Posts Tagged ‘back pain’

Report: Patients of Chiropractic are Highly Satisfied

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

I just read about a recent Consumer Reports survey of its readers that I, as your chiropractor, found “highly satisfying.” The survey, which included 14,000 Consumer Reports subscribers, found that “hands-on” therapies, led by chiropractic care, were the top-rated treatments for people suffering from back pain. In fact, chiropractors were given the highest “satisfaction with care” ratings, well above those given to medical doctors who administered various forms of care to back pain sufferers

The survey, reported in the publication’s May 2009 issue, found that more than half of the respondents had “pain (that) severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year.” The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician first for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, 59 percent reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors. The next highest rated practitioners were physical therapists (55 percent) and acupuncturists (53 percent), followed by “specialized” physicians (44 percent) and primary care physicians (34 percent).

Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received. Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got top honors, with 58 percent rating it as “helping a lot.” Spinal injections were next highest, rated at 51 percent, followed by massage (48 percent) and physical therapy (46 percent). Other highly rated treatments included prescription medications (45 percent), yoga (44 percent), movement therapy and acupuncture (both 41 percent).

According to a Dynamic Chiropractic article on that report, “Chiropractic ranked first out of 11 treatments, including massage, acupuncture, and exercise, in its ability to treat back pain. More readers said that chiropractic ‘helped me feel much better’ than any of the other therapies.” Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs ranked eighth and 10th, respectively.

So, if you’ve been “highly satisfied” with your chiropractic care, you’re not alone! In fact, more and more people are turning to chiropractic treatment not only for back pain relief, but for a wide variety of painful conditions from sports and repetitive stress injuries to arthritis.

A public version of the report can be found on the Consumer Reports Web site

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The Chiropractic Orlando Therapy That Corrects Scoliosis Pain

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

A normal spine looks straight, without much disparity from laterally, when the body is viewed from behind. But, if the spine is observed to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the person might have a condition called scoliosis.This condition often gives the appearance of the person leaning to one side but it should not be confused with poor posture. Scoliosis is a complicated deformity that is defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra oftentimes creating a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is caused by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their connected ribs posterior thereby causing the symptomatic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, greater than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be impeded. Often later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this amount of curve and resulting cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

The spine discloses four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are apparent from a side view of the trunk. The thoracic, in the chest area, has a natural round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a natural “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe elevated swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Diversions from normal that are visible from a side view frequently accompany scoliosis changes. A few round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small percentage of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This kind of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more problematic to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a nonprofessional can help to identify a child or fully-grown individual with scoliosis simply by observing the person in a standing position, preferably without a shirt and in boxers, and observing the following:

  • One shoulder may be raised than the other.
  • One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more prominent than the other.
  • With the arms hanging loosely at the sides, there may be more room between the arm and the body on one side.
  • One hip may look to be more elevated or more prominent than the other.
  • The head is not centered over the pelvis.
  • When the person is observed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the spine is horizontal, one side of the back seems higher than the other.

Once scoliosis is identified, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are a variety of roots and many varieties of scoliosis, however the most common, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for nearly 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, based upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences as it commonly runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” implies, this class of scoliosis usually happens when children are completing their last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are disinclined to allow their body to be seen by parents and other adults, so it is smart to have this age group examined on a regular basis.

If a scoliotic curve is found in the growing adolescent, it is vital that the curves be monitored for change by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of instances, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity require evaluation to determine if a brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of individuals.

Brace support (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is observed, or when new symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are discovered. There are many styles of braces, all made to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is successful in stopping curve progression in an impressive number of skeletally-immature adolescents. However, braces generally won’t make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from progressing.

Scoliosis has no simple answer. Nearly all cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. Severe conditions are sometimes treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among a number of modalities used besides bracing. It seems like the most effective results have been sustained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this abnormality.

There are chiropractors, that have years of experience treating scoliosis cases.

 

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Chiropractic Orlando Style: Too Much Weight in the Middle Can Mean Extra Pain in the Back

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

There are plenty of people today struggling with weight loss on a regular basis, notably too much weight around the middle. However, the necessity to lose weight is, quite frequently, more than a simple cosmetic issue.  The fact of the matter is, if people are carrying around additional weight in their stomach area, their back is going to be adversely affected as a result.

