There are many causes of back pain and it is now accepted that back pain can also be the result of stress. This appearance of back pain brought on by stress is now referred to as tension myositis syndrome, or TMS. Dr. John Sarno, who practices and teaches physical medicine and rehabilitation at New York University, coined the term and has been researching stress and back pain. It is thought that back pain is either the result of stress or that the stress is maintaining an already present back issue. When stress is a factor in back pain, the diagnosis is considered psychological or psychosomatic in nature. Back pain from stress can be caused by tension in the spinal muscles from stressors. Back pain can also be caused by anxiety and changes in posture and body mechanics during episodes of stress. It is important for the patient to realize that although the symptoms are physical, the treatment plan for dealing with the back pain needs to include a focus on the stress as treatment will not be physically successful if the stress remains.

Manage Stressful Situations

Many people will visit a chiropractic physician when experiencing back pain. It is important when discussing lifestyle habits to communicate information about personal stress levels, to make it known that stress is affecting daily activities. A physical examination will be able to rule out other causes of the back pain and a treatment plan will be made that takes stress into account. Along with chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy and heat and icing can be included in offering relaxation and inflammation reduction to the tense muscles of the body. Counseling will include recommendations for regular exercise, a stretching and strengthening program, proper nutrition advice and information in helping to cope and manage stressful situations that cannot be avoided. Activities such as yoga and meditation will be discussed as ways to reduce the amount of stress physically impacting the body. It is important to recognize your physical and emotional limits as well, knowing and accepting what you can and cannot do can greatly decrease your stress level. When dealing with situations that are beyond your control, it will be physically beneficial to your body to accept these circumstances and find ways to accomplish difficult tasks in a healthy, less stressful manner. In most cases, when stressors are discovered and reduced, back pain will diminish and you will be able to avoid future back pain by working on managing the stress in your life.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com

www.spineuniverse.com

Anyone who has ever suffered from headaches due to muscle dysfunction in the neck will agree that it is a condition requiring intervention relatively soon from the onset of head pain. The headaches can interrupt daily activities and make sleep difficult to achieve. There are several causes of neck muscle dysfunction but almost all causes produce similar patterns of discomfort in the head. Neck treatment for headaches varies only slightly according to the duration and intensity of pain felt by the patient.

Suboccipital Muscles

Generally, when the cause of a headache is due to muscular problems in the neck, the muscular group causing the pain is located at the very back of the base of the head and is called the suboccipital muscles. Muscular dysfunction in this area can be attributed to poor posture, consistent stress in the area or overusing the muscles, both correctly and incorrectly. Due to individual factors causing the headache, pain can last for as little as hours or up to days. Typically, treatment for this issue includes neck strengthening exercises, massage therapy, chiropractic manipulation as well as hot/cold therapy. As there are other causes of headaches not related to the suboccipitals, it is always important to seek medical care for a headache that lasts for an extended period of time with no improvement.

References Cited in this Article

www.necksolutions.com

www.webmd.com

What is that Popping Noise?

During a spinal manipulation, a patient may feel a crack or hear a pop in their back.  Research shows that the popping noise is caused from small pockets of air in the tissue fluid that surround the joint.  The air pockets ‘pop’ when the joint tissue is stretched during a spinal adjustment.  The procedure does not cause any serious pain, but the patient may experience sore or tight muscles after treatment.  After 2 to 3 more sessions, the patient will experience an improved range of motion in the spine and more movement in the lower back.  Pain will subside in the problem areas as sessions continue.  Many chiropractors will explain different exercises and techniques for bending to prevent pain from reoccurring.

Why Spinal Manipulation?

Chiropractic spinal adjustments have proven to be safe and effective for treating lower back pain. Patients can look to chiropractic treatment as a natural method of healing as opposed to prescription drugs or surgery.  The chiropractor will apply force with his or her hands to the subluxed part of the spine.  The manipulation will correct vertebral subluxations and decrease pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, and tension. 

