Back Pain Warwickshire, 22 3D Back Pain animated educational videos are available to view at this Warwickshire Back Pain Clinic for Back Pain and related spinal conditions, diseases, pains and injuries, which can be found listed under ” Pain Management,” “Orthopaedics” and “Complementary Medicine” in our Videos Library section. In addition 78 3D animated educational videos covering other conditions / complaints under the same headings. To view the Videos Library, click in the top right hand corner.
Also available are 32 3D Back Pain educational videos for Sciatica and various Back Pains, injuries and conditions such as (1) Sciatica (2) Degenerative disc (3) Herniated disc (4) Facet Joints (5) Scoliosis (6) Kyphosis, Posture (7) Back Pain and Neck Pain Decompression (they can be found under the listing “Types of Pain” in our ” Back Pain ” Section )
For the management of Back Pain, here at Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic we use the latest Low Level Lasers which accelerate the recovery and healing process, leading to a significant reduction in pain inflammation. A 5 star rating has been awarded to Low Level Laser Therapy, our laser section can be found listed under ”Pain Relief”, please also view our ”Low level Laser Testimonial Video”.
Back Pain
Back Pain and specific injuries and conditions are listed below.
Neck & Upper Back Pain, Mid Back Pain, Chest & Ribs, Sciatica & Lower Back Pain, Bulging, Prolapsed, Herniated, or “Slipped disc” Disc Degeneration, Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolysis Spondylolisthesis, Sacroiliac joint inflammation, Facet Joints. Muscles, Ligaments, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Scoliosis, Muscle Spasm, and Trigger Point Therapy, Trapped Nerves,
Back Pain and neck pain are usually caused common conditions or injuries to the back and neck. The pain may come on gradually, or it may be acute and come on suddenly. Bad posture is a common cause in the onset of this pain but it is not the only cause.
Chiropractors Coventry understand the various causes of neck pain and can offer advice. One instance of neck pain is Cervicalgia.
Back Injury.
Back Pain and injuries such as; Bulging, Prolapsed, Herniated or “Slipped disc,” Disc Degeneration, Spinal Stenosis,Facet Joints Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis, Sacroiliac joint, Muscles, Ligaments, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Sciatica and Lower back Pain.
Neck and Upper Back Pain.
People do not realize how much they move their neck, until they are unable to do so. The neck has the least amount of muscular stabilization to support and moves your head which weighs around 10 lbs, which makes it very susceptible to injury. It doesn’t take much force to disrupt that fine balance.
The spinal cord passes through a space in the vertebrae sending nerve impulses to every part of the body. Between each pair of cervical vertebrae, the spinal cord sends bundles of nerves that pass down the arms and to the upper back, and if your arm is hurting, it may be a problem in the neck! Symptoms in the arms can include numbness, tingling, coldness, heaviness, aching, and “pins and needles”.
The neck can also contribute to headaches, muscle spasms in the shoulders and upper back, ringing ears, otitis media (inflammation in the middle ear, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ or jaw joint). Dysfunction of the neck also causes restricted range of motion and chronic tightness in the upper back.
Causes of Neck and Upper Back Pain.
Neck and upper back pain is caused by a combination of factors, including injury, poor posture, stress, and disc problems.
Injuries.
The most common injury to the neck is a whiplash injury. Whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head, (View our Whiplash section)
Poor Posture.
Much more common causes of neck pain and headaches are poor posture. It’s easy to get into bad posture habits, can eventually lead to pain and headaches. The rule is simple: keep your neck in a “neutral” position whenever possible. Don’t bend or hunch your neck forward for extended periods. Also, do not to sit in one position for extended period of time. If you must sit for an extended period, make sure your posture is good: Keep your head in a neutral position, make sure your back is always supported, keep your knees slightly lower than your hips.
Stress.
When people become stressed, they unconsciously contract their muscles. Particular the muscles in their back. This ‘Muscle guarding’ or Defence posture is a response designed to guard against injury. Muscle guarding occurs whenever we become emotionally stressed. The areas most affected are the muscles of the neck, upper back and low back.
Disc Herniations.
