Back Pain - Leamington Spa - Back Pain, 22 3D Back Pain and Spinal Stenosis animated educational videos are available to view at this Leamington Spa 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 Pain, injuries and conditions such as (1) Sciatica (2) Degenerative disc (3) Herniated disc (4) Facet Joints (5) Scoliosis (6) Kyphosis, Posture (7) Back Neck and Pain Decompression (they can be found under the listing “Types of Pain” in our ” Back Pain ” Section )
For pain management and Back Pain Relief 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
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis (or narrowing) is a common condition that affects many adults 40 yrs old and older. This occurs when the small spinal canal, containing the nerve roots and spinal cord, becomes constricted or compressed. This can lead to a number of problems, depending on which nerves are affected. In general, spinal stenosis can cause cramping, pain or numbness in the legs, back, neck, shoulders and/or arms; a loss of sensation in the extremities; and sometimes, in rare cases, problems with bladder or bowel function. In general, spinal narrowing is caused by osteoarthritis, or “wear and tear” arthritis, of the spinal column. This results in a ’ trapped’ or”pinching” of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots.
People suffering from spinal stenosis may have trouble walking any significant distance, without as a walking frame.
Typically, a person with spinal stenosis complains about developing chronic pain in the legs and lower back after walking. Pain occurs when walking up inclines or stairs. This is usually very reproducible and is almost immediately relieved by sitting down or leaning over. When the spine is flexed forward, this movement will provide more space for the spinal cord, causing a reduction in symptoms.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
Spinal stenosis is usually caused by progressive degenerative changes in the spine. This is normally called “acquired spinal stenosis” and can occur from the narrowing of space around the spinal cord due to bony overgrowth (bone spurs) from osteoarthritis, combined with thickening or calcification of one or more ligaments in the back. Stenosis can also be caused by a bulge or herniation of the intervertebral discs. This must be differentiated from the stenosis caused by the bony overgrowth that can occur on the vertebral bodies, or facet joints. Spinal decompression therapy may not be appropriate in moderate to severe cases of spinal stenosis with many spurs and thickened ligaments. On the other hand, if the stenosis of the central canal is primarily from bulging discs, or herniated discs, then non-surgical spinal decompression may be very successful.
People that are born with a narrow spinal canal, this is called “congenital spinal stenosis” and may become problematic at an earlier age.
WHO GETS IT?
The risk of developing spinal stenosis increases in those who:
- Are born with a narrow spinal canal
- Are female
- Are 40 years of age or older
- Have had previous surgery or injury of the spine
Conditions that can cause spinal stenosis include:
- Osteoarthritis and osteophytes (bone spurs) associated with aging
- Inflammatory spondyloarthritis
- Spinal tumors
- Trauma
- Paget’s disease of the bone
- Previous surgery
HOW IS IT TREATED?
Typically, spinal stenosis is treated with conservative non-surgical therapies. One important therapy is exercise. Keeping the muscles of the back hips and legs strong allows for increased stability and will aid walking.
Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) also may be appropriate and helpful in pain relief. Cortisone injections into the epidural space, the area around the spinal cord, may provide temporary relief to people suffering from this disorder.
Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy may help those with herniated or bulging discs, lateral canal stenosis, and facet syndrome.
Under severe and rare circumstances, surgery to correct this disorder may be appropriate. In these severe cases, nerves to the bladder or bowel may be affected, leading to partial or complete urinary or fecal incontinence. If you experience either of these problems, seek immediate medical care! Decompression laminectomy, which is the removal of a build-up of bony spurs or increased bone mass in the spinal canal, can free up space for the nerves and the spinal cord. However, adequate decompression of the neural elements and maintenance of bony stability are necessary for a good surgical outcome for patients with spinal stenosis.
Several studies report that surgical treatment produces better outcomes than non-surgical treatment in the short term. However, these results tend to deteriorate over time. In addition, lumbar decompresion surgery can be complicated by epidural hematoma, deep venous thrombosis, dural tear, infection, nerve root injury and recurrence of symptoms
Prolapsed Disc
Prolapsed disc is also known as a Herniated or Slipped Disc. The dishirec’s in the spine are called intervertebral discs; they are thin, biscuit like structures that act as cushions between the bones of the back (vertebrae). Each disc is made of a soft gelatine centre surrounded by a tough, fibrous outer case. This structure allows the disc to be tough enough to maintain the space between the vertebrae, but soft enough to absorb when the spine flexes during any movement such as bending, leaning and turning sideways.
Adults between 25 and 55 are at risk of suffering from a Prolapsed disc. A disc’s tough outer case develops an area of weakness or a small tear. The result can be, part of the disc’s soft inner core can bulge out of its normal position (herniate), producing a condition called a prolapsed disc. If the Prolapsed disc presses on nerves in the area of the spinal canal, this can cause differing nerve related symptoms, including pain, numbness and muscle weakness. In the most severe cases a Prolapsed disc can compress nerves that control the bowel and bladder, causing urinary incontinence and loss of bowel control.
Combination of the following factors:
Prolapsed discs are in people under 20, but common among people aged over 25 to 55. Of all the factors responsible for Prolapsed disc’s, aging is probably the biggest factor. With age the disc’s outer case appears to degenerate slowly, through wear and tear.
Genetic factors in some families, several close relatives suffer from Prolapsed disc’s.
Individual risk factors.
There may be at increased risk of a Prolapsed disc if you work at a job or participate in a sport that involves heavy lifting or impacted.
There are three distinct areas of the vertebral column where a prolapsed disc may occur:
- The cervical area between the vertebrae in the neck
- The thoracic area between the vertebrae in the upper back.
- The lumbar region between the vertebrae in the lower back and above the pelvis.
The symptoms and signs of a prolapsed disc are usually back pain in the area of the affected disc. This is the pain is the signal that a disc tough outer case has been injured in some way, However, it’s not necessarily that the inner core has herniated. If the inner core does herniate and presses on a nearby nerve, the resulting symptoms will be different, depending on the location of the Prolapsed disc.
- In the cervical region Pan occurs in the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade, arm or chest, together with numbness or weakness in the arm or fingers, headaches may also occur.
- In the thoracic region Symptoms may be vague and varying, from pain in the upper back, lower back, chest, abdomen or legs, together with weakness and numbness in one or both legs. This may also affect the bowel or bladder incontinence.
Cold or Low Level laser Therapy.
The lasers used at Central Chiropractic Clinic are certified as Cold Laser (LLLT). For the past 30 years the technology of Cold Laser Therapy (also known as Low Level Laser Therapy) has been formally accepted in North America and in many other parts of the world such as Europe, Russia and Japan. In all this time there have been no recorded long-term adverse effects from low level laser therapy. It is considered to be non-invasive, painless and safe.
Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy uses laser light energy to stimulate cells to function optimally. In the body, light sensitive chromophores and other elements within the cell absorb energy, initiating a series of important photochemical changes such as increased production of ATP. The mitochondria and Kreb’s Cycle stimulation initiates the production of ATP, providing the cell with the extra energy needed to accelerate the healing process and positively influence pain. These activities can occur in all types of cells and includes ligament, nerves, cartilage and muscle.
Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a Handheld, non-invasive, light-emitting medical device which is used over different areas of the body. It provides an unmatched advantage in the treatment of conditions such as:
Chronic Upper and Lower Back pain.
Sciatica.
Prolapsed disc. Slipped disc. Hernaited disc. Bulging disc.
Trapped nerves.
