When is it Possible to Avoid Having Back Surgery?
Hundreds of thousands of back surgeries are performed every year in the US. Overall the successful outcomes from these surgeries range dramatically depending on why the surgery was performed and the technical skill with which it is performed.
How can a back operation be avoided and how is an individual to know if he or she is in the category of having the choice to successfully opt out of surgery and have it not be harmful in the future?
The primary thing to understand up front is what exactly is the diagnosis. Most common diagnoses for back pain include:
1. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
2. Herniated Lumbar Disk
3. Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
4. Degenerative Osteoarthritis
5. Vertebral Compression Fracture
Once the patient has an understanding of what’s causing the pain, the diagnosis can be placed into either a 1) Surgery Indication or 2) Elective Quality of Life diagnosis
Let’s look first at Degenerative Disc Disease, which often occurs in patients between the ages of 30 and 60. Degenerative discs do not always result in pain, there is actually a significant portion of the population who has DDD noticeable on MRI but no back pain at all. In some patients, though, it may cause significant back pain and lost time from work.
DDD is not a diagnosis that necessitates surgery, it is a quality of life decision. In fact, surgery for DDD, which is typically a fusion, only results in 50-70% success rates and a significant amount of patients end up needing future surgery and continued pain medications. Non-operative treatment for DDD may help considerably including chiropractic treatment, aerobic exercise, NSAIDS, and pain management treatments.
Most low back pain problems are quality of life decisions. If considerable nonoperative therapy doesn’t work, then an operation can be undergone electively. A lumbar pinched nerve is often in this category when it is resulting in numbness or pain. If an individual can handle the pain, research shows that the outcomes with an operation vs nonsurgical treatments are the same after one year.
If however, one of the above diagnoses is causing a worsening neurologic deficit such as a foot drop, then surgery may in fact be indicated and not elective. The longer one waits when a neurologic deficit exists, there is a question of whether or not it will improve even with a surgery performed perfectly.
This is exactly the point with spinal arthritis. No one ever died as a result of arthritis. So if arthritis causes degeneration or a spondylolisthesis along with spinal stenosis and there’s no muscle weakness from pinched nerves, the situation is elective. Opting for surgery is fine if conservative treatment has been exhausted, there is a surgery for the specific condition with a successful track record, and the patient is healthy enough to undergo it. But if the condition is in fact elective, patients need to weigh the pros and cons considerably to make sure they are comfortable with the potential for a poor outcome compared to the potential for marginal improvement with nonsurgical treatments.
These may entail spinal decompression, chiropractic, physical therapy, and pain management.
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Lower Back Exercises To Relieve Back Pain
Lower back exercises can be a lifesaver for individuals suffering from pain in the lumbar or lower back region. However, it is advisable to discuss a regimen of exercises with your doctor before you start, to make sure they are the right ones for you. These are the most common exercises suggested to people suffering from lower back pain.
Curl your spine backwards with the Cobra exercise.
You must begin by laying down flat and face down, with toes extended out and hands flat to the ground at waist level; pushing on your hands, lift your upper torso and head, so that your spine curls. Your hips should remain down. Do not stretch more than is comfortable. If you can, try to hold this position for a couple of minutes, and then lower yourself back down slowly.
Do some hamstrings stretches and curve your spine forward.
This exercise should always follow the previous one, to ensure that you gain balance. In yoga, this position is called Janu Sirsasana.
Sit on the floor with the right leg stretched out in front of you. You should instead bend your left leg and keep your knee pushed toward the floor; the left foot should be flat against the right leg. Bend down over the right leg with head down and arms extending as far as possible along the leg. You may be able to take hold of the toes, foot or ankle.
Feel the stretch in the hamstring along the back of the leg and in the lower back, but again do not push yourself too far. Stay in position for a minute or two, then slowly straighten up, rest, and repeat with the other leg.
Bend to the sides.
