Back Clinic Back Pain Chiropractic Treatment Team. At the El Paso Back Clinic, we take back pain very seriously.
After diagnosing the root cause of your discomfort/pain, we’ll do everything within our power to cure the area and relieve your symptoms.
Common causes of back pain:
There is an infinite number of forms of back pain, and a variety of injuries and diseases may cause discomfort in this area of the body. One of the most Frequent ones we see one of our patients in East Side El Paso and surrounding areas comprise:
Disc Herniation
Inside the backbone are flexible discs that cushion your bones and absorb shock. Whenever these discs are broken, they may compress a nerve leading to lower extremity numbness. StressWhen a muscle at the trunk is overexerted or hurt, causing stiffness and pain, this type of injury is generally classified as a back strain. This can be the consequence of attempting to lift an item that can result in excruciating pain and impairment and is too heavy. Diagnosing the underlying cause of your pain.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the slow wearing down of protective cartilage. When the back is affected by this condition, it causes damage to the bones that results in chronic pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. SprainIf ligaments in your spine and back are stretched or torn, it’s called a spine sprain. Typically, this injury causes pain in the region. Spasms cause back muscles to overwork they may start to contract, and can even stay contracted– also called a muscle spasm. Muscle spasms can present with pain and stiffness until the strain resolves.
We want to accomplish the diagnosis straight away, integrating a background and exam along with state-of-the-art imaging, so we can provide you with the most efficient therapy choices. To begin, we will speak with you regarding your symptoms, which will provide us with critical information regarding your underlying condition. We’ll then perform a physical exam, during which we’ll check for posture issues, evaluate your spine and assess your backbone. If we guess injuries, like a disk or neurological injury, we’ll probably order imaging tests to obtain an analysis.
Regenerative remedies to your back pain. At the El Paso Back Clinic, you may be certain that you’re in the best possible hands with our Doctor of Chiropractic and Massage Therapist. Our purpose during your pain treatment isn’t only to relieve your symptoms — but also to avoid a recurrence and to treat your pain.
How do healthcare professionals provide a clinical approach to recognizing HIV for individuals in pain and providing relief?
Introduction
The human body has dealt with various environmental factors, injuries, and pathogens that can cause issues to the body system. As many individuals are always on the go from one location to another, being healthy is extremely important. Making time to make an appointment for a person’s health and well-being is extremely important, as many people have experienced comorbidities and overlapping risk profiles that are causing them pain. When individuals experience onset issues of fatigue, muscle and joint pain, or immune disorders, many healthcare professionals must assess the situation and ask the individuals when they experienced these overlapping risk profiles and how they affect their daily activities. One of the overlapping risk profiles that seems to affect the body is a viral infection known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. This can get many healthcare professionals to come up with a personalized treatment plan to reduce these overlapping risk profiles and educate the individual on what to do to manage HIV symptoms. Today’s article looks at how HIV can impact a person, their symptoms, and non-surgical treatments to manage HIV. We discuss with certified associated medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess the effects of HIV and its associated symptoms. We also inform and guide patients on how to be aware of the impact of HIV and ask their associated medical providers intricate questions to integrate a customized treatment plan to incorporate multiple non-surgical therapies to manage the symptoms. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
What Is HIV?
Do you constantly feel tired even after taking a good night’s rest? Do you feel your throat being sore without the flu symptoms? Or are you experiencing muscle and joint pain in different locations of your body? Worldwide, many individuals have often experienced these symptoms from a viral infection known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. HIV belongs to the retroviridae family, which targets the body’s immune system, especially the CD4+ T cells. The CD4+T cells play an important role in the body’s immune response, but when HIV starts to deplete the receptors and terminate the host cells. (Masenga et al., 2023) This causes individuals to have acute stages of HIV and, if not treated immediately, can lead to the progression of severe stages. However, how do individuals contract HIV? Well, the most common mode is through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing needles, or through maternal-infant exposure, which diminishes the T-helper cell population and, over time, can increasingly weaken the immune system. (van Heuvel et al., 2022) This causes many individuals to develop various symptoms from HIV that can vary, depending on the severity and the progression stages of the virus.
