Back Clinic Chronic Back Pain Team. Chronic back pain has a far-reaching effect on many physiological processes. Dr. Jimenez reveals topics and issues affecting his patients. Understanding the pain is critical to its treatment. So here we begin the process for our patients in the journey of recovery.
Just about everyone feels pain from time to time. When you cut your finger or pull a muscle, pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Once the injury heals, you stop hurting.
Chronic pain is different. Your body keeps hurting weeks, months, or even years after the injury. Doctors often define chronic pain as any pain that lasts for 3 to 6 months or more.
Chronic back pain can have real effects on your day-to-day life and your mental health. But you and your doctor can work together to treat it.
Do call upon us to help you. We do understand the problem that should never be taken lightly.
For individuals dealing with chronic sciatica, when pain and other symptoms significantly impact daily activities and the ability to walk, can a musculoskeletal healthcare provider help relieve and manage symptoms through a multidisciplinary treatment plan?
Chronic Sciatica
Sciatica is a common condition that results from compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back or leg. Chronic sciatica occurs when symptoms last for 12 months or longer.
Advanced Sciatica Symptoms
Advanced or chronic sciatica usually produces pain that radiates or travels down the back of the leg. Long-term sciatic nerve compression can result in:
Leg pain
Numbness
Tingling
Electrical or burning sensations
Weakness
Weakness
Instability of the legs, which can impact the ability to walk.
Severe nerve compression can progress to leg paralysis if the nerve is significantly damaged from chronic compression. (Antonio L Aguilar-Shea, et al., 2022)
Sciatica can progress to nerve damage of the smaller nerves and travel into the legs and feet. Nerve damage/neuropathy can result in pain, tingling, and loss of sensation. (Jacob Wycher Bosma, et al., 2014)
Disabling Sciatica Treatment Options
When sciatica becomes disabling, affecting an individual’s ability to walk, more involved treatment is needed to bring relief. Many cases of chronic and disabling sciatica are caused by problems with the lumbar spine. Compression of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve can occur from bulging or herniated discs or spinal stenosis. If symptoms of sciatica persist beyond 12 months with little or no relief from physical therapy, non-surgical mechanical decompression, stretches and exercises, or pain management techniques, surgical procedures may be needed. (Lucy Dove, et al., 2023)
Lumbar decompression surgery encompasses several procedures to create more space in the lumbar spine and relieve nerve compression. Lumbar decompression surgery can include: (Mayfield Clinic. 2021)
Discectomy
This procedure removes a portion of a damaged disc between vertebrae to alleviate root compression from a bulging or herniated disc.
Laminectomy
This procedure removes the lamina, a portion of the vertebrae causing nerve compression, especially if there is a bone spur due to arthritic and degenerative changes in the spine.
Foraminotomy
This procedure widens the foramina, the openings in the vertebrae where the nerve roots exit to relieve compression.
Spinal Fusion
This procedure takes two or more vertebrae fusing them together with metal rods and screws for stabilization.
The procedure can be performed if:
An entire disc is removed.
Multiple laminectomies were performed.
One vertebra has slipped forward over another.
Daily Relief Management for Advanced Sciatica
Achieving relief from advanced sciatica symptoms at home can include regularly practicing methods like taking a hot bath or shower massage, and applying a heating pad to the lower back or glutes to relax tight muscles to help release the tightness surrounding the sciatic nerve.
Corrective or therapeutic exercises like sciatic nerve glides can help reduce tension along the nerve while low-back exercises that move the spine into forward or backward bending can reduce compression. (Witold Golonka, et al., 2021)
Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or nerve-pain medications may be recommended. (Antonio L Aguilar-Shea, et al., 2022)
Advanced sciatica may not be as responsive to conservative treatment methods, as the injury has set in and the nerve and surrounding tissues have become significantly restricted.
Sciatica symptoms lasting longer than 12 months require more involved treatment like injections or surgery to address symptoms effectively. (Antonio L Aguilar-Shea, et al., 2022)
Healing Chronic Sciatica
If the underlying cause can be effectively treated then chronic sciatica can be healed. Chronic sciatica often results from spinal conditions like herniated discs or lumbar spinal stenosis. These conditions narrow the space around the nerve roots that exit from the spinal cord and merge to form the sciatica nerve. Surgery is performed to open the space in the spine. (Mayfield Clinic. 2021) Sometimes sciatica is brought on by less common causes like a tumor or a spinal infection. In these cases, symptoms will not resolve until the underlying cause is addressed. Tumors may need to be surgically removed while infections require aggressive antibiotics to prevent spreading to other regions of the body. (Hospital for Special Surgery. 2023)
Pain Specialist Treatment Plan Development
Ongoing pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness are all symptoms that should be addressed with a healthcare provider. A pain specialist can help create a treatment plan that involves: (Hospital for Special Surgery. 2023)
Aguilar-Shea, A. L., Gallardo-Mayo, C., Sanz-González, R., & Paredes, I. (2022). Sciatica. Management for family physicians. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 11(8), 4174–4179. doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1061_21
Bosma, J. W., Wijntjes, J., Hilgevoord, T. A., & Veenstra, J. (2014). Severe isolated sciatic neuropathy due to a modified lotus position. World journal of clinical cases, 2(2), 39–41. doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v2.i2.39
Dove, L., Jones, G., Kelsey, L. A., Cairns, M. C., & Schmid, A. B. (2023). How effective are physiotherapy interventions in treating people with sciatica? A systematic review and meta-analysis. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 32(2), 517–533. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-022-07356-y
Golonka, W., Raschka, C., Harandi, V. M., Domokos, B., Alfredson, H., Alfen, F. M., & Spang, C. (2021). Isolated Lumbar Extension Resistance Exercise in Limited Range of Motion for Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy and Disk Herniation-Clinical Outcome and Influencing Factors. Journal of clinical medicine, 10(11), 2430. doi.org/10.3390/jcm10112430
For individuals with back pain, how can health practitioners incorporate non-surgical solutions to reduce spinal pain?