This exercise can be performed sitting, standing, or even sitting on an exercise ball. Keep your hands together and raise your arms high above your head. Keeping the body in the vertical plane (so you do not bend forward), slowly bend the whole upper body over to one side, then the other.
Twist the spine.
Take special care not to go too far with this example of our lower back exercises. Seek medical advice first, especially if your back pain is the result of an accident or a neck injury.
Sit on a chair without arms and keep your feet on its side, firm on the ground. Keeping the hips firm in place, turn your body around to the right. Place the left hand over the right knee, and the right hand behind you. Twist as far as you comfortably can to the right. Keep the head upright but turned to look over your right shoulder.
Count to 15 or 20, and then slowly turn back toward the front, turning your head first. Do the same for the other side.
If you are sitting on a chair with a back, sitting with your feet on one side will allow you to do the exercise without the back of chair getting in the way. You should have the back of the chair to your left when you turn to the right.
This exercise can also be performed sitting on the floor. When twisting to the right, the left leg is bent and flat on the floor in front of you. The right leg is bent with the knee up in the air and the foot on the floor, hooked over the left knee. The left elbow comes to the outer side of the right knee and you twist around to the right. Do not move the hips, so the buttocks stay on the floor. This position is known as Ardha Matsyendrasana in Yoga.
The lower back area is very important and delicate, and if you are experiencing any kind of pain you should seek the advice of a medical professional. Discuss these and other exercises with your doctor before attempting them, to make sure that you are doing the right thing for your condition.
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Causes Of Upper Back Pain And Its Solutions
Upper back pain can be caused by many things, the most common being irritation or inflammation of the muscles or ligaments that surround the spine. This can be caused by different factors:
Poor posture, especially while seated or using a computer
Factory or construction workers who have repetitive strain and constantly move their arms or upper back in a certain way.
Strain of the muscles due to weakness, especially in old age or in people who have been bedridden and unable to exercise
Problems with the joints in the spine or compression fracture of the vertebra are some other causes of upper back pain. The latter is a break in the bone which may be caused by an injury such as a car accident, fall or sports injury, or may be due to osteoporosis, especially in post menopausal women.
A herniated disc or problems related to disease of the spine or discs is what it could be in rare cases. However, these problems are more common in the lower back.
How to Treat Upper Back Pain
Often resolving within 3-7 days are muscles which are inflamed due to straining without any serious injury. NSAIDs are examples of anti inflammatory medications which can be prescribed. Massaging the area can also be helpful.
In the case of repetitive strain where you repeat the same movements, the pain is likely to return. So if your pain is associated with your work, you may need to investigate other options.
You may need a chiropractor to help manipulate the affected joints. If the pain was caused by a specific injury or trauma, then it’s likely for to be more helpful.
Acupuncture, ice or heat treatments are some of the things you may try for pain relieving measures.
If the problem is not solved in this way, it is important to consult with a doctor. You could have suffered an injury without realizing how serious it was, or you could have osteoporosis (brittle bones) or another disease. It’s important to have medical attention since upper back pain causes are not always obvious.
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Why You Need To Purchase A Foam Lumbar Roll
Most people understand how important using a lumbar support is but do you know why you should prefer a foam lumbar support roll? The reason I ask this is because most people stick to either a pillow roll or an inflatable lumbar support roll and because of this they miss out on some of the benefits of using foam.
What you need to first understand regarding foam back supports is they work better because they don’t lose their shape and they are much more durable. Something that a lot of people don’t really understand is that some back supports are meant for people while they sit on the couch and others are used for people who are sitting on a harder chair. Whatever the reason is that you need a lumbar support roll, you should understand that foam is always going to be your best option.
Another reason why a foam lumbar support works so well for your back is because it is soft enough that you will want to use it while at the same time it is hard enough to give your back the support that it needs. The best part about having something that is firm is that you don’t have to worry about your back hurting because of the lack of support that it gets. If you want to make sure your back is as healthy as possible then you need to use a foam lumbar support because using a pillow or something soft will only make your back worse than it already was.