The Symptoms
Now, for the progression of HIV to infect the body’s immune system and cause various symptoms to affect the individual, many healthcare professionals have to look at the process of the host’s exosomes and their correlation role with HIV. The generational process of exosomes causes overlapping risk profiles with the viral assembly of HIV as exosomes can transport the virus from the infected cells to the uninfected cells of the body by helping it regulate the host’s immune response to the virus infection. (Chen et al., 2021) To that point, it can lead to the progression of several stages of HIV and its associated symptoms. When a person is dealing with an HIV infection in its acute stages, the symptoms can be mild and easily mistaken for a common viral infection. Some of the symptoms can include:
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Difficulty falling asleep
Fatigue
Neuropathy
Shortness of breath
Swollen glands
This is because the inflammatory cytokines from the immune system are heightened and influenced by HIV. When inflammatory cytokines become associated with HIV, symptoms have a huge impact on an individual’s life, causing them to be miserable. (Schnall et al., 2020) Additionally, when HIV is in a clinical latency stage, the virus is less active but can still replicate without exhibiting any symptoms in the body. However, when HIV progresses to its severe stage, it can lead to the development of AIDS. Luckily, treatment advancements to treat HIV from its acute stages can help manage the associated symptoms.
The Non-Surgical Approach To Wellness- Video
Non-Surgical Treatments For HIV
When it comes to treating HIV, non-surgical treatments can help manage its associated symptoms while dramatically improving the life expectancy and quality of life of the individual who is affected by the virus. For non-surgical treatments, the main goal is to diagnose HIV as early as possible and to assess the situation by coming up with new and innovative HIV testing initiatives to increase the frequency and prevention of HIV in both clinical and non-clinical settings. (Delaney & DiNenno, 2021) Below are some non-surgical treatments to manage HIV.
Antiretroviral Treatments
Now, some of the non-surgical treatments to manage HIV is by taking antiretroviral therapy. This allows the individual with HIV to be more mindful of taking antiretroviral medications daily, which then helps improve sustained viral suppression of HIV and provides effective strategies of therapeutic approaches to enhance antiretroviral activities. (Huerta, 2020) Additionally, the primary goal of antiretroviral therapy is to reduce the HIV load to an undetectable level, keep the immune system functioning, and prevent the progression development of AIDS.
Lifestyle Adjustments
While living with HIV today is vastly different from decades past, thanks to significant medical advancements. Many individuals can go to their healthcare providers for an early diagnosis and effective treatment to live long and healthy lives. Awareness, education, and staying proactive with health checks remain key in the fight against HIV and its progression. Additionally, proper nutrition, regular exercise, and mental health support are also crucial for people living with HIV, helping to boost the immune system and manage symptoms. At the same time, regular visits to a healthcare provider for blood tests are essential to monitor the effectiveness of ART and adjust the treatment regimen as needed to live a healthier life.
References
Chen, J., Li, C., Li, R., Chen, H., Chen, D., & Li, W. (2021). Exosomes in HIV infection. Curr Opin HIV AIDS, 16(5), 262-270. doi.org/10.1097/COH.0000000000000694
Delaney, K. P., & DiNenno, E. A. (2021). HIV Testing Strategies for Health Departments to End the Epidemic in the U.S. Am J Prev Med, 61(5 Suppl 1), S6-S15. doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.06.002
Huerta, L. (2020). Editorial: Anti-infective 2020: HIV-From pathogenesis to treatment. Curr Opin Pharmacol, 54, x-xii. doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2020.12.001
Masenga, S. K., Mweene, B. C., Luwaya, E., Muchaili, L., Chona, M., & Kirabo, A. (2023). HIV-Host Cell Interactions. Cells, 12(10). doi.org/10.3390/cells12101351
Schnall, R., Jia, H., & Reame, N. (2020). Association Between HIV Symptom Burden and Inflammatory Cytokines: An Analysis by Sex and Menopause Stage. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 29(1), 119-127. doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2019.7749
van Heuvel, Y., Schatz, S., Rosengarten, J. F., & Stitz, J. (2022). Infectious RNA: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Biology, Therapeutic Intervention, and the Quest for a Vaccine. Toxins (Basel), 14(2). doi.org/10.3390/toxins14020138
For individuals experiencing shoulder and upper back pain, could periscapular bursitis be a possible cause?
