Alternative medicines

Posts Tagged ‘lower back pain’

If you suffer from chronic low back pain like many people, you may have tried several different treatments designed to deal with the pain.

In most cases of low back pain the disc is the source of discomfort. Many studies have shown that the disc is overwhelmingly to blame for episodes of low back pain. The facet joints and the SI joints also contribute but as as commonly as the disc.

One thing that most people don’t understand about the disc is that while it is the most pain sensitive structure in the spine it is only initially pain sensitive in the outer 1/3. This is one of the reasons pain can hit so suddenly because as the inner portion of the disc is migrating outwards you don’t feel pain, but once the outer fibers are involved low back pain will be experienced.

The disc is very susceptible to dehydration and degeneration primarily because if it’s lack of a direct blood supply. It receives it’s vital nutrients and hydration from the bones above and below where a rich blood supply is present. Once the disc becomes damaged the disc loses it’s ability to maintain hydration and it becomes dry and much more likely to deteriorate.

One little known fact about disc pain is that once a disc begins to dry out it becomes more pain sensitive. That’s because certain cells that hold hydration in the disc also inhibit the growth of pain sensitive nerves in the disc. So once a disc drys out painful nerves become more abundant.

Spinal Decompression is the only treatment that actually increases hydration and nutrition into the disc so it can heal. This allows the disc to begin the regeneration process and it also allows the inhibition of the pain sensitive nerves to be restored so that the disc is no longer painful throughout.

The mechanism behind spinal decompression is very complex, although many will tell you it looks similar to traction. The difference is that unlike traction, spinal decompression has a patented computer system that analyzes muscle contraction responses and changes the forces to overcome muscle contraction.

The benefits of spinal decompression are very effective for disc health. First the negative pressure created helps to draw in any bulging or herniated material that my be compressing or irritating the nerves and secondly it actively creates a fluid exchange bringing in fresh oxygen and nutrition into the disc so it can heal.

Unlike most treatment that are primarily concerned with the symptoms spinal decompression actually deals with the primary source of the patients pain, which in most cases is the disc.

If you suffer from low back pain and have tried other treatments that have not worked for you, spinal decompression can offer you a valuable treatment option that can last.

When it comes to back pain, people of all ages experience the problem of having lower back pain. This is one of the most common of problems for people and is caused generally by some sort of swelling or inflammation due to poor posture or other cause. Most people don’t know what the underlying cause is, they usually want to find a way that will help them to relieve lower back pain.

You may get lower back pain from jerking the wrong way when playing a sport or lifting heavy objects, you may even have spent many hours at your desk working on a project. There may be any number of reasons that your back may be out. Almost every person everywhere has had instances of lower back pain some time throughout their lives.

When you strain your back or your muscles are exhausted, you may experience some pain in your back. In some cases you may hurt yourself to the point where you are experiencing extreme pain and may not even be able to leave your bed. In this particular case you may want to see a physician. There may be some other problems wrong when you have extreme lower back pain. In the event that you are having some uncomfortable but minor back aches or some tightening of your lower back then you will want to try one of the tips for back pain relief listed here.

You will want to know that many times you will find that the pain you feel in your lower back is due to the fact that you are exhausted, and your muscles need time to relax and to heal themselves. In this situation you will need to take a while and just take a break. This will give you a chance to ease the problems you are having with your back.

In some cases people will turn to using ice as their remedy when they have back problems. For back pain that is caused by swelling , ice packs can help stop the swelling. When you get hurt, swelling happens when the blood rushes in the area of your injury, helping to heal the problem. During this healing process you may feel some pain and discomfort, using ice in this situation helps to decrease the swelling, lets your back heal itself, and will numb the area offering a quick and efficient pain reliever.

Compression is a way of easing back pain, by adding support to your muscles. This will give you what you need to be able to move around when working or doing other activities. Using a bandage on your lower back, may be a way to allow you to continue your work.

If you just want a quick way to relieve lower back pain that you know for certain is minor, you may also want to try acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin to ease the pain from back problems.

Do it yourself chronic back pain relief can be achieved at home and could be the most convenient way of dealing with a problem that affects freedom of movement and maybe even mobility.

