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.