Are you suffering from back pain and discomfort?  Do you wish you had increased range of motion in your back and extremities?  Well, the answer is back rehab. 

Back Rehab options

Back rehab can come in the form of many different areas, including but not limited to chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, acupuncture, weight lifting and tailored exercises, physiotherapy, and massage therapy. 

Chiropractic care

A chiropractor’s job is to assess the spine through the use of static and kinetic palpation to find misalignment, or areas of subluxation, within the spine and/or extremities.  He/She then delivers a thrust in a specific line of drive to correct this subluxation.  This allows the taught muscles to relax and restore range of motion to the fullest potential. 

Subluxation

A subluxation may cause local inflammation and pain in the joint.  Subluxations to the spine cause an interruption of nerve flow to the overall nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ and body system in the human body to maintain homeostasis.  When this is disrupted, disease can enter the body in the form of many different illnesses.  Once the area(s) of concern are evaluated, the chiropractor will come up with a specific treatment plan tailored to the patient to be carried out depending on the severity of the injury at hand.  Sometimes, further diagnostic testing is needed to make the diagnosis, such as radiographic imaging and laboratory testing.  A medical referral is sometimes given in these instances, and co-management of the case may be available.  Back pain is a very treatable condition that doesn’t need to take over someone’s everyday life-back rehab is available.

Have an Aching Back?

Do you suffer needlessly from back discomfort?  There is no need to anymore!  Most Americans will experience some sort of back pain within their lifetime, with many suffering from chronic conditions.  Most Americans are taught at a young age to administer pain medication either from over-the-counter drugs or prescriptions.  This can lead to a more serious condition like drug dependency or liver failure.  Many conditions can cause back discomfort such as the following: scoliosis, fibromyalgia, disc herniations, thoracic outlet syndrome, headaches like tension or migraine, benign or malignant tumors, infections, upper-crossed syndrome, and poor posture. 

Who Can Help?

Chiropractors specialize in the science of diagnosing musculo-skeletal conditions like the ones mentioned above.  First, they will evaluate the patient to make sure they are indeed a candidate for chiropractic care.  Next, the chiropractor will administer static and kinetic palpation to effectively locate and treat the area of misalignment, or subluxation.  A subluxation is an area of fixation that causes the muscles, ligaments, and joints around the area to become restricted and decrease normal range of motion function.  This can ultimately lead to disease processes because the nervous system will in turn not function at full capacity.  The nervous system controls and coordinates all organs and body parts of the human body.  A chiropractor will administer an HVLA (high-velocity low-amplitude) adjustment in the correct line of drive to effectively correct the subluxation.  This will improve nervous system function, improve blood circulation, decrease muscular stress and tension, and improve range of motion and posture.  He/she will develop a treatment plan tailored specifically to each individual patient and their complaint or condition.   

Most Americans will suffer from some sort of back discomfort or pain in their lifetime.  Back pain is a common complaint for absenteeism from work among adults in the United States.  Many adults take over the counter or prescription pain medications.  This not only puts the patient’s health in jeopardy, but the safety of innocent bystanders when too much medication is taken due to pain.  Many medical doctors would rather write a prescription for a pain reliever, whether it’s mild or narcotic in strength, than refer the patient to a Chiropractic Doctor for spinal manipulation for the back discomfort. 

Chiropractor

The goal of a Chiropractor is to not only treat the symptoms, but determine the underlying cause of the condition and the pain.  Chiropractor’s assist in eliminating or reducing many conditions such as: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Whiplash, headaches/migraines, Torticollis, Brachial Plexus Syndrome, various types of Arthritis, Scoliosis, Disc herniations, spinal stenosis, shin splints, knee injuries, and autoimmune diseases. 