Our backs can fail without warning, and it is often something very simple, like picking an iron up at arms length that can lead to that first ominous twinge in the back, followed by later more serious pain as the injury takes root. Quick home remedies can be the answer. Most incidents of chronic back pain are short lived lasting only a few days. Then there is always the old sports trainer’s trick of applying something cold pressed to the wounded area to prevent inflammation and swelling. Nowadays it is recommended that any “cold” treatments should be followed immediately by a warm treatment as this can help to restore the circulation quickly.

Doing gentle exercise, such as swimming, walking and muscle stretches can be beneficial for chronic back pain relief. It is important that you should try not to let the pain divert you form performing your normal activities, as regular movement can help to stop the problem from immobilizing you. Regular light exercise is always a good idea, even under normal circumstances, but in the case of chronic back pain, it can substantially reduce the healing time.

Exercise is always a good response to chronic back pain. It’s like telling the pain that it’s not going to prevent you from doing what you normally do, that you’re not going to let it win by ruining your usual lifestyle. Chances are that if you do give in to it, that it could entrench itself forever.

There are some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, that can help. Drugs like Ibuprofen are also effective. But you should be careful and use these in the short term only as prolonged use can lead to ulcers or other stomach ailments. They do hide pain, but remember you need to cure the cause. If the cause still persists it warrants further investigation and a change of treatment or medication. It may also be worth considering muscle relaxants to see if they bring any comfort, but their use should be short term only to avoid any dependency occurring There are also things called COX 2 inhibitors that have a history of helping with chronic back pain disorders but beware, they have been linked with causing heart disease, so consult a doctor before taking anything.

Certain complimentary treatments or therapies (such as the Alexander Technique) can help. These programs are a way of teaching you how to use your body muscles and joints correctly, including posture etc, to minimize any undue, unnatural and unnecessary stress being exerted. Also, acupuncture, while not a self help solution, can still be considered “natural” and has shown proven results and has many devotees.

Collagen plays as large role in the health of spinal discs and regular daily doses of up to 2500g of vitamin C, which supports collagen growth, can provide back pain relief. It is often recommended that taking daily doses of Glucosamine Sulphate may facilitate the repair of chronic back pain causes.

The largest and the strongest tendon in the body is the Achilles tendon in the distal posterior calf. Typical patients with Achilles tendon rupture are men in good health from 30-50 years old and who have not suffered major injuries or any kind of difficulty with the leg before. Rupture occurs typically in people who have not been recently active and who may indulge in infrequent physical activity such as playing weekend sport, players known as “weekend warriors”.

The two large calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and the soleus, each have a tendon and these converge and form the Achilles tendon about 15 centimetres above the calcaneum. Tendons transmit forces from muscles to bones and to do this they have high resilience and sufficient stiffness, good tensile strength and allow 4 percent stretch before damage. Damage and rupture to the fibres can occur when the stretch reaches 8 percent. Most of the tendon rupture and degeneration occurs where the blood supply is poorest, about 2-6 centimetres up from the heel bone.

Achilles tendon tears occur mostly in the left leg where the poor blood supply is, perhaps because most people are right handed and push off more with their left leg. Common injuries are on sudden foot push off, an unexpected forcing up of the ankle and an upward force on the ankle when pushed down. Direct trauma and general degeneration of the tendon without trauma can also occur. People at risk include those exerting themselves when they are unfit, relatively older people, steroid users and those who exert themselves in extreme ways.

Achilles tendon forces in running can be very high and have been measured at six to eight times bodyweight. The patient typically reports a sudden snap or blow to the rear of the lower calf, a sudden strong pain, an ability to walk but not to run or climb stairs. On examination there may be a swollen or bruised calf, a palpable gap in the tendon and an inability to stand on tiptoe. A history of treatment with steroids, previous tendon rupture or an unusually high activity level (e.g. weekend warrior) can also be important findings.

Doctors choose conservative or surgical management, operation having a higher risk of complications and conservative treatment a higher risk of re-rupture. Non-operative treatment is suitable for sedentary people, diabetics, older people and those with medical problems or poor skin integrity. Impaired blood supply, diabetes and other illnesses make wound breakdown, tendon separation and infections more likely. A calf or thigh length plaster may be used with the ankle flexed down, moving it up regularly over six to ten weeks. The patient is allowed to weight bear and given an orthotic as the tendon heals.

Open or percutaneous surgery can be used and after the operation the leg is plastered with the ankle in plantar flexion or put into a brace. The ankle angle is adjusted upwards regularly week by week as healing goes forward until after 4 to 6 weeks the brace can be removed. Surgical repair is more successful due to lower rates of repeated rupture, quicker return to activity, greater strength and better endurance when compared to non-operative treatment. Research indicates that immobilizing the tendon for shorter periods is more successful.

