Archive for January, 2010

What is Sacro-iliac Joint Dysfunction?

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Sciatica | 2 Comments

The S-I joint is one of the most misunderstood areas of the human body. It has been the source of much controversy in the medical community for many years. Much of the debate relies on the fact that there are few reliable evaluation methods for the S-I joint.

Contrary to disc injuries, which can be evaluated using many types of diagnostic tools, examining the S-I joints has proved to be quite unreliable. Clinicians need to rely mostly on their experience rather than simple methods used to examine the low back. Most medical professionals do not acknowledge it as a source of pain and dysfunction. So patients leave a medical office with an incomplete evaluation and often times, an inaccurate diagnosis.

The S-I (Sacro-Iliac) joint is comprised of two bones; the sacrum and the ilium. You have two S-I joints (left and right). They are located basically where the spine meets the pelvis. Look for the two dimples in your low back. These two joints allow for very little movement overall as compared to other more prominent joints such as your hip or shoulder. The pelvic girdle is generally described as the two S-I joints, the pubic symphysis (pubic bone in front), the two hip joints, and the bottom two vertebrae (L4, L5).

What do you feel?

Pain located at or near the S-I joint on one side or both sides. Pain located in the low back, buttock, and/or groin area. Another common symptom of a S-I joint dysfunction is “sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. S-I joint dysfunction may also cause nerve irritation of the nerves that supply the groin or front of your thigh.

Other symptoms include:

• Weakness in one leg or both legs; difficulty standing on one leg and raising the other leg (like marching)

• Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)

• A burning pain located near the “dimples”

• Difficulty raising from a chair

• Muscle discomfort in the buttock, hip, or low back (over 30 muscles attach to the pelvis; from the hip, buttock, thigh, low back.

How does this happen?

S-I joint dysfunction is usually caused by an imbalance in the muscles of the hips and glutes and it can also be caused by a fall or other traumatic event, such as a car accident.

A condition known as “hypermobility” may also predispose an individual to S-I joint dysfunction. “Hypermobility” is best described as a condition in which the joints have too much mobility. This condition generally affects women more than men. Different hormone levels present in women, specifically “relaxin”, can influence hypermobility. This hormone is released to prepare the body for pregnancy, and its level in the blood changes throughout pregnancy process. It basically causes the ligaments to “relax” and allow for more movement to occur in the pelvic girdle region.

The best treatment options

First of all, the evaluation is critical to the success of treating a S-I joint dysfunction. Most dysfunctions can be treated with manual techniques that generally involve “mobilizations”, “manipulations”, or “muscle energy techniques”. These techniques must be applied by a skilled medical professional, such as a physical therapist. These techniques can prove to be quite helpful when utilized appropriately following a thorough evaluation.

Once appropriate manual techniques have been administered, a comprehensive exercise program must be implemented to address the following areas, specifically muscle imbalances:

• Lumbar stabilization program: strengthening abdominals and buttock muscles

• Improve flexibility in lower extremity musculature

Some cases may only need a detailed exercise program that addresses the muscle imbalances. You can learn more about how to identify and address your muscle imbalances by visiting http://www.losethebackpain.com

Some S-I joint dysfunctions may linger on for months and even years. Remember, if you are engaged in a current treatment plan with little to no improvement, seek other options. If you think you may have a S-I joint dysfunction, the first step is to find a healthcare professional who is skilled and experienced in addressing muscle imbalances.

Dr. Robert V. Duvall, Dpt, Mpt, Atc, Mgfi
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction-98261.html

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Miracle Shoes

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Pinched Nerve | 6 Comments

Who knew that shoes could do so much?  Usually when we think about correcting medical conditions, we think about popping pills and surgery, in the most serious situations.  Shoes are a fashion item, not something you need to consult your doctor about.  And besides, we all know that by definition a stylish shoe must hurt your feet.  Why do you think they invented the stiletto and the pointy-toed high heel?  After all, there is no beauty without pain.  Right?