Where to purchase a foam back support
Amazon – The best place to buy anything is Amazon and the nice thing about it is that you can get reviews right on the site and also get recommendations as well. What most people don’t realize is that Amazon has really low shipping costs because they have a bunch of different warehouse locations all over the world. If you want to get the best foam support then Amazon would the best place that you should go.
eBay – Another great place to find foam lumbar supports is on eBay and the reason is because they have things that other places just don’t have. One example of where eBay shines is if you saw something that you liked many years ago but can’t find it anywhere now. Just remember that not all of the things on eBay are brand new and because of that you need to know what you are about to buy prior to buying it.
Something that most people don’t understand is that every lumbar support cushion has a purpose and that is why you need to use them. For the individuals that sit in an office for most of the day you need to understand that a good office chair with lumbar support may be needed
The Right Solution For Chronic Back Pain
A recent study showed that between 8 and 33 percent of the American population experiences either constant or irregular back pain. Are you part of that statistic? Do you endure chronic lower back pain? Keep reading to learn more about treatments to alleviate your pain!
Chronic back pain is considered a pain that exists for at least 4 weeks or more. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, back pain is second only to headaches in the most common causes of neurological disorders in the United States. Chronic back pain is the number one reason for missing work and job-related disability. The pain can utterly interrupt your work, activities, recreation, and sleep.
The National Institute of Health lists a number of different reasons for chronic back pain, including:
- Straining or overstretching the back, creating additional pressure on the nerve endings
- Injury or trauma to the spine
- Scar tissue with reduced flexibility or strength resulting from an injury
- Degenerative conditions, like osteoporosis, arthritis, and other bone diseases
- Irritation or excessive pressure to the joints, muscles, and ligaments, as a result of overstretching
- Viral infections
- Other health issues, such as stress, smoking, obesity, poor posture or sleeping position, etc.
- Aging, where the spinal discs lose fluid and flexibility, resulting in a reduction in the cushioning of the vertebrae
There are a plethora of treatments available in our society to help with chronic lower back pain. As Americans, we spend more than $50 billion annually on low back pain relievers and treatments. The only hard bit is finding the best possible treatment, the care program that is most successful and will have the longest lasting results!
A 2008 study entitled ?A comparison between chiropractic management and pain clinic management for chronic low-back pain in a national health service outpatient clinic? compares the mainstream medical procedures with chiropractic treatment for chronic back pain. The medical procedure used standard pharmaceutical therapy (i.e. anti-inflammatory drugs) and soft-tissue and joint injections to counter the back pain. For the chiropractic approach, a widely-recognized treatment plan for lower back pain was utilized.
In an evaluation of the two care plans after 8 weeks, the research results indicate that the chiropractic approach is 457 percent more effective than the medical treatments provided. This does not negate or disregard the place that the medical route has in healthcare; however, based on this study and other studies, the research concludes that chiropractic care is a significantly better and more efficient treatment alternative for chronic back pain. Doctors of chiropractic are taught to look for and locate the cause of injury, make a proper diagnosis, and devise a tailor-made care plan for each patient.
Are you limited by constant or varying back pain that severely affects your life? Do the causes provided above sound familiar? Chiropractors are experts in deducing the cause of your pain, as well as creating a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to you and your body?s needs. Call to schedule an initial exam with your chiropractor today and say farewell to your back pain forever!
Source: Wilkey, A., Gregory M., Byfield, D., & McCarthy, P. W. (2008). A comparison between chiropractic management and pain clinic management for chronic low-back pain in a national health service outpatient clinic. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(5), 465-473.
Phoenix Chiropractor Dr. Steve Van Laecken has assisted numerous people mitigate or even eliminate their chronic back pain. To understand how he can help you, call 602-298-1600 for an appointment to see Phoenix Chiropractor Dr. Steve Van Laecken. For a limited time, Dr. Steve has agreed to provide an get-acquainted consultation for 75% off to anyone with a copy of this article.