Periscapular Bursitis
The scapula/shoulder blade is a bone that shifts position with upper body and shoulder movement. The scapula motion is critical to the normal function of the shoulder and the spine. When abnormal or sudden shoulder movements occur, inflammation and pain symptoms can develop. (Augustine H. Conduah et al., 2010)
Normal Scapula Function
The scapula is a triangular bone on the upper back outside the rib cage. Its outer or lateral side contains the shoulder joint socket /glenoid, while the rest of the bone serves as attachment points for the different shoulder and back muscles. The scapula shifts on the rib cage when moving the arm forward and back. This movement is called scapulothoracic motion and is critical to the normal function of the upper extremity and the shoulder joint. When the scapula does not glide in a coordinated motion, the function of the torso and shoulder joints can become stiff and painful. (J. E. Kuhn et al., 1998)
Scapular Bursa
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that allows smooth, gliding motion between structures, body tissues, bones, and tendons. Bursae are found throughout the body, including those in front of the kneecap, outside the hip, and at the shoulder joint. When a bursa becomes inflamed and irritated, normal movements can become painful. There are bursae around the scapula in the upper back. Two of these bursa sacs are between the bones and the serratus anterior muscle that controls scapular movement on the chest wall. One bursa sac is located on the upper corner of the scapula, close to the spine at the base of the neck, and the other is at the bottom corner of the scapula, close to the mid-back. Either or both bursa sacs can be affected by periscapular bursitis. There are other bursae around the scapula and the surrounding tendons, but the two corner sacs tend to be the primary bursae that develop periscapular bursitis.
Inflammation
When these bursae become inflamed and irritated, swollen, and thickened, the condition known as bursitis results. When bursitis occurs near the scapula, muscle, and shoulder blade movements can lead to discomfort and pain. The most common symptoms of periscapular bursitis include:
An examination of the scapula may display abnormal movements of the shoulder blade. This can lead to winging, where the shoulder blade is not held correctly to the rib cage and protrudes abnormally. Individuals with winging of the scapula typically have abnormal shoulder joint mechanics because the shoulder’s positioning is altered.
Causes
The causes of periscapular bursitis can be varied. The most common is overuse syndrome, where a specific activity is causing irritation to the bursa. These can include:
Sports-related activities that result from repetitive use.
Work-related activities that result from repetitive use.
Traumatic injuries that cause inflammation or irritation to the bursa.
Some conditions can cause abnormal anatomy or bone protuberances, irritating the bursa. One condition is a benign bone growth known as an osteochondroma. (Antônio Marcelo Gonçalves de Souza and Rosalvo Zósimo Bispo Júnior 2014) These growths can project off the scapula, leading to irritation and inflammation.
Treatment
Treatment of periscapular bursitis begins with conservative therapies. Invasive treatments are rarely needed to correct the problem. Treatment can include:
Rest
The first step is to rest the irritated bursa and settle the inflammation.
This can take a few weeks and can be accomplished by modifying physical, sports, or work-related activities.
Ice
Ice is useful for reducing inflammation and controlling pain.
Knowing how to ice an injury properly can help manage the pain and swelling.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can alleviate the symptoms of inflammation through various exercises and stretches.
The therapy can improve scapular mechanics so the injury does not become ongoing and recurrent.
Abnormal movement of the scapula on the rib cage can not only lead to the development of bursitis, but if these abnormal mechanics are not addressed, the problem may recur.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are used to control the inflammation in the short term. (Augustine H. Conduah et al., 2010)
The medications can help block the inflammatory response.
Before taking any medication, individuals should confirm with their healthcare provider that it is safe.
Cortisone Injections
Successful treatment with a cortisone shot is a sign that surgery will be more effective for individuals who may need surgery.
Cortisone injections can be very helpful in delivering a powerful anti-inflammatory dose directly to the site of inflammation. (Augustine H. Conduah et al., 2010)
Cortisone injections should be limited in terms of how many injections are offered to an individual, but in limited doses can be very helpful.
However, cortisone shots should only be performed once the diagnosis is confirmed.
Surgery
Surgery is seldom necessary but can be effective in individuals who are unable to find relief with conservative treatments.
Surgery is often used for individuals with abnormal scapular anatomy, like bone growths or tumors.
At Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic, we treat injuries and chronic pain syndromes by improving an individual’s ability through flexibility, mobility, and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities. Our chiropractor care plans and clinical services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. If other treatment is needed, individuals will be referred to a clinic or physician best suited to their injury, condition, and/or ailment.