Static and Kinetic palpation

When back discomfort is due to a more severe condition such as metastasis (cancer) the Chiropractor will refer the patient to the appropriate oncologist for co-management and necessary treatment.  Most back pain episodes can be completely eliminated or greatly reduced by spinal manipulation.  A Chiropractor will use static and kinetic palpation to locate restriction or subluxation in the spine.  He or she will then apply a specialized thrust in a determined line of drive to correct this mis-alignment.  Back discomfort doesn’t need to consume someone’s daily life and permit them from doing the activities that they love.  Help is out there, and Chiropractic is the answer. 

Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is a serious condition that can affect an individual’s activities of daily living and their overall quality of life.  Most people associate whiplash with an automobile accident and that of course is the number one way to receive whiplash.  However, whiplash (WAD) can also be from other accidents including: falls from ladders, roofs, horses, bicycles, etc. 

The Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of WAD can be very vague immediately following the accident.  Some sufferers don’t even seek medical care because they are completely pain-free.  However, in the hours following the accident and the next day, victims complain of increased pain in the neck, head, shoulders, headaches, pins and needles in their neck that sometimes travel down their arm into their hands, and even light sensitivity. 

WAD

The muscles and ligaments of the neck get stretched with the acceleration and deceleration of an accident.  The tiny cervical spine bones can fracture, dislodging segments into free space.  This type of injury, called a tear-drop fracture is extremely unstable and must be treated with a hard cervical collar and possible surgery to correct.  In contrast, most whiplash cases are not severely unstable and can be treated through the use of Chiropractic care.  The Chiropractor will assess the extent of damage through palpation, range of motion evaluation, orthopedic testing, and x-rays if needed.  He/she will then establish a treatment protocol based on the severity of injury and whether it’s acute or chronic.  They will most likely apply some form of hydrotherapy and manipulate the cervical spine. 

Degenerative Arthritis

Degenerative changes can also be referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine, which is a common form of arthritis.  Osteoarthritis happens when the vertebrae spaces narrow and bone spurs form.  This causes the bones to rub together causing the vertebral joints and cartilage areas to become swollen and painful.  This usually affects the lower back and neck.  Overtime, the spine will lose its range of motion and become very stiff.  Once these changes are visible on X-rays, degenerative arthritis has already begun.  Arthritis typically occurs in patients over the age of 50 but there are many other factors for this disease.  Other causes include: obesity, family history, gender (women are more likely to get it), chronic illness such as diabetes or cancer, weakened immune system, and overused joints and muscles from work or physical activities.  Some symptoms of Degenerative Arthritis include: pain or tenderness in the neck, lower back pain that runs through the thighs, stiffness in the back after activities or in the morning, weakness or numbness in the legs, and limited range of motion or difficulty walking.  If back pain is severe, it’s a good idea to visit your chiropractor.  The doctor will examine your back and help you perform simple exercises so he/she can determine your range of motion.  Patients will be asked to bend forward, side-to-side or backwards.  It’s important to inform the physician if you experience any type of pain during these movements.   

Chiropractic Treatment

During a chiropractic treatment session, the physician will conduct an overall health exam by asking the patient about their medical history.  The chiropractor will determine what type of treatment is right for the patient.  For degenerative arthritis, chiropractic adjustments seem to be an effective treatment.  Chiropractic adjustments are a safe treatment for degenerative arthritis and help improve mobility and function of the spine.  In order to perform a chiropractic adjustment, the physician will stretch the patient’s muscles to manipulate the muscles easier.  Then, the chiropractor will apply gentle force to the patient’s spine using their hands.  This movement helps to place the spine back into proper positioning.  Some chiropractors will use short thrusts instead.  Other chiropractic treatments for arthritis include ultrasound, last therapy, massage therapy, and joint mobilization.  Sometimes a chiropractor will use a brace to stabilize the back and decrease pain.  Many doctors suggest mobilizing activities such as yoga and stretching to alleviate arthritis pain. Typically, physicians will give their patients stretching and strengthening exercises to prevent problems from occurring.       

Is Chiropractic Care Effective for Chest Pain?