Most men and women who are overweight encounter moderate to severe back pain. The reason for this is because the spine was not designed to haul anything that weighs more than the body is at its generally healthy weight.  As a human being puts on additional pounds, the spine begins to negatively change and to compress, causing a lot of pain and discomfort.  Additionally, it can have an effect on the pelvis, tilting it forward and perhaps causing it to pinch the sciatic nerve. This is a primary reason why individuals who are overweight tend to have difficulties with their lower back. The suffering is due to either sciatica or the distorting of the spinal column.

If this condition sounds achingly familiar, and you’d like to get out pain, certainly the thing to do is to eliminate extra weight that you are toting around, and your spine will start to regulate and go back into its regular position.  Unfortunately, weight loss isn’t easy and it can take time, even with the best of intentions. The good news is you don’t have to endure back pain as you lose the weight. A chiropractor can offer the pain relief you’ll want as you shed the extra pounds.

However, you will still need to lose the extra pounds, and not having back pain will undoubted assist you in doing it. Losing the extra weight naturally and healthfully is crucial, and there are two (simple but not easy) things that can’t fail: Get some sort of exercise each day, even if it’s just a bit, and be certain that you take in fewer calories than you burn! Sure, you’ve heard about these two things before. However, now that you’ve found out that your back is depending on you, it’s a good time to get truly inspired.

Start exercising slowly, expressly if you’re having difficulties with back pain. And, most importantly, be sure to see a chiropractor so that you don’t go wrong the way many people do, which is exercising into the pain. That will without a doubt make matters worse. exercise, though occasionally uncomfortable, should never be painful or cause pain. That’s why it’s crucial to see a chiropractor if you’re experiencing back pain.

Do basic stretching exercises and also concentrate on your core abdominal body muscles. Strong stomach muscles help to ease back pain. Your chiropractor will be able to offer exercises that are best for you, personally. Within just a week or two of dedication to losing the weight that is producing your back pain and perhaps other health issues as well, you most likely being to notice a dramatic difference in the way that you feel.

 

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Chiropractic Orlando Style and Back Pain Relief

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is second in commonality only to the common cold. It affects more than 80% of human being. Although most of us are aware that the common cold is due to a viral infection, back pain is often puzzling to its sufferers. Your Orlando Chiropractor is an expert at solving the problem.

Anatomy

To understand back pain, it is helpful to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are comprised of posterior joints called facets that link vertebrae to one another and serve to direct the movement of the spine. Inter-vertebral discs, made of tough cartilage, join the bodies of the vertebrae. This dense cartilage covers the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also connect 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. The spinal cord is situated between the facets of the vertebrae. The spinal nerves leave the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

A large number of back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cumulative effects of unhealthy sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related factors create most back pain. These cumulative factors cause stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, individuals may injure their back simply by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The instability of the spine makes it vulnerable to even the most simple movements, such as bending. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Orlando Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Prolonged sitting, especially in a slouched position produces increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles encompassing the spine. After a while the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. In the end, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, letting the soft nucleus to bulge the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it causes the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, a person can develop sciatica, which is defined as pain, tingling, numbness, and sometimes weakness in the lower extremities. Regrettably, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition isn’t managed appropriately, surgery may benecessary to dispose of the herniated disc material. Nonetheless, with the correct chiropractic adjustments and management, as well as postural exercises, most of these cases can healthfully recover. If you are experiencing any of the conditions defined above, it is essential for you to seek chiropractic assistance.

Spondylosis

Increased erosion and weight-bearing stress on the spine occurs when there is repetitive damage to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments. This stress can adversely affect the cartilage around the joints and engender calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae, forming bone spurs. These spurs can constrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This restriction causes a form of arthritis, called Spondylosis, that can also occur as part of the aging process of the spine. But|However, influences such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management is extremely beneficial in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as helping Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Orlando Chiropractor has treated 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 link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are normally very strong and stable. However with damage such as falls, sports injuries, or lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and change 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 create a functional long and short leg. People with this problem will feel pain specifically with prolonged standing and walking, or during or after physical activity. Many complain of lack of energy and feeling tired easily. Frequently this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and individuals can develop neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. Chiropractic adjustments and treatment are extremely effective in correcting this problem by establishing proper alignment of the joints.. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can experience effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A very common disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. They not only create 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 variation of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities oftenoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is very often associated with nerve problemsin 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 treated by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Injury such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can cause over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine and lower back and produce extensive 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 conditions of the spine and lower back.

 

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