Largo Chiropractor Combines Therapy to Reduce Low Back Pain and Neck Muscle Pain
Major trauma resulting in Minor injury resulting in Back pain and neck muscle pain resulting from inflammation or injury to the vertebral disc, joints of the spinal column or pinched spinal nerves respond favorably to multiple therapies. Multiple therapies involves the application of three types of treatments applied together.
The combination therapy are E-stim, sound wave therapy and chiropractic adjustment. Each therapy helps to decrease inflammation, decrease pain and increase motion. Applying these therapies in combination has a multiplied effect.
The initial modality is electrical nerve and muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as E-stim, is the stimulation of muscle spasms using electric signals. The EMS is delivered through electrodes placed on the muscle surface directly over the muscles of the lower back or neck. The electronic stimulation causes the muscles to relax.
The therapy pads are silicon or moist conductive material that adhere to the skin mostly using adhesive surface or Velcro bands. Electrical muscle stimulation is a type of electronic modulated therapy used for muscle weakening and pain reduction.
The next therapy is ultrasonic therapy in which reverberating sound waves penetrate the neck and back muscles creating a deep heat or pulsating effect. The high frequency sound waves of therapeutic ultrasound penetrate muscle tissue from 2 to 5 cm. The deep warming effect and effectiveness decreases as the sound waves penetrate deeper into the neck and back muscles, tendons, and nerves. The high frequency sound waves are absorbed mainly by connective tissue such as: muscles and nerves.
Ultrasound therapy helps in 2 ways: Deep heating thermal effects and non heating tissue vibration effects. The tissue warming effects are due to the sound waves stimulation kinetic energy and motion deep inside the tissue. The sound waves creates a deep warm relieving tender neck and back muscles, stimulation the blood flow and therefore the healing time frame.
Non thermal effects of ultrasound are from the high frequency wave creating vibrations. The tissue stimulation directly effects the damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments. These vibrations enhance the soft tissue effects of the healing response.
The third combination treatment is chiropractic spinal manipulation. Chiropractic spinal adjustment refers to a chiropractor applying gentle movements to the bones of the neck and back that have alter or restricted and fixed in position. Chiropractic treatment or chiropractic adjustment is a regular therapeutic treatment for freedom of low back and neck pain.
The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to align spinal vertebra which will increase the joint mobility, reduced nerve irritation and thereby minimize associated neck and back muscle spasms.
Neck and low back pain relief is magnified using combination therapy: electrical muscle stimulation, deep heating ultrasound and chiropractic adjustments.
Learn more about back and neck pain relief. Stop by Dr. Greg Hollstrom’s website where you can find out all about and what it can do for you.
Combination Therapies to Relieve Back and Neck Nerve Pain
Major injury resulting in Minor injury resulting in Low back pain and neck pain resulting from inflammation or injury to the spinal disc, joints of the spinal column or pinched spinal nerves respond favorably to combination therapy. Multiple therapies involves the application of three types of treatments applied in conjunction.
The combination therapy are E-stim, sound wave therapy and chiropractic treatment. Each treatment helps to reduce inflammation, decrease pain and elevate or Velcro straps. Electrical nerve and muscle stimulation is a form of electronic modulated therapy used for muscle relaxation and pain control.
The first treatment is electrical nerve and muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as E-stim, is the stimulation of muscle tension using electrical impulses. The electrical muscle stimulation is delivered through electrodes placed on the muscle surface directly over the muscles of the lower back or neck. The electronic current causes the muscles to weaken and tire.
The therapy pads are silicon or moist sponges that adhere to the skin usually using adhesive surface or Velcro bands. EMS is a type of electrotherapy used for muscle relaxation and pain reduction.