Lucky for us, no matter how much damage we have done, there are orthopedic shoes that we can wear to help fix the problem (or at least make our feet feel better for a little while).  Nothing like buying fancy shoes that hurt our feet only to buy fancy shoes that fix our feet!  Orthopedic shoes can provide extra lift when our feet are too flat.  They can cushion our bunions, and grow wide just where our hammertoe spreads out and would be pinched by an ordinary shoe.

Specialty shoes also exist for more serious conditions.  There are shoes designed specifically for people with Diabetes, for example.  These shoes help increase blood flow in the foot and prevent nerve damage, which can lead to serious long-term effects.  Some shoes actually help correct foot deformity.  They are shoes that help gently shape the foot so that it functions normally again.  These corrective shoes can help undo birth defects, such as clubfoot, that make mobility difficult.

Finding shoes for such diverse problems (and often different shoes for different feet since each foot has its own orthopedic needs) is not an easy task.  In order to ensure that both feet get the support and care they need, customized shoes are often crucial.  In recent years, shopping for orthopedic and corrective shoes has become as simple as surfing the net.  OddShoeFinder, for example, allows customers to mix and match specialty shoes of all sorts.  You can buy a single shoe or buy a mismatched pair.  Orthopedic and corrective shoes are readily available.  You can even sell your own specialty shoes online, making specialty shoe shopping a painless task done from the comfort of your home.

Kent Basson
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/miracle-shoes-713726.html

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Pregnancy and Lower Back Pain: What to Do!

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Lower Back Pain | 3 Comments

The decisions of picking a name… The anticipation and excitement… Painting the new room… Clothing, diapers and family celebrations. The joy of a pregnancy is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Unfortunately however, for many women the later months of pregnancy can prove to be quite challenging. One common problem many women face is lower back pain.

Lower back pain can be a horrible interruption in day-to-day activities for a pregnant woman. More importantly, it interferes with their quality of life, not to mention the enjoyment of one of the most memorable times of their life.

The obvious cause of lower back pain is the biomechanical stress being placed on the mother by the added weight of baby. As the baby gains weight the mother is pulled forward. In order to compensate for this forward pull, the mother has to lean her upper body backward. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the low back and pelvis.

This explanation of low back pain sounds complete. It is a true explanation but is only a small part the problem. The “hidden” cause of lower back pain is actually muscle imbalances. In fact muscle imbalances are a common cause of lower back pain in pregnancy but it is also responsible for back pain in a majority of the population.

The strength and tone of the muscular system is an extremely important factor when assessing a patient with lower back pain. Unfortunately, muscle imbalances are not addressed properly by most health practitioners… but just because they are not trained in identifying and addressing muscle imbalances, it doesn’t mean you have to continue to suffer…

But before I share with you the solution to this problem, let me first explain in more detail what a muscle imbalance is and how it causes back pain and sciatica…

In a nutshell, muscle imbalances work like this. Muscles work together with opposing muscles to allow movement at joints. One muscle stretches while the other shortens. Each side should be of equal tone and strength. When a pregnant woman walks, moves, bends, twists or sleeps she will typically do so in an unbalanced and awkward manner to accommodate for her increased weight. In addition, various everyday activities and positions we put our body in create imbalances in the muscle groups and during pregnancy it only worsens…

Muscle imbalances then pull the pelvis and low back out of alignment and this places uneven and excessive stress on the muscles, bones and joints.

The spine is comprised of 24 moveable bones with a shock-absorbing disc in between each bone. This spinal column rests on three large bones called the pelvic girdle. When this spinal column is in proper alignment it will carry a majority of the weight and stress being placed on the body. When one or more of these 24 bones misaligns, especially the pelvis, the muscles work overtime so to speak. They now have to carry the weight that the spinal column is supposed to handle. At this point the muscles are unbalanced and are very prone to an injury. Lower back pain is the most common expression of this problem.

If the above scenario takes place then the stage has been set for lower back pain and dysfunction. Not only does the soon to be Mom have to deal with safely carrying the baby, she has to now do it with a painful lower back. Let’s face it, the soon to be Mom is going to be in pain and she is not going to enjoy her most cherished time in life.

