Back Pain

There are several causes of low back pain.  People who have a sedentary life style or perform physical labor are more likely to develop symptoms.  The following are a few common causes of symptoms related to the back.

• Overuse of muscles, ligaments, and joints (most common)
• Injury from a fall or lifting improperly
• Motor vehicle collision
• Pregnancy
• Weight gain
• Disc herniation
• Spinal stenosis
• Scoliosis
• Arthritis
• Tumor

After a thorough examination by your chiropractic physician or other health care provider, there are many different treatments that can be used to evaluate low back pain.

Low back pain with pain radiating into your legs or feet requires immediate attention. Should the pain be accompanied by weakness in the legs, tingling in the feet/toes or drop foot, you should contact your chiropractic physician or other primary health care provider immediately as this is cause for immediate attention.

Most low back pain can be treated with precise chiropractic adjustments.  A low back adjustment works to improve joint mobility restoring lumbar range of motion and reducing muscle spasm. This helps to reduce pressure and pain.  Chiropractors also utilize a combination of spinal manipulation, physiotherapy, acupuncture, spinal flexion distraction, trigger point therapy, exercise and nutrition to treat lower back pain. Chiropractors can and should provide information for home stretching, exercise as well as proper techniques for lifting and bending.

For more severe cases of lower back pain advanced imaging may be required.  The chiropractic physician or health care provider will direct you to the proper facility for the necessary testing and will obtain the imaging results as well as coordinate care with other specialists if necessary.

Supplements that also help with lower back pain:

Valerian root, B6, Devils claw, Ginger root

At home, ice can be used the first 24-48 hours after injury, followed by moist hot packs (not dry heating pads) for 15 minutes and stretching.  You should avoid soft chairs where your knees are above your hips when you sit down.

Neck Pain

The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics.  Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head.  Normal aging, and every day wear and tear also can be factors resulting in symptoms.  The following are a few examples of common causes of neck pain.

• Poor posture
• Physical and/or emotional stress
• Postural stress (example; working at a computer screen too high or too low)
• Overuse of muscles, ligaments, and joints (most common)
• Poor posture during sleep (too many or too few pillows)
• Injury – motor vehicle whiplash, blow to the head/neck
• Pregnancy
• Disc herniation
• Spinal stenosis
• Scoliosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Tumor

Neck pain can cause headaches, fatigue, loss of sleep, irritability and depression.  Pain, numbness, tingling or weakness radiating into your arm or hands requires immediate attention and you should contact your chiropractic physician or other primary health care provider immediately.

There are a variety of treatments that can be used to alleviate symptoms of neck pain.  An examination by your chiropractic physician or other health care provider is beneficial to observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition in order to determine movement that may cause pain.  A neurological exam may be used to test your reflexes, muscle strength or other nerve changes that may be associated with the complaint.  In some diagnostic tests such as x-ray or MRI will be necessary to determine the cause of the pain.  An x-ray can show narrowed disc space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis.  A computerized axial tomography scan (a CT or CAT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging test (an MRI) can show bulging discs and herniation. If nerve damage is suspected, a special test called electromyography (an EMG) may even be ordered to measure how quickly your nerves respond.  After these tests are reviewed, the chiropractic physician or other health care provider can coordinate and direct care to a specialist if necessary.

Most neck pain can be treated with precise chiropractic adjustments.  A cervical or neck adjustment works to improve joint mobility restoring cervical range of motion and reducing muscle spasm.  This helps to reduce pressure and pain. Chiropractors also utilize a combination of spinal manipulation; physiotherapy; acupuncture; cervical traction; trigger point therapy; stretching; exercise and nutrition to treat neck pain.  They also can and should provide information regarding home stretching and exercise as well as proper techniques for working at the computer, lifting, reading and bending from the cervical spine.

Headaches

There are many causes of headaches.  Below are some of the most common known causes:

• Stress/Tension
• Chemicals/Foods/Medications
• Poor Vision/Improper Eye Glass Prescription
• Sinus Problems
• Tooth or Jaw Problems
• Dehydration
• Hypoglycemia
• Poor Work Environment
• Tumors
• Aneurysm

The most common types of headaches are usually classified as tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches or migraine headaches.

The most common headaches are tension headaches. People with a headache may have symptoms including uncomfortable sensations described as pain, throbbing, aching, dullness, heaviness, and tightness in the head. People with a headache may also experience discomfort that is often worsened by movement or pressure and may be associated with irritability, problems sleeping, and fatigue.  A tension-type headache is most common and typically experienced as a dull, non-throbbing pain in the back of the neck, around the ear to the forehead, or in a “headband” distribution. A headache may be associated with tender nodules in the neck called trigger points or with tenderness in the muscles around the head.

Cervicogenic headaches are the most misdiagnosed type of a headache.  They are more often than not diagnosed with migraine headaches. Cervicogenic headaches can present with moderate to severe pain aggravated by light, movement, and sound.  They can be associated with feelings of nausea and usually occur at the end of the day or same time every day.  On some occasions, they can sometimes be associated with loss of balance feeling.

Migraine headaches can present also with moderate to severe pain and are associated with nausea and/or vomiting.  The pain can become worse with light, smells or noise and is usually one-sided.  Migraine headaches are characterized by the presence of an aura of light and spots that can begin 30 minutes before a headache.  Some migraine headaches can even be associated with pins and needles as well as numbness in the face and hands.

Chiropractic care including cervical adjustments, trigger point muscle work and physiotherapies can help control and reduce cervicogenic or tension headaches.

It is very difficult to determine the type of a headache you have, as they are sometimes very similar in nature. Taking medication for headaches that are not migraine in nature will most likely not help your symptoms.

A complete chiropractic examination can help to determine the type of a headache you have and provide the proper avenue to control you headaches.