Posts Tagged ‘back pain’

San Diego Chiropractor Advises: Don’t Let a Few Added Pounds Put Your Joints on Overload

San Diego Chiropractor

As a San Diego Chiropractor, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. Have you been trying to persuade yourself that an extra pound or two doesn’t matter? Over the years, those pounds can add up to a substantial number of health problems from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back problems and joint degeneration. Surplus poundage puts harmful stress on organs, like the heart, not to mention on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. Sadly,more than half (62%) of American adults are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is an extremely compelling percentage and an enormous problem (no pun intended).

It is likely no surprise to you to learn that the human body was not intended to schlepp around additional poundage in the form of body fat. A mere excess of 20 or 30 pounds can, in point of fact, overload and encumber the musculoskeletal system. Added weight in the belly, for example, makes it necessary for the body to compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This shift produces compression in the joints of the low back. Joint compression inhibits nerve activity and causes painful inflammation. Nearly all people that have a heavy midsectionsuffer from low back pain caused by  a compressed sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that impinge nerves as a result of weight-bearing stresses. If not addresses, misaligned vertebra in most cases develop into new arthritic changes in the spine over time, as well as continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place.

Here are the ways in which chiropractic treatment can help. Perhaps, it should go without saying that a moderate body weight is essential in order for the musculoskeletal system to act and respond in the way it is meant to. Chiropractic treatment can not only help to decrease pain created by excess weight compensation, but it can aid in weight reduction. Here’s how. Chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve restrictions in the spine and help to get motion back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the low back, hips, and knees. And, obviously exercise and physical activity are a lot easier, and healthier for the body, when the the joints have good mobility and the spine is aligned. Not only will exercise help with weight reduction, but it can actually slow the pace of degenerative changes as we age.

Healthcare professionals, like your chiropractor, can talk to you about your diet and exercise choices. In addition to treating individuals suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors offer qualified guidance regarding the particular lifestyle changes that can help an individual to stay healthier, more vigorous, and more active through the years. Arthritis and immobility due to aging don’t have to be unavoidable. The human body was designed for a lifetime of pain-free movement.

So, if you’ve been thinking that a few extra pounds won’t hurt, think again! As your chiropractor in San Diego, and someone who cares deeply about your overall health, I’d like to help you to make healthier choices. Make an appointment today!

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

San Jose Chiropractor Offers Alternative Therapies for Arthritis Pain Relief

When it comes to back pain and pain in other regions of the body because of arthritic changes, there are a number of treatment options from which to make your choice, including going to a San Jose chiropractor However, a large number of individuals who are experiencing painful arthritis and back pain still assume that they must go to a medical doctor in order to find a cure for their problem. But, it may surprise you to learn that very few medical doctors are able to help individuals reduce the difficulties of back pain due to arthritis. Rather than being trained to find and treat the origin of the pain you are feeling, medical doctors mainly treat only your symptoms, and more often than not, through medication. And, though particular medications may alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, there is much more that you can do not only for pain relief, but to actually slow down arthritic changes in your body.

One of the actions you can take to help your arthritis and back pain is to go to see a San Jose chiropractor. Chiropractors are doctors who concentrate exclusively on therapies relating to the muscular and skeletal system, and arthritis is a joint problem. Chiropractic care has assisted many people in slowing the process of arthritis by getting their joints moving. Movement is essential for joint health. A good chiropractor is extraordinarily competent in treating back pain, even when it is caused by arthritis

You feel a bit concerned about what to expect if you’ve never been to a chiropractor before. Here’s what you can expect. You will be given the opportunity to discuss your medical history, which will likely include a family history of arthritis. The chiropractor will ask about your current lifestyle and may offer certain changes that will be beneficial for decreasing the inflammation due to arthritis. And, finally, you will receive a detailed examination. After the examination is complete, the chiropractor will let you know if chiropractic treatment can help your back pain, as well as relieve your painful arthritic symptoms. After that you will be told about the particular treatment you will require.