Introduction
The spine is one of the most important structures in the human body, providing host mobility and stability when vertical pressure is pressing on the spinal structure. The spine is surrounded by various muscles, ligaments, and tissues that help support the upper and lower body portions and extremities. When normal factors like heaving lifting, improper stances, obesity, or pre-existing conditions start to affect the body, it can cause the spinal structure to potentially cause unwanted issues that lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain. When experiencing these three common body pains often correlate with other associated symptoms that can affect the other extremities. When this happens, many individuals begin to miss out on work or daily activities that can cause them to be miserable, and they even try to look for various solutions to reduce the pain they are experiencing. Today’s article looks at one of the common body pains like back pain and how it can cause numerous issues that affect a person’s ability to function, and how non-surgical solutions can not only reduce the pain-like effects but also provide the necessary relief that many people deserve in their health and wellness journey. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to ease the pain-like symptoms associated with spinal issues causing back pain. We also inform our patients that there are non-surgical options to reduce these pain-like issues and restore spinal mobility to the body. We encourage our patients to ask intricated and educational questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with the lower back. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Back Pain Affecting The Spine
Do you often experience radiating pain in your lower back that causes symptoms of numbness or tingling sensations down to your legs and feet? Do you feel muscle stiffness in the morning while getting up, only to slowly disappear throughout the day? Or do you feel symptoms of muscle aches and pain when carrying a heavy object from one location to another? Many individuals, more often than not, have dealt with back pain associated with various factors. With back pain being in the top three common problems in the workforce, many individuals have dealt with the common problem in multiple ways. From improper heavy lifting to excessive sitting at a desk, back pain can cause musculoskeletal issues that many are trying to find relief. Low back pain can either be acute or chronic, depending on the severity. It can lead to mobility impairment within the thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac spinal regions, causing referred pain to the lower extremities. It can lead to a life of impairment without any symptoms or signs of serious medical or psychological conditions associated with environmental factors. (Delitto et al., 2012) Back pain is also associated with spinal conditions like inflammation, asymmetric loading, and muscle strain, which can cause the spinal structures to be compressed, thus causing disc herniations. (Zemková & Zapletalová, 2021)
Additionally, back pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition that causes many individuals to be in a socio-economic situation that can decrease their quality of life. Many examples of back pain are correlated with altered motor control within the spinal erector muscles that causes impaired proprioception in the spine. (Fagundes Loss et al., 2020) When this happens to many individuals, they often experience a hindrance of lumbar stability, body balance, posture, and postural control. At the same time, when many working individuals are having severe back pain associated with everyday factors, the amount of pain they are in can change the threshold of the mechanoreceptors that are transmitting the pain signals through the spinal cord. To this point, back pain can affect the neuromuscular response and affect normal musculoskeletal functionality. Fortunately, numerous treatments can help reduce back pain and provide relief to spinal pain that is affecting many individuals.
The Role Of Chiropractic Care- Video
How many times a day do you experience back pain associated with stiffness, general aches, or pains that are affecting your ability to work? Do you notice you hunching more when moving from one location to another? Or do you feel aches and pain in your back after stretching in the morning? Many individuals dealing with these common environmental factors are closely associated with back pain. Back pain is in the top three most common problems many individuals have experienced at some point in their lives. More often than not, many people have dealt with back pain by using home remedies to reduce the pain-like effects. However, research studies reveal that when many individuals start to ignore the pain, it can lead them to a life of disability and cause numerous amounts of distress if not treated right away. (Parker et al., 2015) Hence, non-surgical treatments can not only reduce the pain associated with back pain but also help restore spinal mobility. Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care incorporate spinal manipulation, which can positively affect the spine. (Koes et al., 1996) What chiropractic care does is that it includes mechanical and manual manipulation techniques to stretch out tight muscles and reduce trigger points from reforming. The video above shows how chiropractic care can positively affect the individual while being part of a health and wellness journey to reducing back pain.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression For Back Pain
Just like chiropractic care, spinal decompression is another non-surgical treatment that uses traction to gently pull and stretch the spine to alleviate compressed spinal discs associated with back pain and help stretch out tight muscles. When many people start to incorporate spinal decompression as part of their routine, they will notice that spinal decompression can reduce intradiscal pressure within the negative range. (Ramos, 2004) What this does is that when the spinal discs are being pulled by gentle traction, all the fluids and nutrients that were not hydrating the disc flow back and help kickstart the body’s natural healing process. When many people begin to utilize spinal decompression for their back pain, they will notice a huge reduction in their pain after a few consecutive sessions. (Crisp et al., 1955) When many people start to combine other various non-surgical therapies with spinal decompression, they will be able to regain their spinal mobility while being more mindful of what environmental factors are affecting their spine and not repeat the issue to allow back pain to return.