The physiotherapy rehabilitation starts with ankle range of movement exercises without body weight loading, encouraging a good walking pattern and a heel raise to reduce the upward force on the tendon in gait. Static cycling and swimming are good starting activities, moving onto weight bearing exercises, muscle strengthening and onto more vigorous activities such as jogging, jumping and balance practice. Normal activity may be resumed by four months from surgery but this varies.

Achilles tendon rupture usually turns out with good or excellent results with most athletes getting back to their chosen sports. Surgical management has a re-rupture rate of 0-5 percent and conservative treatment up to 40 percent, so patient education by the physio in training and stretching performance and the best choice of footwear is important for the long term.

We have all been there: we go to the doctor with an aching back, she gives us a diagnosis, and writes out a prescription for some pain killers, along with some medical advice of what we can and cannot do. We take the pills, follow the advice, and the problem goes away. Or does it? Two months later, we pick up a heavy suitcase and injure our back once again – and start the vicious cycle of doctor-pills-advice all over again.

Treating a physical problem is always an uphill struggle – that is, unless you eradicate the problem completely. This is where osteopaths come in: they don’t just treat the symptoms of an ailment, they cure the cause of the problem. That is the fundamental difference between your local GP and an osteopath – while a doctor just examines individual symptoms, an osteopath will look at the ‘total person,’ or the body in its entirety. There are various other factors that distinguish osteopathic doctors from medical doctors:

1. Osteopaths are specialists in how the body works. Where medical doctors have a general overview of a large number of diseases, osteopaths are specifically trained in the musculoskeletal system. They therefore have a greater understand of how one system within the body influences the other, giving them a diagnostic as well as therapeutic advantage over GPs.

2. Osteopaths are uniquely capable of using Osteopathic Manipulative Training (OMT) to diagnose an illness within the body. In involves the manipulation of certain muscles with the hands to encourage the blood to flow to necessary regions of the body, which gives the body a much more natural opportunity of healing itself.

3. An Osteopath not only uses their hands to diagnose a problem, but also to treat to the predicament. While a medical doctor would prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug to treat the symptoms at face value, an osteopath would work to free the muscle tensions, which not only stimulates circulation, but encourages the body’s own forces to eradicate the problem, preventing it from re-emerging in the future.

4. While medical doctors work to treat the immediate symptoms of an illness, osteopaths look at the history of the disease. If a patient were to have a knee injury, for example, a GP would most commonly acquire a patient’s medical history through means of laboratory procedures, such as blood tests, or other psychical examinations. Osteopaths work differently: they obtain a patient’s history by questioning whether the patient experienced excessive stiffness in the joints in the past, whether increased activity further aggravates the knee, and whether the pain varies based on the position in which the knee is placed. By obtaining the history in this manner, osteopathic doctors aim to find the source of the problem, and ensue to eradicate its cause.

The benefits of osteopathy are therefore numerous, but do they override the advantages of visiting your local GP? That is for you to decide. Depending on the nature of your ailment, you might even want to see both. The primary question you have to ask yourself whether your physical problem is a reoccurring one, and whether you want to treat the symptoms, or cure the disease.

Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) is not confined to golfers, but occurs in many sportsmen and women, with racquet sports the most common causes. Other sports where golfer’s elbow occurs are in bowlers in cricket, archers and weightlifters. This and the more common tennis elbow are tendinopathies, overuse syndromes where there is no significant inflammation but a pathological alteration in the body of the tendon at the painful site.

The muscles which flex and rotate the forearm originate over the medial epicondyle, the bony prominence on the inside of the elbow, with the tendon anchored into the bone by the tendinous insertion. The pain occurs close to this and may be due to a degenerative process occurring in the tendon, as little inflammation has been noted in these cases.

High stresses occur in the cocking phase of a throw and during the subsequent acceleration, and in the golf swing from high backswing down to near the ball strike. Golfers are more likely to have their dominant hand affected and tennis players who use heavy topspin in their forehands are also more at risk.

Golfer’s elbow is the most common cause of pain over the inside of the elbow and less common than tennis elbow. Twice as many men are affected as women, with people being affected initially mostly in their twenties to their forties. Golfer’s elbow presents in the dominant hand in 60% of occurrences, with 30% of sufferers reporting a sudden and painful onset, the remainder having a slow onset.