The Solution

The solution is based on a better understanding of muscle imbalances and how your body works… The first thing you have to do is fully understand what muscle imbalances are, how they are created and how they cause back pain and sciatica…

Once you understand muscle imbalances the next step is to identify the ones you have and understand how they are creating your pain… after you have identified the imbalances is when you can then begin addressing them with the right combination of corrective exercises, stretches and treatments…

Dr. Tomas Sullivan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/pregnancy-and-lower-back-pain-what-to-do-99299.html

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Vax-d Results

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Herniated Disc | No Comments

Vertebral axial decompression therapy is a very useful tool for people who have horrible back problems because it is relatively inexpensive and it does not involve surgery. Data was collected from twenty-two medical centers for patients who received VAX-D therapy for low back pain, which was sometimes accompanied by referred leg pain. Only patients who received at least ten sessions and had a diagnosis of herniated disc, degenerative disc, or facet syndrome, which were confirmed by diagnostic imaging, were included in this study.

The data contained the patients’ quantitative assessments of their own pain, mobility, and ability to carry out the usual ‘activities of daily living’. The treatment was successful in 71% of the 778 cases, when success was defined as a reduction in pain to 0 or 1, on a 0 to 5 scale. Improvements in mobility and activities of daily living correlated strongly with pain reduction. The causes of back pain and their relationship to this therapy are also discussed.

Although imaging procedures, including CT and MRI, are able to accurately define structural pathology, the correlation of these anatomic findings with physiology, back pain, and other clinical complaints is imprecise. Although surgical decompression, epidural blocks, and spinal instrumentation can sometimes help patients suffering from back pain, these treatments do not completely take the biomechanical function of the disc into account, and may leave patients unrelieved of their suffering.

Low back pain is aggravated by activities that increase axial loading on the spine, such as sitting, standing, and lifting. Patients may describe some relief with walking, but more particularly, by lying down, which unloads the spine and reduces intradiscal pressure. The causes of mechanical low back pain may include degenerative disc disease, degenerative spondylosis with limitation of range of motion, facet arthropathy, relative lateral recess stenosis from a combination of the above, microenvironment presure changes affecting the thecal and epidural space from disc bulging, subligamentous and/or extruded herniation, and segmental instability.

A number of potential mechanisms are specifically addressed by the lumbar vertebral body separation achieved during therapy. With aging, disc desicction occurs, disc height is lost, and this process is accelerated with activities which produce high physical loading of the lumbar spine. Osteophytes develop along the anterolateral and posterior border of the vertebral bodies, and facet arthropathy increases as degenerative disc change advances . Normal vertebral body separation is lost as the disc degenerates. blood supply to the nerve roots of the cauda equina is sensitive to compression. Even at pressures of only 5-10 mmHg, the flow in over 20% of the venules was completely stopped. Flow in all the capillaries stopped at pressures between 20 and 50 mmHg. A pressure of 30 mmHg is slightly less than one pound per square inch, so solute transport is easily reduced. Even vertebral distractions of 1 or 2 mm per disc would reduce ligamental redundancy and help to restore canal/foraminal patency, reduce venous congestion and increase axoplasmic flow.

For greater resources on Vax-D and especially about spine or even about Lumbar please visit these links.

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/vaxd-results-95693.html

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The Four Faces Of Chiropractic

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Chiropractic | No Comments

Chiropractic is a holistic approach to medicine. It is based on using manipulation as a means of treating musculoskeletal dysfunction of the spine and extremities. Practitioners refer to themselves as alternative care physicians. There is a wide range in treatments, depending on different chiropractors. These treatments can be categorized into four main concepts.

1. Traditional straights: This is the old classic approach to chiropractic. Chiropractors use the principles that DD and BJ Palmer laid out in their original concept of chiropractic. This is based on the principle that vertebral subluxations is the root cause of most diseases. They feel that vertebral subluxation interferes with the human nervous system to cause dysfunctions in the human body. Because of this they do not diagnose the patient for particular diseases but merely look for “red flags” to indicate serious diseases. Treatment will be carried out according to the chiropractor’s methods of treatment. The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) endorses the traditional straights concept.