References
Crisp, E. J., Cyriax, J. H., & Christie, B. G. (1955). Discussion on the treatment of backache by traction. Proc R Soc Med, 48(10), 805-814. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13266831
Delitto, A., George, S. Z., Van Dillen, L., Whitman, J. M., Sowa, G., Shekelle, P., Denninger, T. R., & Godges, J. J. (2012). Low Back Pain. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 42(4), A1-A57. doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.a1
Fagundes Loss, J., de Souza da Silva, L., Ferreira Miranda, I., Groisman, S., Santiago Wagner Neto, E., Souza, C., & Tarrago Candotti, C. (2020). Immediate effects of a lumbar spine manipulation on pain sensitivity and postural control in individuals with nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Chiropr Man Therap, 28(1), 25. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-020-00316-7
Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., van der Heijden, G. J., & Bouter, L. M. (1996). Spinal manipulation for low back pain. An updated systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 21(24), 2860-2871; discussion 2872-2863. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199612150-00013
Parker, S. L., Mendenhall, S. K., Godil, S. S., Sivasubramanian, P., Cahill, K., Ziewacz, J., & McGirt, M. J. (2015). Incidence of Low Back Pain After Lumbar Discectomy for Herniated Disc and Its Effect on Patient-reported Outcomes. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 473(6), 1988-1999. doi.org/10.1007/s11999-015-4193-1
Ramos, G. (2004). Efficacy of vertebral axial decompression on chronic low back pain: study of dosage regimen. Neurol Res, 26(3), 320-324. doi.org/10.1179/016164104225014030
Zemková, E., & Zapletalová, L. (2021). Back Problems: Pros and Cons of Core Strengthening Exercises as a Part of Athlete Training. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5400. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105400
Can healthcare professionals provide the best non-surgical therapeutic options for individuals with chronic low back pain?
Introduction
Chronic low back pain can happen to numerous individuals, affecting their daily routine and making them miss out on important life events. With the ever-changing world, many individuals, especially working individuals, will experience chronic low back pain at some point due to unbearable stress that seems to affect the surrounding muscles that protect the lumbar spine. This causes many individuals to overstretch or shorten the muscles that are contributing to lower back pain, which can be the causing factor in the development of lower back pain. At the same time, when individuals suffer from low back pain, it can be imposed as a grave economic cost to society. (Pai & Sundaram, 2004) This, in turn, causes many individuals to miss out on work and be financially burdened as the cost of chronic low back pain treatment is high. However, numerous therapeutic options are cost-effective, safe, and effective in reducing chronic low back pain. Today’s post looks at the effects of chronic low back pain and how many individuals can look at various non-surgical options that many individuals can utilize to reduce chronic low back pain. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce chronic low back pain. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with the factors that cause chronic lower back pain. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
The Effects Of Chronic Low Back Pain
Have you been dealing with chronic pain that flares up in your lower back after a hard workday? Do you feel muscle aches or pains that don’t relieve itself after a day of rest? Or do you and your loved ones take any medication to temporarily relieve your back pain, only to have it come back after a few hours? Many people with chronic low back pain will feel symptoms of stiffness, muscle aches, and radiating pain traveling to their lower extremities. When chronic low back pain is associated with musculoskeletal conditions, it can impact their daily routine. To that point, musculoskeletal disorders correlating with chronic low back pain can encompass a spectrum of conditions and increase naturally over time. (Woolf & Pfleger, 2003) When many individuals are dealing with chronic low back pain, it can become a socio-economic burden that leads to disability. (Andersson, 1999) However, there are numerous options for individuals with chronic lower back pain who can find the relief they need to reduce its effects and will be able to get back to their daily routine.
Understanding Long-Lasting Injuries- Video
Chronic low back pain is when back pain that lasts longer than a few weeks and is one of the most common problems many people experience. When finding relief for chronic low back pain, many individuals will try home remedies to alleviate the pain. However, it can temporarily relieve the issue and mask the symptoms. When individuals see their primary doctor for chronic low back pain, many will seek a personalized plan to reduce chronic low back pain and its associated symptoms. When relieving chronic low back pain, comprehensive pain management treatments often rely on physical therapy, multidisciplinary approaches, and non-surgical options to reduce chronic low back pain. (Grabois, 2005) When understanding how the individual has chronic low back pain, it is important to identify the causes and how it can cause lifelong injuries that can develop into disability. When primary doctors start to utilize non-surgical treatments in their practices, many individuals can find the benefits of non-surgical treatments as they are cost-effective, safe, and gentle on the spine and lumbar region and can be personalized with associated medical providers to reduce pain-like symptoms correlating with chronic low back pain. Check out the video above to learn more about how non-surgical treatments can help reduce chronic low back pain and help revitalize a person’s body through a personalized treatment plan.