Discs in your neck may herniated or bulge and put pressure on the nerves that lead from the spine into your shoulders, arms and hands. Although cervical discs do not bulge nearly as often as lumbar discs do, they occasionally can still get damaged, especially when damage sustained from a whiplash injury.
(View our Cold/low levellLaser therapy Section .)
Mid-Back Pain. Chest & Ribs.
Put your hands alongside your chest and sides and you can easily feel your bony ribs. In the front they attach to your breastbone or sternum and in the back they attach to your spinal bones or vertebrae. Ancient anatomists thought your ribs looked like the bars of a cage so they called them, with their attachments, your “rib cage.”
What is in that cage? Some very important organs are protected there: your heart, lungs, major blood vessels, diaphragm and other structures. It’s important to keep this “cage” in alignment and balanced. A misaligned rib cage can put unnatural pressure on its vital inhabitants affecting their proper functioning.
Thoracic Subluxations.
Thoradc subluxations can affect the heart, lungs and other organs in your chest cavity, preventing the proper draining of lymphatic fluids from your head, brain, throat, chest, abdomen and legs. Subluxations can also restrict your breathing, and can also affect your sympathetic nerves which influence the function of your internal organs, senses and brain itself. Two types of thoracic subluxations have a special name: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and T4 Syndrome.
Thoradc Outlet Syndrome (TGS) affects your brachial plexus, a collection of nerves that go from your spine to your arms, hands and shoulders. TGS is characterized by pain in the head, neck or upper extremities, paresthesia (strange nerve pains) and other symptoms.
Symptoms of T4 Syndrome, caused by a vertebral subluxation of the 4th thoracic, may include heaviness and swelling in one or both upper extremities; “creepy crawly” feelings of the shoulders. arms or hands; feelings of a tight band around the upper arm and feelings of heat or cold in one or both hands. Because the sympathetic system can be involved, patients with these syndromes may feel heart-like pain in the chest and left upper extremity and think they are having a heart attack. These conditions can also be confused with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Are You Subluxated?
The ribs may get subluxated from trauma-sports, accidents, injuries and even birth stress. However, the thoracic spine moves differently from the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) areas since it is attached to the ribs.
Special spinal adjustment techniques have been developed for this area. When a thoracic vertebra becomes subluxated, the ribs and the sternum (breastbone) are affected. Some chiropractors adjust the ribs and sternum directly while others adjust the vertebrae so the connecting structures will then realign. Why not ask your chiropractor how he/she addresses this?
When your chiropractor releases subluxations or spinal nerve pressure in this area the benefits can be both physically and psychologically profound. Everyone should see a chiropractor for a checkups to ensure their mid-back; ribs and the rest of their body are in proper alignment and balance.
Thoracic Vertebrae.
The thoracic spine contains 12 medium sized vertebrae all of which form articulations (joints) with 2 opposing ribs. Like the other spinal vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae act as attachments for muscles and ligaments in the mid spine and also encase and protect the median aspect of the spinal cord and thoracic nerve roots.
Because the thoracic vertebrae form relatively strong articulations with the ribs, the mobility of the thoracic spine is less than that of the cervical and lumbar spines. However, this same characteristic also protects the thoracic spinal discs and facet joints from the wear and tear experienced by these structures in the other areas of the spine.
Common vertebral problems in the thoracic spine include vertebral subluxations, a condition where the vertebrae of the thoracic spine become statically misaligned and/or function abnormally resulting in pain, muscle spasm, and sometime nerve malfunction.
Rib Articulation.
The thoracic is unique in that each of its vertebrae attaches to a pair of ribs. There are 12 thoracic vertebrae and thus, 24 ribs (12 ribs on the left and 12 ribs on the right). Just like adjacent connecting vertebrae can misalign and biomechanically malfunction, so too can the thoracic vertebrae and it’s adjacent ribs. When ribs “go out” or misalign in relation to their connecting vertebrae, the individual will often experience sharp pains in the area of the misaligned rib head, especially on twisting movements of the torso.
As with vertebral subluxations, chiropractors can successfully treat rib misalignments with the chiropractic spinal adjustment. The adjustment repositions the rib to it correct position and normalizes impaired motion patterns.