A chiropractic adjustment relieves pain gently and naturally, and it is a painless process. And, the best aspect of going to a chiropractor for your back pain and arthritis is that you can feel confident that the origin of your pain is being addressed, and that the ease you experience is not covering up the symptom of pain, but truly taking care of the origin of your affliction.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Sacramento Chiropractor: Golf Injuries Can Be Avoided

Sacramento Chiropractor

With any sort of sport, injuries are commonplace. You can frequently avoid getting injured in a specific sport by finding out what injury is apt to occur, and then do whatever it takes to avoid it. The truth is, however, that sports injuries can’t always be avoided. Consequently, it’s advantageous to take good care of your body to make injury less predictable, or less traumatic.   Prior to beginning a sport, such as golf, the most important thing you can do is to be certain that you have a suitable fitness level. You just might keep your body safe from injury if you adhere to these general guidelines: Perpetuate a healthy lifestyle; make sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber; warm and stretch your body before to activity; use proper form and good postures during activity; give yourself sufficient cool down and relaxation time.

Golf injuries don’t simply happen to amateurs. Close to a third of pro golfers playing in the same time frame are playing injured. The good news is that overall good health and fitness can decrease the number of injuries that you may incur and may actually prevent them totally.

It is vital for you to have effectual body strength in the muscle areas most utilized during golf. However, it’s essential to make sure your spine is in healthy alignment and that it has good mobility prior to setting out to build muscle strength. A successful golf swing relies on your spine’s capacity to effectually rotate efficiently. Back injuries are the most widespread type of injuries suffered by golfers. To insure that your spine is in appropriate alignment and there is efficient movement in the vertebrae, see your chiropractor in Sacramento. Chiropractic treatment can go a long way in helping you to avoid back injury.

Once you’re “straightened” it’s time to strengthen. Being prepared for your golf game is crucial to safe, injury-free action on the green. Golf stretching and flexibility routines will warm up your muscles and make injury them less likely. Full body range of motion (ROM) exercises will augment flexibility, relatively speedily, in all parts of the body. Furthermore, elastic band conditioning can provide targeted golf range of motion benefits and can increase needed strength in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Sports professionals, like your chiropractor, are including elastic band training in their golf conditioning programs because the bands provide dynamic resistance that ordinary weight lifting does not provide.

In addition to back injuries, a large number of golfers suffer from “Golfer’s Elbow.” Although golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow are nearly the same injuries, there is a minute difference between them. Tennis elbow affects the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow impinges the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can be the consequence of a single extreme action, such as (in golf) striking the mat at the driving range or striking a hard fairway surface. Repetitive stress from smaller shocks, though, is more commonly the cause. In addition, it can occur for those who suddenly start playing too much golf. For example, if players that generally play golf once or twice a month elect to enter into a tournament, they are likely at risk for incurring the injury.

Golf makes unique requirements on the body. The game is usually longer than most other sports and that can result in fatigue. Once the body is fatigued, bad posture and decreased coordination often follow. This combination can cause an assortment of injuries. In addition, because of the continuous swinging of the golf clubs, the shoulder muscles are subject to injury. Just as great care should be taken to make certain that your muscles are stretched and warmed up prior to starting your golf game, be sure that you rest your body appropriately between games.

A surprising injury on occasion connected with golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, this injury can be induced by numerous games of golf played over several months repetitively as it is an affliction that occurs due to repetitive stress Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury causing disability and occasionally necessitating surgery. However, if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, discovers it at an early stage, chiropractic treatment and, frequently, the use of a brace will help the condition.

Injuries are assumed to be inevitable part of life for a good majority golfers. But, a healthy, mobile spine, dedicated preparation, specific exercise and muscle conditioning, reaching and maintaining a a suitable fitness level, and prudent rest and recuperation after your game is over, can make injuries a good deal less a part of your golfing experience.

Dr. Yong Kim is a Sacramento chiropractor with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org

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

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

Relieve Back Pain With The Right Posture

The modern lifestyle has been responsible for making people increasingly suffer from back pain. The work stress and other work-related pressures significantly affect the back in the most adverse way. There are several medical techniques that are suggested to relieve back pain.

However, the easiest and one of the most effective ways of curing back pain does not involve the use of medicines. Only the proper body postures can do the trick of removing back pain. In fact, proper body postures ensure that people not only get cured of the problem but also never even suffer from it.

Posture Techniques
The body posture is extremely crucial in order to eliminate back pain. The first and the basic factor that needs to be considered is that the individual must keep the position of the back straight while working or while doing tasks like reading, writing, sitting etc.