Non-Surgical Options For Chronic Low Back Pain
When treating chronic low back pain, non-surgical treatments effectively relieve pain and restore mobility to the back. Non-surgical treatments can be customized to the individual’s pain severity while being cost-effective. When individuals are evaluated for chronic low back pain, they are provided with many healthcare providers to reduce the pain-like symptoms caused by chronic low back pain. (Atlas & Deyo, 2001) Many individuals will incorporate various treatment options like:
Exercises
Spinal Decompression
Chiropractic care
Massage Therapy
Acupuncture
Many of these treatments are non-surgical and incorporate various mechanical and manual manipulation techniques to stretch and strengthen the weak back muscles, elongate the spine through realignment, and help restore movement while reducing symptoms in the lower extremities. When individuals incorporate non-surgical treatments consecutively, they will have a positive experience and feel better in the long run. (Koes et al., 1996)
Atlas, S. J., & Deyo, R. A. (2001). Evaluating and managing acute low back pain in the primary care setting. J Gen Intern Med, 16(2), 120-131. doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2001.91141.x
Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., van der Heijden, G. J., & Bouter, L. M. (1996). Spinal manipulation for low back pain. An updated systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 21(24), 2860-2871; discussion 2872-2863. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199612150-00013
Pai, S., & Sundaram, L. J. (2004). Low back pain: an economic assessment in the United States. Orthop Clin North Am, 35(1), 1-5. doi.org/10.1016/S0030-5898(03)00101-9
Woolf, A. D., & Pfleger, B. (2003). Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions. Bull World Health Organ, 81(9), 646-656. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14710506
Can spinal decompression treat individuals with chronic low back pain to reduce joint arthritis and strengthen the surrounding muscles to restore lumbar mobility?
Introduction
When many individuals are dealing with pain in their lumbar region, more often than not, they believe that it’s the surrounding muscles that protect the spine that is being affected. However, that is only half of the problem. Do you or your loved ones often feel a warm sensation within your lower back, hips, and knees that radiates pain within your joints? Well, joint pain can correlate with low back pain in its chronic state. Since the body and spine can degenerate over time, it can cause the joints to wear and tear while rubbing against each other, causing joint arthritis to develop. When arthritic pain is associated with chronic low back pain, it can lead to overlapping risk profiles that can lead to a life of disability and make the individual miserable. Many pain-like symptoms correlating with chronic low back pain can develop over time and cause mobility and stability problems within the body. Fortunately, many non-surgical treatments can reduce the progression of joint arthritis and alleviate chronic low back pain. Today’s articles examine the correlation between joint arthritis and chronic low back pain while taking a look at how non-invasive treatments like spinal decompression can not only reduce chronic low back pain associated with joint arthritis but also restore lumbar mobility. Additionally, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who incorporate our patient’s information to treat and reduce the progression of joint arthritis associated with low back pain. We also inform them that spinal decompression can help restore lumbar mobility while enhancing muscle strength back to the lumbar region. We encourage our patients to ask profound questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain-like issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Joint Arthritis & Chronic Low Back Pain
Do you often experience stiffness in the morning that seems to go away after a few hours? Do you feel aches and pains at work, either at the desk or the requires heavy objects? Or do you feel your joints ache constantly that you are not getting enough sleep at night? These pain-like scenarios are associated with joint arthritis, which can develop into chronic low back pain. Many people know that the lumber spine and the lower extremities will experience high mechanical stress when the body is in an upright position without pain. As the lumbar spine and lower extremities begin to go through repetitive motions over time, that can cause the ligaments and surrounding muscles to have microtrauma tears, resulting in the development of joint arthritis, which can lead to inflammatory effects. (Xiong et al., 2022) Now inflammation in the body is beneficial and harmful depending on the severity within the affected area. Joint arthritis, especially spondylarthritis, is part of inflammatory diseases that affect the joint and the spine and can have various clinical manifestations. (Sharip & Kunz, 2020) The symptoms of joint arthritis include inflammatory pain in the affected area, joint stiffness and swelling, and muscle weakness. When dealing with inflammatory effects associated with joint arthritis, it can cause them to have a decreased quality of life, increase mortality, and become an economic burden. (Walsh & Magrey, 2021)
Now how does joint arthritis be associated with low back pain? When individuals start to make repetitive motions to their lumbar spine, it can lead to abnormal changes to the intervertebral discs. When unwanted pressure begins to compress the intervertebral disc constantly, it can cause wear and tear on the disc, causing them to crack and allowing the annular nociceptors to become over-sensitized. (Weinstein, Claverie, & Gibson, 1988) The affected disc then aggravates the surrounding nerve roots and muscles, causing low back pain. When individuals do their everyday normal, factors that cause degenerative changes to the intervertebral discs can lead to chronic low back pain. (Vernon-Roberts & Pirie, 1977) To that point, chronic low back pain associated with joint arthritis can become a chronic issue if not treated right away.