Patients complain of aching pain over the front of the inner epicondyle, worse with repeated wrist flexion and better with rest. Pain can occur in the shoulder, elbow, forearm or hand, with weakness in the lower arm and hand also. The physiotherapist will examine the bony areas and joints of the elbow, check the muscles and their tendinous insertions. The physio palpates the ulnar nerve in the groove behind the elbow, called the “funny bone” when it’s hit. The nerve can give pins and needles or weakness in the forearm and a neurological examination excludes other causes of pain or weakness.

Conservative, non-surgical, treatment is the mainstay of management. This includes physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, wrist splints and steroid injections. Patient education is important and activity modification is the first line of treatment, reducing the frequency of aggravating episodes. Altering the mechanics of the golf swing or other activity is vital if the area is to be allowed to settle. The patient avoids certain activities with the affected muscles and avoids leaning on the elbow.

In the acute phase of golfer’s elbow the physiotherapist’s aim is to reduce any pain and inflammation using ice treatment, stretching gently, deep frictions, ultrasound and anti-inflammatory medication. Progression into the sub acute phase changes treatment to increasing flexibility, strength and returning to normal activities in a paced manner. Counterforce forearm bracing can help realign the tendon stresses, or a wrist brace can give the muscles a rest. For a chronic syndrome the treatment is similar with reducing splint use and returning to sporting activities.

Doctors inject corticosteroid medication into the sites of chronic golfer’s elbow but this treatment appears to be more useful in the earlier, acute cases. Other therapies, such as shockwave or laser, have been used but do not seem to be effective. Once physio has been attempted for some time without improvement then a surgical approach may be considered, cutting out the abnormal tissue from the tendon. The ulnar nerve can be transposed around to the front of the joint from its position in the groove posteriorly.

Advice from a professional instructor is well worthwhile as they can instruct on technique of the golf swing, aerobic fitness, muscle strength work and flexibility. Warming up prior to activity and stretching afterwards, with good sporting technique and sound choice of equipment are the basic requirements. Monitoring of patients by the physiotherapist, especially if they are sports people, may be essential to avoid overdoing and training or performing through pain.

Osteopathic medicine is a kind of medicinal practice in which the entire body is taken into consideration instead of looking at symptoms separately. This type of medicine is very “in” right now, especially for those who suffer from pain in their muscles and joints. A lot of people believe that an osteopath is your best option when you suffer from neck pain. Obviously, if this is your first visit to an osteopath, you are probably nervous, but you can relax. Here is what you can expect to experience when you treat neck pain with an osteopath:

The first part of your visit will be an exam that feels more like a visit to a “traditional” doctor. You’ll most likely give your complete medical history and also receive a physical examination. In many cases, your osteopath might order extra tests to help narrow down exactly why your neck is in pain. You might have an X-Ray taken to see if there is any physical damage to the vertebrae in your neck, but don’t be surprised if your osteopath pays attention to other parts of your body as well!

It is important to know that your appointment will involve a lot of physical contact between you and your osteopath. Osteopathic treatment is very “hands on.”

The osteopath you visit can use any or all of the following methods to treat your neck pain:

Counterstrain technique: this technique involves moving you into a position that will help your body restore motion to any of your muscles that might have been strained or restrained.

Muscle Energy technique: Your osteopath gives you exercises that will start with your muscles in precise positions and follow with you moving those muscles in precise movements.

Soft Tissue technique: this is where your osteopath will apply pressure to the muscle areas around the spine. It can also involve deep pressure, rhythmic stretching and, in some cases, traction.

Thrust technique: In the thrust technique your osteopath will reintroduce movement to your joints with high velocity force. This should help rid you of any asymmetry in your muscles, any movement that has been restricted and any tissue changes or muscle tenderness.

In some cases, osteopaths will also use low level lasers or acupuncture to treat their patients.

An osteopathic visit might sound scary, but there is no reason to be frightened. Most people who visit an osteopath don’t experience any pain. Most of the time osteopathic visits have been reported to be pleasant and relaxing!

There are some people who might confuse osteopathic medicine with chiropractic medicine. The two night sound alike, but they are actually very different. Chiropractic medicine focuses on your spine and joints. Osteopathic medicine focus on your whole body!