A straight back ensures that the spine is erect and free from any problems that can crop up due to improper back positioning. Another very important factor is to provide support to the back to keep the back in the perfect posture. This support can be provided by using proper chairs or by hard pillows and cushions and several other ways.

It is not just the working or the sitting postures that need to be concentrated upon. Even the way a person sleeps can cause back pain. Thus, it implies that people can also gain by improving sleeping postures. Sleeping on hard mattresses can help to relieve back pain in a considerable way.

There are several devices that can be used to maintain a proper back posture in order to eliminate back pain. There are specially designed lower back wraps that can be easily tied around the lower back. These wraps can be very useful maintaining a straight back and also reduce back pain if an individual suffers from it.

Similarly there are lumber supports that can be tied around the back for a better back posture. There are also methods like tai chi and yoga that can ensure that individuals never sit with a curved back. People can overcome the problem of back pain permanently with the help of yoga and tai chi techniques.

Thus, maintaining proper back postures would mean freedom from any back pain medicines and complex treatment. These are simple techniques and can be easily followed by people of all ages.

Paul Hata
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/relieve-back-pain-with-the-right-posture-530708.html

Technorati Tags: ,

Lumbar Back Support is the Easiest Way to Get Rid of Back Pain

Studies have found out the more then 30% people suffer from chronic back pain in the United States. Back pain is a health condition and this needs to be cured in time or it can lead to complications. In today’s world people are more conscious about their health and they are adopting various means to get rid of any problems that they may be having. One of the major reasons for chronic back pain is improper sitting posture in office or just anywhere. To get rid of this problem one can use lumber back support chair in offices and other places including your car. Well sitting in your car must also be comfortable for you especially when you have to commute long distances for work or some other purpose.

A firm support like lumber back support in chairs have been found to be an effective means for curing chronic back pain or any other type of back pain. The lumber back support helps the spine and neck align correctly so that the degree of stress and fatigue is drastically reduced on the person who is sitting. It has been found that a person who does not sit with proper lumber back support or for that matter back support of any other kind has 3 times more strain on the lower back then when the person is standing. This is the reason why sitting for a long time has become more strenuous.

This happens because the human body has not been designed to sit for longer period. However, in present time lifestyle of most people is such that they have to sit for longer time. This has led to increasing number of people reporting to be suffering from chronic back pain. The market for health care is increasing rapidly and more and more people are wiling to use different methods and equipments to treat any condition that they may be suffering from. Normally when we have to sit for a long time, we tend to shift the sitting positions so that one portion of the body does not get strained.

You can buy lumber back support chair from the market and us this in your office and car. The chair must have lumber back support and this should be adjusted according to your height. Ideally the lumber support in the back chair is put at that portion of the chair which supports the lower back. There are also special cushions or rolls that you can place in your chair to support your back when you have to sit for a long time. So the next time you buy chairs for your office make sure that you buy chairs that provide lumber back support to lessen the strain on your back.

Health is something which must not be neglected at any cost. So now when you know that lumber back support can actually help you in alleviating and getting rid of back problems, you must make sure that you have this in your chair. Your chronic back pain will lessened by the usage of this to a large extent.

Matt Hudson
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/lumbar-back-support-is-the-easiest-way-to-get-rid-of-back-pain-132745.html

Technorati Tags: ,

How Back Pain Starts

When considering back pain we must concern ourselves with its variants. For instance, back pain can start with slip disks, which in medical terms is called Herniated nucleus pulposa.(HNP) Doctors define slip disks as ruptures of the intervertebral disk. The intervertebral rests between the vertebrae (Spinal Column) of the backbone.

The interruption has variants, including the Lumbrosacral,(L4 and L5) as well as cervical C5-7. The cervical is at the neck and belongs to other parts of the back and neck as well. When doctors consider slip disks they often look through etiology, which includes neck and back strains, trauma, congenital/inborn bone malformation, heavy lifting, degenerated disks, and/or weakness of ligaments.

After carefully considering, etiology doctors consider Pathophysiology, which includes protrusions of the nucleus pulposus. The center connects to the column or spinal canal and perhaps compressing the spinal cord or the nerve core, or roots, which causes back pain. If the spinal cord is compressed restraining the roots and cord often back pain, numbness, and the motor functions may fail.