Thoracic Intervertebral Discs.
The intervertebral discs in the thoracic spine are located between adjacent vertebrae. They function as spacers to provide clearance for exiting spinal nerves, as connectors to link adjacent vertebrae together and allow for movement, and also as spinal shock absorbers.
The discs of the thoracic spine are less likely to become injured compared to those of the cervical and lumbar spines, making up only 2% of intervertebral disc herniations. This is because of the rib articulations made by the vertebra which significantly increases the stability of the thoracic spine. This does not mean that the discs of the thoracic are immune from damage, rather, statistically less likely to become injured.
Thoracic Facet Joints.
The facet joints in the thoracic spine allow for considerable amounts of flexion and extension. The facet joints can become injured with excessive amounts of rotation and extension. Golfers are prime candidates for facet joint injury due to their repetitive twisting motions as they swing their golf clubs. When injured, pain is often sharp and localized to the area of the affected facet joint.
Thoracic Spinal Nerves.
The thoracic spinal nerve roots exit openings formed between adjacent thoracic vertebrae termed the intervertebral foramina or IVF. The spinal nerves from the thoracic spine innervate the many muscles of the back as well as the many visceral organs and tissues of the chest and abdominal regions.
Spinal nerve root irritation or compression in the thoracic region commonly leads to intercostal pain (between the ribs). Sharp shooting pains are often experienced along the path of the ribs. Additionally, an increased susceptibility to herpes zoster or “shingles” in some individuals,( generally the elderly or immune compromised) is thought to occur when the thoracic spinal nerves are irritated or compressed. Herpes zoster involves infection to an area of the nerve root, the dorsal root ganglion, with the herpes virus.
Thoracic Spinal Musculature.
The paraspinal muscles of the thoracic spine are numerous. They are responsible for the majority of trunkal movements as well as a number of upper extremity movements and are a common source of injury and pain.
Over exertion of the muscles from lifting and pulling and poor posture are the major contributors in mid back strains. Pain originating from these muscles characteristically produces a dull generalized ache.
Muscle Spasms and Trigger Points.
The Body is made up of over 60% nerve, muscle and bone, it should come as no surprise that chronic pain, strain, spasm, irritation, inflammation, trigger points or other neuro-musculoskeletal (nerve-muscle-bone) conditions are so common. In fact, many of the millions of people who visit their doctors of chiropractic do so because of these problems.
Do Injections and Physical Therapy Work?
For standard medicine, how to best deal with the symptoms of muscle spasm, trigger points and similar problems is a mystery. Medical treatments such as novocaine, procaine and xylocaine injections; cooling sprays; muscle relaxant drugs; cortisone injections; and other drugs have been tried with mixed results. Heat, massage and other modalities have had limited success.
The Cause.
The cause of this mystery illness, may, at least in part, be spinal trauma. In one study, adults with neck injuries had a 16 % increase of neuromuscular pain and fibromyalgia within one year of their injury. Others have found similar associations.
The Chiropractic Approach.
Those suffering from muscle spasm, trigger points, neuromuscular pain and problems, fibromyalgia and similar symptoms are seeing chiropractors in record numbers because they are getting results. For example, in one study 10 men and 20 women, aged 13 to 70 with chronic fatigue syndrome, trigger point pain and fibromyalgia, who had been suffering for years began chiropractic care. After a series of spinal adjustments, every patient was able to resume normal activities including full time work and maintained their improvements one year later at follow-up. The authors of the study write:
“Improvement in symptoms was achieved in both these syndromes”
In another study of trigger points, muscle pain and fibromyalgia experienced moderate to greater improvement under Chiropractic care while anti-depressant medication benefited only around 30% and exercise helped 25% In another study, 55% of patients had at least a 45% reduction in pain symptoms with chiropractic. Similar results were found with those suffering from fibromyalgia with tender trigger points, numbness, tingling and pain.
Trigger Points.
How do you feel in the morning?
Do your muscles feel “tight,” especially in the morning? Do you always need to stretch with constant aches and pains in your neck, low back and hips? Do you feel old and stiff with morning fatigue, sleeping problems and many tender spots (trigger points)?
