeat the vicious cycle making recovery all the more difficult.

Instead, physicians and chiropractors have found that individuals who protect their back while walking, sitting and standing but continue to do those activities are more likely to recover faster and without function loss.

Our backs are an integral part of every movement we make each day.  Whether we are turning over in bed, getting up from a chair or just walking down the street, these are the muscles that are always used.  Because they are so important to our overall health and ability to do our daily tasks it is that much more important that we take care of the muscles that protect our back.

Published by Relief For Back Pain

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Do Disc Problems Cause Back Pain

Low back pain is a common health challenge that at some time affects more than 80% of the population, making it second in prevalence only to the common cold. However, unlike the common cold, back pain is often perplexing to most of its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving that mystery.

Anatomy

To understand back pain, it is important to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are comprised of posterior joints called facets that join vertebrae to one another and serve to dictate the motion of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs link the bodies of the vertebrae and are comprised of a form of dense cartilage that surrounds a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also join the vertebrae. The sacrum is a wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine. It is connected to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. In a canal found between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves go out from the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

Most back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cause of most back pain is the cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of healthy exercise and other poor lifestyle-related factors. These cumulative factors produce stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, some may injure their back just by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already at risk and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the challenge. When this happens, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Prolonged sitting, particularly in a unsuitable position causes increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles encompassing the spine. Eventually the lower spine loses its customary function and no longer can accommodate for the normal day-to-day stresses in ones life. Finally, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, letting the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it causes the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. Sciatica develops when the disc presses on the spinal nerve. The symptoms of sciatica include pain, tingling, numbness, and often weakness in the lower extremities. Regrettably, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition isn’t managed properly, surgery may be needed to remove the herniated disc material. With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc challenges, including sciatica, can be resolved. If you are experiencing any of the conditions defined above, it is crucial for you to seek chiropractic attention.

Spondylosis

Repetitive damage to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments may result in increased erosion and weight-bearing stress on the spine. Bone spurs are formed when the cartilage around the joints is negatively affected by stress that engenders calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. These spurs can compress adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This condition known as Spondylosis – is a form of arthritis that is likely to affect almost everyone at some point in life, as it is a common part of the aging process of the spine as well. Nevertheless, determinants such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic treatment and overall chiropractic management is extremely beneficial in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as aiding Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has helped many Spondylosis sufferers.


Sacroiliac Problems

Another common area of dysfunction or injury in the low back is in the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints connect the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are usually very strong and stable. Disturbances from falls, sports injuries, or the lifting of heavy objects can cause the joints to become unstable and move to an abnormal position. This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Pregnancy can also cause this condition. The imbalances in the lower extremities caused by sacroiliac subluxation can produce a functional long and short leg. Those with this syndrome will feel pain particularly with prolonged standing and walking, or during or after physical activity. Many complain of lack of energy and exhaustion. Many times this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and individuals can develop neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. Chiropractic adjustments establish the proper alignment of the joints and are extremely affective in ameliorating sacroiliac problems. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can experience effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

Subluxated or misaligned facets joints are a prevalent disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. They not only produce pain, but they can also endanger the spinal nerves as they exit the foramen or spaces between the vertebrae, and produce nerve compression, known as paraethesia. Paraesthesia is a change of sensation described as a tingling, burning or "funny feeling." Paraesthesia in the upper extremities more often than notoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is most often associated with nerve dysfunctionin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also becorrelated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best eliminated by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Injury such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can cause trauma to the spine and lower back. Often these traumas cause over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine. When this occurs a person can encounter considerable pain and immobility. In order to prevent long term disability or the development of any of the conditions listed above, chiropractic adjustments and treatment at the onset of symptoms is vital. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and expert treatment for any of the above-mentioned problems of the spine and lower back.

Published by Relief For Back Pain

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Diagnosing Back Pain

Free Back Pain eBook and Video

Lower back pain is a painful condition that can put people out of work for weeks and reduce their ability to do basic activities like climbing stairs or getting in and out of bed.Even putting on your shoes or pants can be a painful ordeal.  Low back pain is responsible for a vast majority of workman’s compensation issues.  And, fortunately, chronic or acute lower back pain is preventable by maintaining good strong and flexible back muscles.

Self Examination

When you’ve injured your lower back there are several things you can do at home to help start treatment. Ice your back for the first 3 days and don’t stay in bed. Take take over the counter analgesics like ibuprofen to help decrease the pain. But if these measures  don’t significantly reduce the pain in 3 days time it’s time to see the doctor.

See A Doctor

Lower back pain can be a result of several different factors and it’s up to the doctor to find the cause so that the best treatment can be recommended.  The doctor will start with a thorough medical history and physical examination.  This will help them to identify any dangerous conditions  or family history that could be associated with the back pain.The doctor will  ask when the pain started, where it started and the severity of the pain, how long the pain lasts and how it feels.  The doctor will ask about limitations in movement and will also ask the individual to make movements that may or may not elicit the pain.

Doctors may also run blood tests to look for possible reasons not to order specific medications or other reasons that the individual may be feeling back pain.  If the doctor isn’t able to determine the reason for the back pain through medical history and examination he or she may also recommend imaging tests.

diagnostic testing back pain

Diagnostic Tests
There are several types of diagnostic tests your physician might ask you to take:

  1. X-Rays.  X-rays are pretty conventional but some of the more enhanced methods can help diagnose back pain.  The x-ray looks for broken bones or an injured vertebra. It will will show the bony structures and any vertebral misalignments.  Other tissue injuries such as muscle or bulging discs are not visible in these imaging tests.
  2. Discography. A discography is an imaging test where a technician injects a special contrast dye into a spinal disc that the doctor believes is causing the low back pain.  The dye will outline the damaged area on x-ray and is suggested for individuals who are considering undergoing a lumbar surgery or whose pain hasn’t responded to conventional treatment.
  3. Myelograms. Myelograms are another imaging technique that improves the diagnostic imaging possibilities.  Contrast dye is injected into the spinal canal which allows the spinal cord and any nerve compression by a herniated disc to be seen on x-ray.
  4. Imaging .Computerized tomography (CT) is a painless imaging process used when the doctor believes that a disc has ruptured, there is spinal stenosis or damage to the vertebrae is suspected.  This is a specialized test and requires an expensive machine that will be located at an imaging center or hospital.
  5. MRI.  A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test is used to see more soft tissue than the CT scan will normally show.  It is also more expensive than a CT scan.  MRI scanning will look at tissue and nerves, muscles, ligaments and blood vessels.  Radio waves are passed through the body using a magnet.  The images are passed to a computer which slices the images and differentiates between bone, soft tissue and fluid filled spaces.

Other imaging scans may include elctrodiagnostic procedures such as EMGs.  Doctors may use bone scans or ultrasound imaging to look for ligaments, muscle, tendon or other soft tissue masses in the back that could be causing low back pain.

Published by Relief For Back Pain

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