The assessments in medical terms are based on Lumbrosacral, which may include acute or chronic pain at the lower back. The pain may spread out to the buttocks and move toward the legs. The person may feel weakness, as well as numbness. In addition, such pain can cause tingling around the legs and foot. The final assessment may include ambulation, which emerges from pain.

The cervical is considered. The symptoms experts look for is neck rigidity, deadness, weakness, and tingling of the hands. If the neck pain spreads the pain down to the arms and continue to the hands, experts will consider slip disks. Yet other symptoms may occur, such as weakness that affects the farthest points, or the higher boundaries of the body. The lumbar curves is at the lower back region and is situated in the loins or the smaller area of the back, which doctors consider also, especially if the patient has difficult straightening this area with the curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and away from the area influenced.

When doctors consider back pain, they will review the diagnostics after conducting a series of tests. Diagnostics may arise from tendon reflex, x-rays, EMG, myelograms, CSF, and/or Lasque signs. CSF helps the doctor to analyze the increases in protein while EMG assists experts in viewing the involvement of the spinal nerves. X-rays are used to help experts see the narrow disk space. Tendon reflexes are tested, which the doctors use tests to look deep into the depressed region, or the absent upper boundary reflexes, or in medical lingo the Achilles’ reactions or reflex. Myelograms assist the expert in seeing if the spinal cord is compressed. The tests start if the Lasque signs show positive results behind etiology findings, Pathophysiology, assessments, and so on.

How doctors manage slip disks:

Doctors prescribe management in medical schemes to isolate or relieve back pain. The management schemes may include diet whereas the calories are set according to the patient’s metabolic demands. The doctor may increase fiber intake, as well as force fluids. Additional treatment or management may include hot pads, moisture, etc, as well as hot compressions. Doctors often recommend pain meds as well, such as those with NAID. The pain meds include Motrin, Naproxen, Dolobid, or Diflunisal, Indocin, ibuprofen, and so on. Additional meds may include muscle Relaxers, such as Flexeril and Valiums. The common Relaxers are diazepam and cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, which diazepam is valiums and the other Flexeril. Orthopedic mechanisms are also prescribed to reduce back pain, which include cervical collars and back braces.

Shane Woods
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/how-back-pain-starts-91152.html

Technorati Tags:

Dealing With Different Types Of Back Pain During Pregnancy

For every woman, pregnancy is a beautiful time period. Giving birth to a new life opens up a new chapter in her life. She feels complete and that makes her life even more meaningful to her. A woman feels so much elated with this new experience that she is able to overcome all the pain and changes happening to her body.

Well, these changes could be positive as well as negative. And it is duty of every person connected with the expecting mother to make her pregnancy period most comfortable. The most common discomfort she goes through is that of pain in her back. In some women, the pain is a constant feature during the whole length of pregnancy, while in others the pain can be impulsive. The intensity of back pain also varies in all women. For the acute sufferers, the pain is usually unbearable.

As the fetus starts to grow in the mother’s womb, the over-all weight of the woman’s body increases. As the weight increases, it gets an uneven distribution around the abdomen carrying the womb. This is a known fact that it is your back bone that supports your whole body weight. With this increasing weight, extra pressure is put on the back bone. And it becomes a little difficult for the back bone to bear it. All these developments, at last lead to back pain.

Besides this, the abdominal muscles of a pregnant woman also get stretched. This affects the muscles present around the spinal cord. As the centre of gravity of a woman changes, the muscles around the abdominal area try to keep a proper balance. In doing so, they work extra load. This leads to muscle fatigue in the back.

The back pains talked about in the above paragraphs are the ones that a woman suffers in length during her pregnancy. But there is another type of pain, which is usually encountered when a woman nears her due date. The pain in the back is very intense at this point of time.

But, there is nothing to panic about. You can always deal with back pain during pregnancy. There is something very easy that you can start with. All you need to do is to consult a good gynecologist who will guide you through a pleasant pregnancy. More the number of doctors you consult, the more confused you will get. So the best advice remains to follow the recommendations of a single doctor, because all doctors have different theories about effectively combating back pain during pregnancy.