Trigger Points.
Trigger points are tender, sensitive areas that when pressed, stuck, heated or cooled can be exquisitely painful. You may first discover trigger points when you are surprised by someone pressing a seemingly pain-free area. Trigger point pain may also be referred to other areas of the body. Trigger points are common in chronic muscle spasm, myalgia, myositis, fibrositis, strain and sprain, and other muscle and joint problems.
Vertebral Subluxations.
Chiropractors locate and correct vertebral subluxations, a spinal condition that damages nerves, muscles, fascia, meninges and other tissues. Subluxations can alter the concentration of enzymes and other chemicals necessary for skeletal muscle health which may play a role in muscle diseases. Compression of a nerve interferes with impulse transmission, causing muscle paralysis, vasodilation and trophic ulcers.
Chronic hyperactivity of sympathetic nerves is detrimental to the tissues and organs which they innervate and musculoskeletal dysfunction in the spinal area.
Vertebral subluxations cause joints to “freeze” or lose normal movement, causing damage to the involved area. Movement is essential for the prevention of contracture and adhesion formation within the joint.
Conclusion.
Doctors of chiropractic spend thousands of hours and many years learning how to correct vertebral subluxations using the art of the chiropractic spinal adjustment. The adjustment removes severe stress from the spine as well as related nerve and other tissues including the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and other soft tissues. This permits your body to work better, under the direction of your inner healer (your innate healing ability) thus permitting you to better heal yourself. After your spine is adjusted your head is more balanced in relationship with gravity, your hips and shoulders are more level and stress is taken off the joints and muscles throughout your body. Because less of your energy goes into supporting an unbalanced spine and skeleton, you may immediately discover more energy, greater ease in movement and improved relaxation.
A recent book review on muscle spasm, trigger points, pain and fibromyalgia in the] journal of the American Medical Association carried this shocking admission by the reviewer:
Anyone with the above conditions or with any health problem should see a doctor of chiropractic to make sure that their spine is free from vertebral subluxations.
Sciatica.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from your pelvis, through your hip area and buttocks and down each leg. The sciatic nerve branches into smaller nerves as it travels down the legs providing feeling to your thighs, legs, and feet as well as controlling many of the muscles in your lower legs. The term sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve.
What causes Sciatica?
Sciatica is actually a sign that you have an underlying problem putting pressure on a nerve in your lower back. The most common cause of this nerve compression is a bulging or herniated lumbar disc. Piriformis syndrome is another common cause of sciatica. The piriformis is a muscle that lies directly over the sciatic nerve. If this muscle becomes tight or if you have a spasm in this muscle, it puts pressure directly on the sciatic nerve. Occasionally, sciatic pain in men is caused by sitting on a wallet.
How do I know if I have sciatica?
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It’s likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.
How is Sciatica Treated?
The vast majority of the time, sciatic pain can be relieved through a combination of stretches, deep tissue massage of the piriformis muscle and chiropractic care. Occasionally, in cases where chronic spasm of the low back or piriformis muscles is causing the sciatic pain, it may be necessary to do a procedure called a trigger point injection, where a medical pain specialist injects a small amount of anaesthetic directly into a spasmed muscle to break the spasm cycle. For further detailed information on Sciatica, view our main page Sciatica .
(View our Cold/low level laser therapy section)
Lower Back Pain.
Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctors. In fact, it is estimated that low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year and more than 15% of all people experience frequent bouts of low back pain.
The susceptibility of the low back to injury and pain is due to the fact that the low back, like the neck, is an unstable part of the spine, unlike the thoracic spine, which is supported by the rib cage. This instability allows us to have a great deal of mobility to touch our toes, tie our shoes or pick something up from ground level, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.
The low back can withstand tremendous forces as long as it is healthy and functioning correctly. However, if the low back is out of alignment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as putting a bag or suit case in and out of the boot of a car, picking something up off the floor, or simply bending down can cause a low back injury.
Studies have shown that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily, and is very to likely return. The importance to take low back pain seriously cannot be stressed enough. The professional chiropractic care is one of the best ways to care for your back.