Arthritis Explained- Video
When reducing the effects of chronic low back pain associated with joint arthritis, many individuals seek treatments to relieve their pain-affected areas with a positive outcome. Non-surgical treatments could be the answer, combined with other therapies to reduce chronic low back pain. (Kizhakkeveettil, Rose, & Kadar, 2014) Non-surgical treatments can be customizable to the individual’s pain while being cost-effective. Many people with arthritic joints can benefit from non-surgical treatments as pain specialists like massage therapists and chiropractors can use various techniques to stretch out the affected muscles, increase the joint’s ROM (range of motions) and realign the body out of misalignment to promote the body’s natural healing process. The video above gives an overview of how arthritis can affect the joints, be associated with low back pain, and how these treatments can alleviate its symptoms through various techniques.
Spinal Decompression & Chronic Low Back Pain
Spinal decompression is a non-surgical therapy treatment that can help many individuals with chronic low back pain. Spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the lumbar spine to pull the spine, allowing the fluids and nutrients to flood back to the affected area and help the body naturally heal itself. When individuals start incorporating spinal decompression for their chronic low back pain, they will feel pressure off their spinal discs. (Ramos, 2004) When individuals begin to feel an improvement in their lumbar region after a few consecutive treatments, they will start to regain their lumbar mobility.
Spinal Decompression Restoring Lumbar Mobility
Spinal decompression can reduce the effects of chronic low back pain and restore lumbar mobility to the spine. Since spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the spine, the intervertebral disc will return to its original position, while the spinal cavity increases disc height. To that point, spinal decompression can cause individuals to improve mobility and cause them to return to their normal daily activities, as it correlates strongly with pain reduction. (Gose, Naguszewski, & Naguszewski, 1998) By incorporating spinal decompression as part of a routine, many individuals can regain their health without dealing with pain-like symptoms.
References
Gose, E. E., Naguszewski, W. K., & Naguszewski, R. K. (1998). Vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: an outcome study. Neurol Res, 20(3), 186-190. doi.org/10.1080/01616412.1998.11740504
Kizhakkeveettil, A., Rose, K., & Kadar, G. E. (2014). Integrative therapies for low back pain that include complementary and alternative medicine care: a systematic review. Glob Adv Health Med, 3(5), 49-64. doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2014.043
Ramos, G. (2004). Efficacy of vertebral axial decompression on chronic low back pain: study of dosage regimen. Neurol Res, 26(3), 320-324. doi.org/10.1179/016164104225014030
Sharip, A., & Kunz, J. (2020). Understanding the Pathogenesis of Spondyloarthritis. Biomolecules, 10(10). doi.org/10.3390/biom10101461
Vernon-Roberts, B., & Pirie, C. J. (1977). Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine and their sequelae. Rheumatol Rehabil, 16(1), 13-21. doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/16.1.13
Walsh, J. A., & Magrey, M. (2021). Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis. J Clin Rheumatol, 27(8), e547-e560. doi.org/10.1097/RHU.0000000000001575
Xiong, Y., Cai, M., Xu, Y., Dong, P., Chen, H., He, W., & Zhang, J. (2022). Joint together: The etiology and pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis. Front Immunol, 13, 996103. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.996103
How does spinal decompression help reduce somatosensory pain associated with individuals dealing with back and leg pain?
Introduction
As we all know, the human body is a complex system that works together to perform various actions without feeling pain or discomfort. With muscles, organs, tissues, ligaments, bones, and nerve roots, each component has its job and interacts with other body parts. For instance, the spine collaborates with the central nervous system to instruct the muscles and organs to function correctly. Meanwhile, the nerve roots and muscles work together to provide mobility, stability, and flexibility to the upper and lower body extremities. However, as time passes, the body ages naturally, and this can lead to unwanted issues. Normal and traumatic factors can interfere with the neuron signals from the brain and cause somatosensory pain in the upper and lower extremities. This pain-like sensation can affect each body section, making the individual miserable. Luckily, there are ways to reduce somatosensory pain and provide relief to the body. Today’s article explores how somatosensory pain can impact the lower extremities, particularly the legs and back, and how non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can alleviate somatosensory pain in the lower extremities. At the same time, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who use our patient’s information to treat and mitigate somatosensory pain affecting the legs and back. We also inform them that non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help alleviate residual pain-like symptoms from the lower extremities. We encourage our patients to ask essential and important questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
How Does Somatosensory Pain Affect The Legs & Back?