Scapular Winging in Depth
References
Conduah, A. H., Baker, C. L., 3rd, & Baker, C. L., Jr (2010). Clinical management of scapulothoracic bursitis and the snapping scapula. Sports health, 2(2), 147–155. doi.org/10.1177/1941738109338359
Kuhn, J. E., Plancher, K. D., & Hawkins, R. J. (1998). Symptomatic scapulothoracic crepitus and bursitis. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 6(5), 267–273. doi.org/10.5435/00124635-199809000-00001
de Souza, A. M., & Bispo Júnior, R. Z. (2014). Osteochondroma: ignore or investigate?. Revista brasileira de ortopedia, 49(6), 555–564. doi.org/10.1016/j.rboe.2013.10.002
Can individuals with lumbar spinal stenosis utilize spinal decompression to reduce low back pain and restore mobility?
Introduction
Many individuals worldwide have dealt with low back pain at some point in their lives that has affected their mobility and impacted their routine. Numerous environmental factors can lead to low back pain development, like improper heavy lifting, poor posture, traumatic injuries, and accidents that can affect the surrounding muscles, spinal cord, and nerve roots. When this happens, it can lead to lumbar spinal stenosis and cause overlapping risk profiles that are correlated with low back pain. When people are dealing with lumbar spinal stenosis, they could be thinking that their pain is in the lower extremities. To that point, many individuals seek treatment to not only reduce low back pain but also reduce the effects of lumbar spinal stenosis. Some treatments, like spinal decompression, which is a non-surgical treatment, can help restore mobility to the body. Today’s article looks at how lumbar spinal stenosis affects the lower back and its diagnosis while looking at how spinal decompression can provide relief to the individual and have positive benefits in restoring mobility. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how lumbar spinal stenosis correlates with lower back pain, causing mobility issues. We also inform and guide patients on how spinal decompression is an excellent form of treatment that can be combined with other therapies. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating decompression therapy to relieve the pain effects caused by lumbar stenosis while reducing the overlapping pain effects like lower back pain to regain a person’s mobility. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Affects the Lower Back
Do you feel tingling sensations in the back of your legs affecting your ability to move around? Or does your lower back feel less mobile than it is used to? When many individuals are experiencing low back pain during their lifetime, it can often correlate with lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis usually occurs when the spinal canal in the lower back becomes constricted, leading to degenerative changes. When the spinal canal starts to narrow in the spine, it can cause significant discomfort, interfere with daily activities, and may result in progressive disability for many individuals. (Munakomi et al., 2024) The symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis range from mild to severe, and on which environmental factors correspond to the issue. At the same time, lumbar spinal stenosis is characterized by symptoms like low back pain that can cause spondylotic changes that induce low back pain that can negatively impact a person’s quality of life. (Ogon et al., 2022) This causes many people to go to their primary doctors to get a diagnosis and learn how to manage the pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.
The Diagnosis Of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
When it comes to diagnosing lumbar spinal stenosis, many healthcare providers will incorporate a comprehensive evaluation, which includes a physical examination to see how mobile a person’s back is and imaging testing like MRIs and CT scans to visualize the spinal canal and assess the extent of the narrowing that is causing pain in the lower extremities. This is because when individuals deal with lumbar spinal stenosis, it can manifest with neurogenic claudication in the lower extremities, especially when a person is standing or sitting. The pain is decreased when their position is changed. (Sobanski et al., 2023) Additionally, lumbar spinal stenosis is one of the most commonly diagnosed spinal disorders that many healthcare professionals assess and evaluate. When there is a narrowing in the spinal canal, leading to the development of lumbar spinal, simple motions like walking can exacerbate the symptoms to the lower extremities and increase the oxygen in the spinal nerves, which may exceed the available blood flow to the extremities. (Deer et al., 2019) To that point, treatments like spinal decompression can help reduce lower back pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.
The Non-Surgical Approach To Wellness- Video
A Path To Relief Using Spinal Decompression
When it comes to individuals experiencing the pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, many individuals can seek out non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression to relieve lower back pain. Spinal decompression has emerged as a non-invasive, effective treatment option for lumbar spinal stenosis. It utilizes gentle mechanical traction on the spine to be stretched, relieving the spinal nerves by creating more space within the spinal canal. Spinal decompression decreases the degenerative process while the surrounding muscles are gently stretched, and the spinal disc height increases due to negative pressure. (Kang et al., 2016)
The Benefits Of Spinal Decompression & Restoring Mobility
Additionally, the gentle traction from spinal decompression helps enhance the production flow of nutrients and oxygen back to the affected spinal discs and spine to foster a better healing environment for the body. Since spinal decompression can be combined with other non-surgical treatments, like physical therapy and spinal manipulation, it can provide long-lasting positive effects for individuals with lumbar spinal stenosis. (Ammendolia et al., 2022) Some of the beneficial results of spinal decompression include:
Pain relief by alleviating pressure off the spinal nerves to reduce pain and discomfort in the lower extremities significantly.