In 2003, the Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), studied a case involving a 49 year old male who was experiencing chest pain.  The pain developed when the male was working out on a treadmill and he had difficulty breathing.  After two weeks of chronic chest pain, the patient went to a doctor and was diagnosed with muscular chest pain and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication.  The doctors also gave him beta blocker which he said made him drowsy.  After several weeks, he didn’t feel that the medication was helping his current condition.  His doctor said that his lungs and heart were healthy, however, his chest pain worsened over time.  As the pain got worse, the patient’s anxiety increased over the condition and his emotional well-being began to worsen.  Finally, the man decided to try chiropractic care.  The results from the patient’s exam showed he had many subluxations.  To fix a subluxation, the chiropractor had to utilize the chiropractic adjustment technique, also known as spinal manipulation.  After the man received one session of chiropractic care, he said he could breathe much easier.  The patient was put on a 14 week plan, attending treatment sessions 3 times per week.  The study showed that after each session, the patient felt prompt pain relief. 

 Subluxation

 The theory of subluxation says that when the spinal column is properly aligned, nerves will move more freely along the spinal cord.  When nerves move freely, it is less likely that a person will encounter back or neck pain.  To have a subluxation means the spine is misaligned, causing the nerves to be interrupted which results in back pain.  The subluxation theory says that any disorders in the body can be the result of a subluxation.  The body will heal faster once a chiropractor restores the spine back to proper alignment.  Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to treat allergies, digestive problems, and asthma.  To correct a subluxation, the chiropractor will perform a spinal manipulation with their hands.  During this procedure, the physician will place his or her hands on the patients back and apply force to the spine to place it in proper positioning.  Some chiropractors will use short and quick thrusts on the patients back.  Before the procedure starts, the chiropractor will stretch the patient’s muscles to manipulate the vertebrae more easily.  After the adjustment, many chiropractors will offer their patients advice on exercises to prevent future back pain.  Typically, physicians will give their patients stretching and strengthening exercises to prevent problems from occurring.    

Causes of Back Pain

 There can be a number of causes that lead to back pain. Depending on how you injured your back, pain can occur in the upper, middle and lower regions of the back.  Pain can result from a herniation, a disc putting pressure on a nerve, damaged facet joints and overuse of muscles and ligaments.  Lower back pain is often caused by injuries or a strain in the back muscle. Poor posture and overuse of the back muscles cause strain on the muscles leading to upper back pain.  Many people who have desk jobs encounter some type of back pain during their careers.  Trauma from accidents such as whiplash is also another explanation for upper back pain.  The most serious cases of upper back pain include a ruptured disc or osteoporosis, a disease where the bones become very weak and can shatter from the weight of the spine.  If back pain is affecting your everyday lifestyle, it may be helpful to seek a chiropractor or physician to get you back on track.  Some doctors may suggest back surgery, but in most cases, surgery is avoidable.  Chiropractic treatment is a great alternative to surgery or prescription drugs.  There can be many complications to back surgery, and pain medication can be very addicting.  In addition, medications mask the pain rather than getting to the root of the problem.

Try a Chiropractor! 

Try a consultation with a local chiropractor.  During the consultation, the chiropractor will conduct a physical health assessment.  The physician will ask you questions about your past and if you’ve ever had any injuries to your back.  He or she will probably check your spine and perform gentle movements on different regions of your back.  Once the chiropractor determines your condition, treatment will begin.  A common chiropractic technique is a spinal adjustment which is used to fix the misalignment of the vertebrae in the spine.  When misalignment occurs, the patient will begin to have restricted movement in the spine and back.  Chiropractors believe that restricted movement in the spine is the cause of back pain.  In order to treat the constrained spine, chiropractors use the spinal manipulation technique.  The goal is to improve mobility within the spine, resulting in decreased back pain.  During spinal manipulation, physicians will apply force to the joint with their hands.  The forced applied by the physician will push the spine beyond its typical range of motion.  This is a painless process, but it can cause mild discomfort for some patients.  After several treatments, you should start to feel a decrease in any pain you’ve been encountering.