Are you experiencing numbness or tingling in your legs or back that disappears after a few minutes? Do you feel questionable pain in your lumbar spine after work? Or do you feel a warm sensation in the back of your legs that turns into sharp shooting pain? These issues may be related to the somatosensory system within the central nervous system, which provides voluntary reflexes to muscle groups. When normal movements or traumatic forces cause problems to the somatosensory system over time, it can lead to pain that affects the body’s extremities. (Finnerup, Kuner, & Jensen, 2021) This pain may be accompanied by burning, pricking, or squeezing sensations that affect the lumbar region. Many factors can be associated with somatosensory pain, which is part of the central nervous system and works with the spinal cord. When the spinal cord becomes compressed or aggravated due to injury or normal factors, it can lead to low back and leg pain. For example, a herniated disc in the lumbosacral area can cause nerve roots to send pain signals to the brain and cause abnormalities in the back and legs. (Aminoff & Goodin, 1988)
When people are dealing with back and leg pain from somatosensory pain, it can cause them to be miserable by reducing their quality of life and leading to a life of disability. (Rosenberger et al., 2020) At the same time, individuals dealing with somatosensory pain will also begin to feel inflammatory effects from the affected muscle area in the legs and back. Since inflammation is a body’s natural response when dealing with pain, the inflammatory cytokines can cause a cascading effect from the brain through the spinal cord, causing leg and back pain. (Matsuda, Huh, & Ji, 2019) To that point, somatosensory pain is associated with inflammation caused by normal or traumatic factors that can cause overlapping risk factors contributing to leg and back pain. Luckily, numerous treatments can reduce these overlapping risk factors caused by somatosensory pain and help restore the lower body extremities’ function.
Move Better, Live Better- Video
When the body is dealing with somatosensory pain, it can cause many individuals to think they are only dealing with one source of pain from one muscle area. Still, it can lead to multifactorial issues that affect different body locations. This is known as referred pain, where one body section deals with pain but is in a different area. Referred pain can also be combined with somato-visceral/visceral-somatic pain, where the affected muscle or organ affects one or the other, causing more pain-like issues. However, numerous treatments can reduce somatosensory pain from causing more leg and back problems. Non-surgical therapies like chiropractic care and spinal decompression can help mitigate the effects of somatosensory pain affecting the lower body extremities causing leg and back pain. These treatments allow the pain specialist to incorporate various therapeutic techniques to stretch the affected muscles and realign the spine to its original position. Many individuals can see an improvement in their mobility and daily activities as the pain-like symptoms associated with somatosensory pain are reduced. (Gose, Naguszewski, & Naguszewski, 1998) When individuals dealing with somatosensory pain start thinking about their health and wellness to ease the pain they are experiencing, they can look into non-surgical treatments as they are cost-effective, safe, and provide a positive outcome. Additionally, non-surgical treatments can be personalized to the individual’s pain and begin to see improvement after a few treatment sessions. (Saal & Saal, 1989) Check out the video above to learn more about how non-surgical treatments can be combined with other therapies to improve a person’s well-being.
Spinal Decompression Reduces Somatosenosory Pain
Now spinal decompression is a non-surgical treatment that can help reduce somatosensory pain affecting the legs and back. Since somatosensory pain correlates with the spinal cord, it can affect the lumbosacral spine and lead to back and leg pain. With spinal decompression, it utilizes gentle traction to gently pull the spine, which then can reduce the symptoms associated with somatosensory pain. Spinal decompression can help improve the somatosensory system by reducing pain and alleviating aggravated nerve root compression to relieve the legs and back. (Daniel, 2007)
Additionally, spinal decompression can be combined with other non-surgical treatments, like chiropractic, as it can help with reducing the effects of nerve entrapment and help restore the joint’s ROM (range of motion). (Kirkaldy-Willis & Cassidy, 1985) Spinal decompression can create a positive experience for many individuals dealing with leg and back pain associated with somatosensory pain while getting back their health and wellness.
References
Aminoff, M. J., & Goodin, D. S. (1988). Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials in lumbosacral root compression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 51(5), 740-742. doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.51.5.740-a
Daniel, D. M. (2007). Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media? Chiropr Osteopat, 15, 7. doi.org/10.1186/1746-1340-15-7
Finnerup, N. B., Kuner, R., & Jensen, T. S. (2021). Neuropathic Pain: From Mechanisms to Treatment. Physiol Rev, 101(1), 259-301. doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00045.2019
Gose, E. E., Naguszewski, W. K., & Naguszewski, R. K. (1998). Vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: an outcome study. Neurol Res, 20(3), 186-190. doi.org/10.1080/01616412.1998.11740504
Kirkaldy-Willis, W. H., & Cassidy, J. D. (1985). Spinal manipulation in the treatment of low-back pain. Can Fam Physician, 31, 535-540. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21274223
Matsuda, M., Huh, Y., & Ji, R. R. (2019). Roles of inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, and neuroinflammation in pain. J Anesth, 33(1), 131-139. doi.org/10.1007/s00540-018-2579-4
Rosenberger, D. C., Blechschmidt, V., Timmerman, H., Wolff, A., & Treede, R. D. (2020). Challenges of neuropathic pain: focus on diabetic neuropathy. J Neural Transm (Vienna), 127(4), 589-624. doi.org/10.1007/s00702-020-02145-7
Saal, J. A., & Saal, J. S. (1989). Nonoperative treatment of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc with radiculopathy. An outcome study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 14(4), 431-437. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-198904000-00018
In many individuals with spinal issues, how does spinal decompression compared with traditional care restore muscle strength?