Improved mobility allows the individual to return to their daily activities with ease.
Many people can benefit from spinal decompression to reduce the effects of lumbar spinal stenosis and have their lower extremity mobility restored after consecutive sessions to reduce the chances of the pain from coming back. By thinking more about their health and wellness, many people can make small routine changes in their activities to mitigate the pain and remain mobile throughout their lives. This allows them to have a sense of hope to relieve them from the pain they have been under.
References
Ammendolia, C., Hofkirchner, C., Plener, J., Bussieres, A., Schneider, M. J., Young, J. J., Furlan, A. D., Stuber, K., Ahmed, A., Cancelliere, C., Adeboyejo, A., & Ornelas, J. (2022). Non-operative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication: an updated systematic review. BMJ Open, 12(1), e057724. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057724
Deer, T., Sayed, D., Michels, J., Josephson, Y., Li, S., & Calodney, A. K. (2019). A Review of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Intermittent Neurogenic Claudication: Disease and Diagnosis. Pain Med, 20(Suppl 2), S32-S44. doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnz161
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
Munakomi, S., Foris, L. A., & Varacallo, M. (2024). Spinal Stenosis and Neurogenic Claudication. In StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28613622
Ogon, I., Teramoto, A., Takashima, H., Terashima, Y., Yoshimoto, M., Emori, M., Iba, K., Takebayashi, T., & Yamashita, T. (2022). Factors associated with low back pain in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 552. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05483-7
Sobanski, D., Staszkiewicz, R., Stachura, M., Gadzielinski, M., & Grabarek, B. O. (2023). Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management of Lower Back Pain Associated with Spinal Stenosis: A Narrative Review. Med Sci Monit, 29, e939237. doi.org/10.12659/MSM.939237
Can the effects of electroacupuncture reduce sciatica in individuals dealing with low back pain to restore their mobility?
Introduction
When many people start to overuse their muscles in the lower quadrants, it can lead to numerous issues that cause pain and discomfort. One of the most common pain issues in the lower quadrants of the musculoskeletal system is sciatica, which is associated with low back pain. This pain duo can affect a person’s daily routine and lead them to pain and discomfort. This musculoskeletal condition is common, and when it affects one of the legs and lower back, many people state that it’s a radiating shooting pain that doesn’t go away for a while. Luckily, there are treatments like electroacupuncture to reduce sciatica associated with low back pain. Today’s article looks at the sciatica-low-back connection, how electroacupuncture reduces this pain connection, and how electroacupuncture can restore mobility to the individual. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how to reduce the sciatica-low-back connection with electroacupuncture. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can be combined with other therapies to restore mobility to the body. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating electroacupuncture therapy as part of their routine to reduce sciatica associated with low back pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Sciatica & Low Back Connection
Do you feel muscle aches or pain in your lower back or your legs? Do you experience radiating, throbbing pain in your legs that affects your walking ability? Or have you noticed that your legs and lower back ache more when carrying a heavy object? Many of these scenarios are associated with sciatica, which correlates with lower back pain. Now, sciatica is often characterized by aggravating pain traveling along the sciatic nerve from the lower back region, impairing a person’s quality of life. In the musculoskeletal system, the sciatic nerve plays an important role by providing motor function to the legs. (Davis et al., 2024) Now, when the sciatic nerve, the lumbar region also has a pivotal role. The lumbar region in the musculoskeletal region also has a crucial role in providing support, strength, and flexibility to the body. However, both the sciatic nerve and lumbar spinal region are more prone to stress and injuries from traumatic injuries and environmental factors that can impact the lumbar spinal discs and the sciatic nerve.
Repetitive motions, obesity, improper lifting, degenerative spinal issues, and musculoskeletal conditions are a few causes and risk factors contributing to the development of sciatica associated with the lower back. What eventually happens is that the water content and the progressive loss of the proteoglycans of the spinal discs break down between the vertebrae and protrude out to press on the sciatic nerve, which then can become irritated and cause referred radiating pain in the legs and lower back. (Zhou et al., 2021) The combination of sciatica and lower back pain can become a socio-economic issue depending on the severity of the pain that the sciatic nerve is causing and can make individuals miss out on any activities they are participating in. (Siddiq et al., 2020) While sciatica pain-like symptoms often correlate with the lumbar region, many individuals can find the relief they are looking for through various treatments.