2. Mixers: These chiropractors expanded on the early teaching of the Palmers (Palmer College of Chiropractic.) and included more diagnostic and treatment approaches. They formed different schools like the National College of Chiropractic. They feel that vertebral subluxations are a form of joint dysfunction. They eliminate all other possibilities for known disorders and take note of any spine mechanical dysfunctions. They will base their treatments on these factors. Organizations endorsing the Mixer concept are the European Chiropractors Union and American Chiropractic Association.

3. Objective straights: are a minority group of chiropractors. They are a recently formed group. They concentrate on the correction of vertebral subluxations, without diagnosing the patient. Typically they do not refer patients to other physicians but do encourage them to see medical doctors for diagnosis of their symptoms. Their treatments are mainly limited to spinal adjustments. Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations (FSCO) and the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) endorse this concept.

4. Reform: these chiropractors believe in manipulation as a valid treatment for musculoskeletal problems. They use palpation and manipulation as a means for diagnosing and treating painful join conditions. They have a similar concept to Mixers but do not use other alternative medicine treatments. There is still a lot of controversy about chiropractic methods as many chiropractors do not rely on the conventional forms of diagnosis. The medical profession feels that it may not be effective as it is not based on actual diagnosis. However many people claim that chiropractic has helped them with their problems.

Zachary Thompson
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-four-faces-of-chiropractic-82033.html

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Suffering With Acid Reflux And Back Pain?

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Back Pain | 6 Comments

Though there are a lot of impacts on the body when you have problems with acid from your stomach invading parts of your digestive system, you may not have thought to connect acid reflux and back pain to one another. Though there really is no direct connection to damage to your back from acid reflux, there are a few things that can occur to leave you with back pain. The pains you feel are usually indirectly related, but having acid reflux can be behind the root of your back problems.

When you experience acid reflux, you know that stomach acid is getting up into your esophagus when it shouldn’t be there. This happens because the valve between the stomach and the esophagus is not closing properly. This happens for a variety of reasons, and those reasons weaken the muscles so that acid is not contained.

Though the stomach is designed to handle the acid, the rest of the tissues in your body can not. This leads to pain and burning, and also to some tissue damage that might be permanent when the acid escapes. Though this is an occasional problem for some, it can be a daily problem for others. The latter group usually forced to medication every single day in order to feel better.

How does back pain relate? It does so in a round-about way. Those who suffer acid reflux on a daily basis often have to make lifestyle modifications. One of these is to raise the head and upper body while sleeping. In order to do this a special pillow is needed, and in some cases, a bed must be raised at the head end. This stops gravity from sending the acid from your stomach up into your mouth and esophagus.

Problems occur when people attempt to elevate their bodies improperly, and this leads to chronic back pain. When you attempt to sleep in any other position rather than lying flat, you run the risk of this pain. It might not be evident right away, but night after night of improper posture while sleeping will take a toll on your back.

Though it is not common, there are times when the pain associated with acid reflux can spread to the back. This is not something you can expect each time you are having pain elsewhere, but it can happen on occasion. You will notice this pain always coincides with the pain you are having elsewhere, and it will be obvious that this is the cause. This will not be a continuous and chronic back pain however, but will be stabbing pains that are obviously not muscle related.

If you are having acid reflux and back pain at the same time, you should consider that they might be related, but if they are it usually won’t be too serious of a problem. However, if you talk to your doctor and decide that they are not related, it would be in your best interest to find out what is going on. Though most pain in the back that is related to reflux can be alleviated, there might be something more serious going on with your body that you should know about so steps can be taken to rectify it.

Kathryn Whittaker
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/suffering-with-acid-reflux-and-back-pain-128055.html

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Will a therapeutic massage cause harm to a herniated disc?

Jan 19

Posted by Back Pain editor in Herniated Disc | 4 Comments

I have herniated disc at C 5 and C 6 both with stenosis. Will having a massage including the neck area be harm full?

If you tell your therapist about the discs and the problems with them, you should be fine with massage.
If you get uncomfortable with the massage at any time, tell your therapist and have him/her adjust pressure to make it more pleasurable for you

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