Introduction
Many people unknowingly put pressure on their spines during daily activities, causing intervertebral disc compression and tightness in surrounding ligaments, muscles, nerve roots, and tissues. Repetitive motions and aging can also lead to intervertebral disc cracking and misalignment, resulting in pain and discomfort in the three common areas: the back, neck, and shoulders. Spinal stenosis is a spinal condition where the spinal cord is compressed and narrow and can cause symptoms of muscle weakness and pain to the upper and lower body extremities if left untreated. This article explores how non-surgical treatments like advanced oscillation and spinal decompression can restore muscle strength and alleviate the effects of spinal stenosis. By working with certified medical providers who use our patients’ information to treat individuals suffering from spinal stenosis. We inform them about non-surgical treatments to regain spinal mobility and restore muscle strength. We encourage our patients to ask essential questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Spinal Stenosis Causing Muscle Strength Issues
Do you find yourself struggling to hold onto objects while doing activities? Are you experiencing strange sensations like numbness or tingling in your arms or legs? Or you’re dealing with chronic back and neck pain that won’t go away. These issues can all be related to problems with your spine, which can cause your muscles to weaken and lead to conditions like low back pain, sciatica, and spinal stenosis.
Research shows that spinal stenosis is a common condition caused by nerve root impingement or ischemia in the spinal canal. This can lead to pain, weakness, sensory loss in your extremities, and tingling or numbness in your hands or feet. Additionally, studies have found that spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine can increase your risk of developing locomotive syndrome, which can further affect the muscle strength in your arms and legs. {Kasukawa, 2019}
Strong muscles are important for daily movements, such as using your arms, legs, hands, and feet. However, spinal stenosis affects your muscle strength. In that case, it can cause various issues, including numbness or tingling in your upper and lower limbs, severe pain when walking but relief when sitting or resting, decreased grip strength, sciatic pain that mimics and reduced walking distance. While spinal stenosis can be caused by normal or traumatic factors that affect the mobility, flexibility, and stability of the upper and lower muscle quadrants in the body, several available treatments can alleviate the effects of spinal stenosis and help restore muscle strength to the body.
Discovering The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care-Video
Many people experiencing musculoskeletal pain symptoms related to spinal stenosis use over-the-counter medication, hot/cold therapy, and stretching to alleviate the referred pain. Traditional surgery is an effective option to remove the damaged disc that is aggravating the nerve root and relieve the spinal column. However, this surgery is typically only recommended when other treatments have failed and can be expensive. {Herrington, 2023} Nevertheless, numerous cost-effective non-surgical treatments are available to help reduce the pain-like symptoms caused by spinal stenosis and alleviate associated symptoms. Chiropractic care and spinal decompression are non-surgical treatments that use mechanical and manipulated techniques to realign the body and minimize nerve entrapment that causes pain-like symptoms. The video above provides more information about how non-surgical treatments can assist many individuals in maintaining mobility and flexibility by providing a personalized treatment plan to prevent the recurrence of musculoskeletal and spinal conditions.
Advanced Oscillation For Spinal Stenosis
Many people opt for non-surgical treatments such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, spinal decompression, and advanced oscillation to alleviate pain. In “The Ultimate Spinal Decompression,” written by Dr. Eric Kaplan, D.C., FIAMA, and Dr. Perry Bard, D.C., it is noted that advanced oscillation therapy can be tailored to an individual’s needs, helping to minimize pain symptoms caused by spinal stenosis. Advanced oscillation settings can help reduce inflammation and muscle spasms associated with spinal stenosis while promoting the replenishment of nutrients in the spine. In addition, advanced oscillation can help the body restructure and re-tone the targeted spinal structures, loosening them up and reducing nerve entrapment. Advanced oscillation is one of the non-surgical treatments that synergizes well with spinal decompression.
Spinal Decompression To Restore Muscle Strength
Now spinal decompression has a unique ability to reduce the effects of spinal stenosis as it is safe on the spine, cost-effective, and non-invasive. What spinal decompression therapy does to the body is like advanced oscillation. It uses gentle traction to reduce intervertebral disc pressure through negative pressure, allowing oxygen, fluids, and nutrients to the spinal disc and releasing the aggravating nerve root. {Choi, 2015} Spinal decompression can also help restore disc height from the spine, allowing the compressed disc causing spinal stenosis to be put back into its original space. {Kang, 2016} When many individuals start thinking about their health and wellness, non-surgical treatments can give them a positive experience and improve their pain.
References
Choi, J., Lee, S., & Hwangbo, G. (2015). Influences of spinal decompression therapy and general traction therapy on the pain, disability, and straight leg raising of patients with intervertebral disc herniation. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(2), 481–483. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.481
Herrington, B. J., Fernandes, R. R., Urquhart, J. C., Rasoulinejad, P., Siddiqi, F., & Bailey, C. S. (2023). L3-L4 Hyperlordosis and Decreased Lower Lumbar Lordosis Following Short-Segment L4-L5 Lumbar Fusion Surgery is Associated With L3-L4 Revision Surgery for Adjacent Segment Stenosis. Global Spine Journal, 21925682231191414. doi.org/10.1177/21925682231191414
Kang, J.-I., Jeong, D.-K., & Choi, H. (2016). Effect of spinal decompression on the lumbar muscle activity and disk height in patients with herniated intervertebral disk. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 28(11), 3125–3130. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3125
Kaplan, E., & Bard, P. (2023). The Ultimate Spinal Decompression. JETLAUNCH.