Sciatica Causes- Video
Electroacupuncture Reducing The Sciatica-Low Back Connection
When it comes to reducing the sciatic-low-back connection, many individuals seek out treatment that is affordable and effective in decreasing pain-like issues. Non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can be beneficial to many individuals who are experiencing sciatica pain correlated with the lower back. Electroacupuncture is another form of traditional acupuncture therapy that originates in China. Highly trained acupuncturists follow the same acupuncture principles by placing solid thin needles at different acupoints in the body to restore qui or chi (energy flow). Electroacupuncture combines needles and electrostimulation to reduce the central pain-regulatory mechanisms causing low back pain and sciatica by blocking the pain signals and providing pain relief. (Kong, 2020) At the same time, electroacupuncture offers analgesic properties to stimulate endorphins and reduce pain medication for low back pain safely. (Sung et al., 2021)
Electroacupuncture Restoring Mobility
When the lower extremities are experiencing limited mobility due to sciatica associated with low back pain, electroacupuncture can help relax the muscles that are aggravating the sciatic nerve and even help improve blood flow to the lumbar muscles. That is because electroacupuncture can stimulate specific body regions to reduce the somato-vagal-adrenal reflexes to relieve and restore mobility to the lower extremities. (Liu et al., 2021) Additionally, electroacupuncture can be combined with other non-surgical therapies to help strengthen the core and lower back muscles, allowing people to be more mindful of what factors are causing sciatica and lower back pain. By doing this, many people struggling with sciatica associated with low back pain can incorporate electroacupuncture as part of their treatment program combined with holistic approaches to improving their quality of life and providing a pathway to improving their mobility.
Kong, J. T. (2020). Electroacupuncture for Treating Chronic Low-Back Pain: Preliminary Research Results. Med Acupunct, 32(6), 396-397. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1495
Liu, S., Wang, Z., Su, Y., Qi, L., Yang, W., Fu, M., Jing, X., Wang, Y., & Ma, Q. (2021). A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal-adrenal axis. Nature, 598(7882), 641-645. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04001-4
Siddiq, M. A. B., Clegg, D., Hasan, S. A., & Rasker, J. J. (2020). Extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics: a scoping review. Korean J Pain, 33(4), 305-317. doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.4.305
Sung, W. S., Park, J. R., Park, K., Youn, I., Yeum, H. W., Kim, S., Choi, J., Cho, Y., Hong, Y., Park, Y., Kim, E. J., & Nam, D. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review and/or meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 100(4), e24281. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000024281
Zhou, J., Mi, J., Peng, Y., Han, H., & Liu, Z. (2021). Causal Associations of Obesity With the Intervertebral Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Sciatica: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 12, 740200. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.740200
Can individuals dealing with gut inflammation be relieved with electroacupuncture to reduce low back pain symptoms & improve gut function?
Introduction
When it comes to the body, the gut system has a very interesting relationship to the various body groups. The gut system works with the central nervous, immune, and musculoskeletal systems as it helps protect the body from harmful bacteria while regulating inflammation. However, when environmental factors start to affect the body and cause the gut system to go haywire, it can cause numerous issues of pain and discomfort to the body. One of the issues that the gut can affect is the musculoskeletal system, causing back pain issues associated with gut inflammation. However, numerous treatments can help reduce the effects of gut inflammation that is causing back pain. Today’s article looks at the gut-back pain connection, how electroacupuncture can be integrated as a treatment, and how it can reduce inflammation. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how gut inflammation impacts their bodies, causing back pain. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can help reduce the inflammatory effects causing gut and back issues and restore gut function. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating various non-surgical treatments to reduce gut inflammation correlated with back pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Gut-Back Pain Connection
Do you feel muscle aches or pains in your gut or lower back? What about radiating heat in various areas of your body? Or have you experienced any low-energy moments throughout your day? While the gut is known as the second brain since it works with the immune system, one of its crucial roles is regulating the body’s immune system. This is because the gut microbiome houses trillions of bacteria to digest food and protect the body from bad bacteria. When environmental factors start to affect the gut’s delicate ecosystem, it can lead the immune system to be hyperactive, causing the inflammatory cytokines to mass produce, and this effect can ripple throughout the body, thus manifesting into various pain-like symptoms and conditions, including back pain. Since inflammation is the body’s defense response to injuries or infections, it removes the harmful issue in the affected area and helps heal. So when the inflammatory cytokines start to mass produce due to gut inflammation, it can compromise the gut system, allowing toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream and travel to different body areas, causing pain. Now, this is due to various environmental factors that lead to back pain development. When the harmful bacteria from inflammation start to cause back pain, they can attach themselves and affect the intervertebral disc homeostasis, causing the immune system to attack the intervertebral disc and cause back pain. (Yao et al., 2023) This is due to the connection of the gut and back through complex nerve pathways that send information from the gut to the back and up to the brain.