The next modality is therapeutic ultrasound in which alternating sound waves penetrate the neck and back muscles producing a deep thermal effect or pulsating sensation. The high frequency sound waves of therapeutic ultrasound penetrate soft tissue from 2 to 5 cm. The penetrating heating effect and effectiveness decreases as the sound waves penetrate deeper into the neck and back muscles, tendons, and nerves. The high frequency sound waves are impacted mainly by connective tissue such as: ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Two benefits of ultrasound Deep heating thermal benefits and non thermal tissue vibration effects. The thermal effects are due to the sound waves producing kinetic energy and motion within the tissue. The sound waves creates a penetrating warm relaxing sensitive neck and back muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the healing time frame.
Non thermal effects of ultrasound are from the high frequency wave stimulation vibrations. The vibrations directly stimulates the painful tissue. These high frequency waves help the muscle and tendon effects of the inflammation process.
The third combination therapy is chiropractic spinal treatment. Chiropractic treatment refers to a chiropractor applying manipulation to the bones of the neck and back that have abnormal motion or restricted and fixed in position. Chiropractic spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment is a normal therapeutic remedy for the relief of neck and back pain.
The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to align spinal vertebra which will help the spinal bones range of motion, decrease irritated nerves and thereby minimize associated neck and low back pain and tension.
Neck and back pain relief is aided using combination therapy: e-stim, therapeutic ultrasound and chiropractic spinal manipulation.
Learn more about back pain relief. Stop by Dr. Maryam Jafarieh’s website where you can find out all about and what combination therapy can do for you.
The Importance Of A Car Seat Lumbar Support
Most people that use car seat lumbar supports are truck drivers but the reality is that they are great for all types of drivers. Anyone that drives for any period of time is going to experience some degree of discomfort and this is common because car seats are not designed to provide a fair amount of lumbar back support to drivers and passengers.
If you don’t want to have back problems for the rest of your life then it is imperative that you have some kind of lumbar support to help you sit properly throughout the day. Something that you need to realize is that you can ruin your back with just a few years of sitting the wrong way while driving.
When you sit, the weight of your entire upper body can be pressing down on your spine if you are not seated in the proper posture. Car seats allow for us to recline, sit back or lean in whatever position we choose. When you add a lumbar cushion to the back of your seat, you are giving yourself the support that you need against your lower back that will force you to sit up straight and ease make your spinal cord do the support job that it is meant to do.
Even if you are not already experiencing pain every single time you sit in a car seat, it does not mean that damage is not being done. If on the other hand you are already experiencing slight pain, it is still possible to correct and ease the damage that your improper posture is placing on your back. Millions of people every year undergo lower back surgery to repair or relieve the damage that is as a result of bad posture when sitting.
If avoiding years of back pain and painful back surgery can be prevented or relieved by the use of a lumbar support, purchasing one for the car seat seems like the less painful alternative.
Something that most people don’t understand is that every lumbar support cushion has a purpose and that is why you need to use them. For the individuals that sit in an office for most of the day you need to understand that a good office chair with lumbar support may be needed
Three Treatments to Relieve Low Back Pain and Neck Disc Pain
Major injury resulting in Minor trauma resulting in Back pain and neck pain resulting from inflammation or injury to the spinal disc, spinal joints or pinched spinal nerves respond favorably to three specific therapies. Combination therapy involves the application of 3 types of treatments applied together.
The 3 specific treatments are electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasonic therapy and chiropractic adjustment. Each therapy helps to reduce inflammation, lower pain and increase mobility. Using these modalities in combination has a increased response.
The first treatment is electrical nerve and muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as E-stim, is the stimulation of muscle tension using electric impulses. The EMS is delivered through therapy pads placed on the skin surface directly over the muscles of the lower back or neck. The electronic current causes the muscles to contract.
The electrodes are silicon or wet conductive material that apply to the skin usually using adhesive surface or Velcro bands. Electrical nerve and muscle stimulation is a form of electrotherapy used for muscle fatigue and pain control.