Most of the doctors will prescribe you the use of the belly belt that will effectively support your increasing weight. Besides this, following a good set of exercise is the best treatment to cure back pain during pregnancy. The exercises to be followed should ideally be of low intensity. These exercises work in the direction of strengthening your back muscles. Any good doctor will generally advice you to refrain from binging into medicines, as the chemicals present in them can prove to be harmful for your growing fetus.

So, follow the advice of your doctor and have a comfortable pregnancy.

Ashish Jain
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/dealing-with-different-types-of-back-pain-during-pregnancy-131880.html

Technorati Tags: ,

Stenosis – Back Pain Test

Stenosis back pain originates in the spinal canal itself. Stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows, and compresses the nerves inside it. This compression of the nerves can lead to stenosis back pain, numbness in the legs, and the loss of bladder or bowel control. If left untreated, stenosis back pain can eventually become paralysis.

It is estimated that approximately 400,000 Americans currently have spinal stenosis back pain. That number is expected to increase as Baby Boomers age.

Defining Stenosis Back Pain

You probably know that the spinal column protects your spinal cord, a bundle of nerves, from being injured. In spinal stenosis, the spine narrows in one or more of three places: space at the center of the spine; canals where nerves branch outward from the spine itself; a space between the spine’s bones (vertebrae).

Stenosis back pain occurs when the narrowing puts pressure on the nerves inside the spinal column. Although this can occur in younger people, it is most often a complaint of those over 50 years of age.

Causes of Stenosis Back Pain

Spinal stenosis back pain can be caused by a number of factors.

1. Age is a primary factor. As we age, bands of supportive tissue in the spine may harden and thicken. Our bones and joints may enlarge as they age. We may get bone spurs on the spine – places where bone surfaces bulge outward.

2. Arthritis is another cause of spinal stenosis and accompanying stenosis back pain. Either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may be to blame. Osteoarthritis is the more common of the two. This type of arthritis usually is seen in middle-aged and older people, and does not go away. Osteoarthritis can cause the bone spurs described above. Rheumatoid arthritis is usually seen in younger people, and is not usually a cause of spinal stenosis back pain.

3. Inherited factors may also lead to stenosis and stenosis back pain. Some genetic conditions, such as a small spinal canal or curved spine, can cause spinal stenosis.

4. Other causes for your stenosis back pain could include calcium deposits, fluoride accumulation, or injuries.

Symptoms of Stenosis Back Pain

Stenosis back pain usually occurs in the neck or back. In addition to the stenosis back pain, you may feel pain down one leg, or numbness, weakness, cramping, and pain in legs or arms as the nerves are compressed.

Stenosis Back Pain Test Problem

The problem with tests for spinal stenosis is that the conditions shares symptoms with so many other disease. The result has too often been costly misdiagnoses and unnecessary back surgery, according to Andrew Haig, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Medical School.

The following 3 tests are used to diagnose the cause of stenosis back pain.

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -radio waves to picture the spine

2. Computerized axial tomography (CAT) – X-ray series to picture the spine

3. Electromyogram (EMG)- a test that not only gives a picture of nerves, but also tests nerve function, showing if there is actual nerve damage

Best Stenosis Back Pain Test

Of the three, the oldest, Electromyogram (EMG) has been found to be the best. This test has been around as long as, or longer than the Baby Boomers themselves, but a study published in the January 2006 issue of “Spine” shows that it is by far the best of the three tests.

That study, done by the University of Michigan Health System, shows that the EMG test accurately determines the cause of stenosis back pain. As a result, low back pain is less likely to be misdiagnosed, as are other common neuromuscular conditions with similar symptoms. Back surgery undertaken to cure misdiagnosed stenosis back pain can be avoided with this stenosis back pain test.

Tests done in the U of M study by Dr. Andrew Haig and his colleagues showed a substantial difference between those who have spinal stenosis and those with other types of back pain. It showed that use of the EMG allows experts to clearly distinguish between spinal stenosis and low back pain.

“Most doctors think of EMG as a simple test and incorrectly believe that it is sensitive for nerve damage, but cannot differentiate spinal stenosis form neuromuscular disease,” explains Haig. “But as this study shows, that’s not the case. In fact, EMG is an excellent test for spinal stenosis and other neuromuscular disorders using strict evidence-based criteria.” (Spine, Vol. 30, No. 23)

Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/stenosis-back-pain-test-122606.html

Technorati Tags: ,