The Causes of Low Back Pain.
Sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured discs, trigger points and inflamed joints are the many of different conditions that can result in low back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can lead to an injury and pain, sometimes even the simplest movements, like picking up a pencil from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, conditions such as poor posture, stress, arthritis, kidney stones and kidney infections, can be the cause of low back pain.
There may be many other things that can cause low back pain, and some of those things can be serious if left untreated. Chiropractors are the experts in diagnosing the cause and determining a proper course of treatment for low back pain. Following are some of the most common causes.
Subluxations.
When a disruption in the normal movement or position of the vertebrae occurs it results in pain and inflammation. In the lumbar spine these occur at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum. Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain, however, subluxations are easily treatable and there is often a significant reduction in pain experienced almost immediately after treatment.
Disc Herniations.
A herniated disc does not automatically mean that you may suffer from low back pain. In one study almost 60% of all adults had at least one bulging or herniated disc, even though they did not experienced any back pain. However, herniated discs can be a source of severe and debilitating pain, which may radiate to other areas of the body. Unfortunately, when a disc herniates, they rarely, completely heal. Further deterioration can be avoided through chiropractic care, but a complete recovery is less common.
Sprains, Strains and Spasms.
Sprains strains and spasms, are the most common source of low back pain. Overworking the muscles or ligaments of the low back may lead to tears in the tissues, which become painful, swollen and may even ache, with a tightening to the area affected.
Stress.
When you become stressed, your body responds by increasing the levels of stress hormones leading to the rise of blood pressure and heart rate and tightening up of your muscles. By becoming stressed all the time your muscles will become weak and painful loaded with trigger points.
Chiropractic treatment for the low back has been repeatedly shown to be the most effective treatment for low back pain. Major studies have shown that chiropractic treatment is more effective, and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment. Why? This makes sense is because chiropractic treatment is the only method of treatment that works to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine. All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants and pain killers, will only decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.
Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is normally straight forward, and simply a matter of adjusting the lower lumbar vertebrae and pelvis to re-establish normal motion and position of your bones and joints. (View our Cold Low Level Laser Therapy Section .)
“Slipped Disc”
Common Slipped Disc, also known as Prolapsed, Bulging, Herniated or Extruded Disc
Disc Problems
What Causes Disc Problems?
Discs are the soft but strong cushions that separate the bones (vertebrae) in your spine and absorb shock as you move. Repeated strain over time, an injury, or sudden, forceful movements can damage discs and irritate nerves, causing pain, numbness, or tingling in your back, legs, neck, and arms.
Common Slipped Disc, Neck Disc Injury.
A Slipped Disc or (Disc Prolapsed) in the neck is a common cause of neck pain. Slipped disc treatment during the early stages involves limited mobilisation. Later, more active physical therapy rehabilitation is useful. During the later stages neck pain treatment can be enhanced if a Pillow is used to support the neck.
Common Slipped Disc Neck Disc injury signs and symptoms:
- Patients with a slipped disc in the neck may experience severe neck pain.
- Sometimes there is neck and shoulder pain or pain in the arm.
- There may be weakness or a loss of sensation in the arms or hands.
Common Slipped Disc in the Lower Back, signs & symptoms.
1. What are the symptoms of a low back slipped disc?
2. The first symptom would be mild pain along with a tingling, aching affect.
3. Then the symptoms develop to irritating pain, swelling and heat in the region of rupture.
4. Muscle weakness and problems in sitting, lying, walking or even standing for long periods
these are the symptoms of this condition. Besides these, some other complications arise if the nerves of some of the respective areas suffer pinching of the discs.
If the Slipped disc presses against the sciatic nerve, the pain from the back will reach into the buttocks and then moves down into one or both legs and to areas like thighs, cuffs, or ankles. The nerves of the bowel and kidneys pass through the lumbar region. The protrusion of any of these nerves can cause bowel irregularity and kidney disorders.
Healthy Disc.
A disc has a spongy, gel-like centre (nucleus) and a tough outer ring (annulus). The vertebrae rock back and forth and rotate on the discs, allowing you to move easily.