The next treatment is ultrasonic therapy in which bouncing sound waves penetrate the neck and back muscles creating a deep thermal effect or pulsating sensation. The high frequency sound waves of therapeutic ultrasound penetrate soft tissue from 2 to 5 cm. The deep heating effect and effectiveness decreases as the sound waves penetrate deeper into the neck and back muscles. The ultrasonic waves are impacted mainly by connective tissue such as: ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Two benefits of ultrasound Penetrating heating thermal benefits and non heating tissue vibration benefits. The thermal benefits result from the sound waves stimulation kinetic energy and motion deep inside the tissue. This motion creates a penetrating warm relieving sensitive neck and back muscles, increasing the healing effects of blow flow and therefore the healing time frame.
Non thermal effects of sound wave therapy are from the high frequency wave creating motion. The tissue motion directly stimulates the damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments. These high frequency waves help the muscle and tendon effects of the inflammatory response.
The third combination therapy is the chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic treatment refers to a chiropractor treating with manipulation to the spinal vertebrae of the neck and back that have alter or cannot move normally. Chiropractic spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment is a normal therapeutic remedy for the relief of neck and back pain.
The objective of chiropractic treatment is to align spinal vertebra which will increase the joint ability to move, decrease irritated nerves and thereby minimize associated neck and low back pain and tension.
Neck and low back pain relief is aided using combination treatment: e-stim, therapeutic ultrasound and chiropractic treatment.
Want to find out more about back pain therapy then visit Dr. Steve Wilson’s website on how to choose the best for your needs.
Brandon Chiropractor Combination Treatments to Minimize Back and Neck Ache
Major trauma resulting in Minor trauma resulting in Back pain and neck disc pain resulting from inflammation or injury to the vertebral disc, spinal facet joints or pinched spinal nerves respond favorably to combination therapy. Multiple treatment therapies involves the application of three types of therapies applied together.
The multiple therapies are electrical nerve stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound and chiropractic therapy. Each therapy helps to decrease inflammation, lower pain and elevate or Velcro straps. Electrical muscle stimulation is a form of electrotherapy used for muscle weakening and pain lessening.
The first modality is electrical muscle stimulation-EMS, also known as E-stim, is the stimulation of muscle spasms using electric impulses. The electrical nerve and muscle stimulation is delivered through therapy pads placed on the muscle surface directly over the muscles of the lower back or neck. The electronic wave causes the muscles to weaken and tire.
The therapy pads are silicon or moist sponges that adhere to the skin usually using adhesive surface or Velcro bands. EMS is a type of electrotherapy used for muscle relaxation and pain reduction.
The second treatment is ultrasonic therapy in which reverberating sound waves penetrate the neck and back muscles producing a deep heat or pulsating effect. The sound waves of therapeutic ultrasound penetrate nerves, tendons and muscles from two to five centimeters. The penetrating heating effect and effectiveness decreases as the sound waves penetrate deeper into the neck and back muscles, tendons, and nerves. The high frequency sound waves are affected primarily by connective tissue such as: ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Two benefits of ultrasound Penetrating heating thermal benefits and non heating tissue vibration benefits. The thermal benefits result from the sound waves stimulation kinetic energy and motion deep inside the tissue. This motion creates a penetrating warm relieving sensitive neck and back muscles, increasing the healing effects of blow flow and therefore the healing time frame.
Non thermal effects of sound wave therapy are from the high frequency wave creating motion. The tissue motion directly stimulates the damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments. These high frequency waves help the muscle and tendon effects of the inflammatory response.
The third combination therapy is the chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic treatment refers to a chiropractor treating with manipulation to the spinal vertebrae of the neck and back that have alter or cannot move normally. Chiropractic spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment is a normal therapeutic remedy for the relief of neck and back pain.
The objective of chiropractic treatment is to align spinal vertebra which will help the spinal bones mobility, decrease irritated nerves and thereby minimize associated neck and low back pain and tension.
Neck and low back pain relief is aided using combination treatment: e-stim, therapeutic ultrasound and chiropractic treatment.
Learn more about back pain therapy. Stop by Dr. Steve Wilson’s website where you can find out all about back pain relief therapy.
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