Kasukawa, Y., Miyakoshi, N., Hongo, M., Ishikawa, Y., Kudo, D., Kijima, H., Kimura, R., Ono, Y., Takahashi, Y., & Shimada, Y. (2019). Lumbar spinal stenosis associated with progression of locomotive syndrome and lower extremity muscle weakness. Clinical Interventions in Aging, Volume 14, 1399–1405. doi.org/10.2147/cia.s201974
Munakomi, S., Foris, L. A., & Varacallo, M. (2020). Spinal Stenosis And Neurogenic Claudication. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430872/
Many individuals are unaware of their pain until they perform specific movements that cause discomfort. This is due to the heavy weight that causes the body to carry an axial overload, compressing the spinal disc, which can lead to herniation or degeneration over time if not treated promptly. Compressed spinal discs can cause chronic conditions such as low back pain, spinal stenosis, or intervertebral disc disease (IDD). Several factors contribute to the development of IDD, including chronic conditions that can lead to compressed spinal discs. This condition can be relieved over time through therapy treatments that can reduce the pain effects of IDD and help individuals be more mindful of their spine. This article will discuss IDD therapy’s role in relieving spine pain, treatment protocols, and how it is combined with spinal decompression, a non-surgical therapy. We work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ valuable information to treat individuals suffering from back and spinal disc degeneration while informing them about non-surgical treatments like IDD(intervertebral disc degeneration) therapy and spinal decompression that can help relieve their pain and help rehydrate their spinal disc. We encourage patients to ask essential questions and seek education from our associated medical providers about their condition. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
What Is IDD Therapy?
The spine comprises muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, and bones extending from the skull’s base to the bottom of the sacrum. Its primary function is to keep the body upright and protect the spinal cord from injuries. According to research studies, the spinal discs act as shock absorbers during movement and can become damaged over time, causing pain-like symptoms and chronic conditions. IDD therapy is a common treatment for reducing pain caused by degenerative discs.
Research suggests that intervertebral disc degeneration can cause symptoms related to musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain, disc herniation, and spinal stenosis. Conservative and non-invasive treatments can reduce the pain-like symptoms and effects caused by IDD. IDD therapy allows the spine to be re-toned, restructured and re-educated. Like spinal decompression, IDD therapy uses gentle traction pulling to rehydrate the discs and reduce the pressure on the nerve roots, as stated by research studies. IDD therapy helps restore muscle strength, increase the spine’s range of motion, and promote the body’s natural healing process to reduce spinal pain associated with environmental factors.
Home Exercise For Pain Relief- Video
Do you experience difficulty doing activities due to back pain? Do you feel stiffness or instability in your lower back? These may be symptoms of intervertebral degenerative disease caused by repetitive motions. IDD can cause chronic musculoskeletal disorders and disability. However, available non-surgical treatments like IDD therapy, which uses negative pressure to rehydrate the spinal disc, can reduce pain. Other non-surgical therapies like chiropractic care and physical therapy can help restore mobility and strengthen back muscles. Check out the video above for home exercise routines that relieve pain.
IDD Treatment Protocols
Dr. Eric Kaplan, D.C., FIAMA, and Dr. Perry Bard, D.C., wrote “The Ultimate Spinal Decompression,” explaining how chiropractors and massage therapists use personalized IDD therapy plans to treat musculoskeletal pain associated with intervertebral degenerative disease. IDD therapy involves strapping the individual to a traction machine and utilizing specific protocols for treatment.
The Treatment Schedule
The first step in IDD therapy is examining the individual’s range of motion, muscle strength, nerve conduction, and SSEP tests. This allows the doctor to document the pain’s location and develop a personalized treatment plan, including the indicated problem, treatment frequency, duration, etc. Afterward, the individual will receive other treatments before the IDD traction therapy machine.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Electro-stimulation
Interferential Stimulation
Hydrocolator
This machine gently pulls the spine to create negative space between the spinal column, allowing nutrients to rehydrate the disc and begin healing. The process lasts 20-30 minutes and may cause mild soreness, but progress is seen after a few sessions.
Pre-& Post-Session Physical Therapy
The benefit of combining IDD therapy with physical therapy is that stretching techniques can loosen the surrounding muscles before spinal mobilization, allowing the soft tissues to accept the treatment. After treatment, cryo-therapeutic therapy or an ice pack can alleviate soreness and inflammation. Drinking plenty of water is important to replenish intra-cellular cells, and physical activities can be slowly incorporated to strengthen muscles.
Conclusion
Taking care of the spine is important by not constantly allowing axial overload to compress the spinal disc through repetitive motion. This causes the disc to degenerate and lead to back pain. However, non-surgical treatments like IDD therapy can help reduce the pain and help strengthen the surrounding muscles protecting the spine. IDD therapy is similar to spinal decompression, which allows the individual to be harnessed to a machine and uses gentle traction on the spine to create negative space in the spinal column and promote the body’s healing factors. Many individuals can see the beneficial results over time and continue their daily routine pain-free.
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