So, when inflammation starts to cause issues in the body, it can lead to musculoskeletal problems like back pain. Gut inflammation can cause an imbalance between the composition of the symbiont and pathobiont to decrease the integrity and function of the intestinal gut barriers, induce pain, and increase the inflammatory molecules. (Ratna et al., 2023) The inflammatory molecules can exacerbate pain receptors and muscle tension, leading to discomfort and pain in the lower back. Coincidentally, environmental factors like poor posture, physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits can cause the gut system to induce inflammation of the back muscles. When there is dysbiosis in the gut microbiota, the inflammatory effects can be indirectly associated with visceral pain and central nervous systemic functioning to alter the body and cause it to be in a persistent state of chronic systemic inflammation to induce back pain. (Dekker Nitert et al., 2020). However, there are numerous non-surgical treatments and holistic approaches to reduce gut inflammation and relieve back pain.
Integrating Electroacupuncture As Treatment
When people are experiencing back pain associated with gut inflammation, they will go to their primary healthcare doctor and explain the situation. Given the connection between gut inflammation and back pain, by addressing the environmental factors that cause these overlapping risk profiles, many doctors can work with pain specialists to reduce both gut inflammation and back pain. Pain specialists like chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can help strengthen the affected muscles that are causing back pain and provide holistic approaches like anti-inflammatory vitamins and supplements to reduce gut inflammation. One of the oldest non-surgical treatments that can do both is electroacupuncture. Electroacupuncture combines traditional Chinese therapy and modern technology that uses electric stimulation and thin solid needles to be inserted into the body’s acupoint to obtain qi or energy. What this does is that it provides electric stimulation and anti-inflammatory effects to induce cholinergic reflexes in the gut and HPA axis. (Yang et al., 2024) Electroacupuncture can also be combined with other therapies to reduce the inflammatory effects associated with back pain.
How Does Electroacupuncture Reduce Gut Inflammation
Since electroacupuncture can reduce gut inflammation causing back pain, it can help regulate the intestinal flora by promoting intestinal motility and blocking the pain signals from affecting the back muscles. (An et al., 2022) This is because electroacupuncture can help relax the tense muscles causing back pain. Additionally, when people approach this treatment, it is under the guidance of highly trained acupuncturists who can insert the needles correctly while tailoring electroacupuncture therapy to the person’s specific needs and pain. Since electroacupuncture can be combined with other therapies, it can effectively reduce body weight and restore digestion and absorption to shape the gut microbiota. (Xia et al., 2022) This allows individuals to make small changes to their routine and prevent gut inflammation from affecting the body and causing back pain. They can improve their quality of life by incorporating electroacupuncture as part of their health and wellness treatment.
Unlocking The Secrets Of Inflammation-Video
References
An, J., Wang, L., Song, S., Tian, L., Liu, Q., Mei, M., Li, W., & Liu, S. (2022). Electroacupuncture reduces blood glucose by regulating intestinal flora in type 2 diabetic mice. J Diabetes, 14(10), 695-710. doi.org/10.1111/1753-0407.13323
Dekker Nitert, M., Mousa, A., Barrett, H. L., Naderpoor, N., & de Courten, B. (2020). Altered Gut Microbiota Composition Is Associated With Back Pain in Overweight and Obese Individuals. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 11, 605. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00605
Ratna, H. V. K., Jeyaraman, M., Yadav, S., Jeyaraman, N., & Nallakumarasamy, A. (2023). Is Dysbiotic Gut the Cause of Low Back Pain? Cureus, 15(7), e42496. doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42496
Xia, X., Xie, Y., Gong, Y., Zhan, M., He, Y., Liang, X., Jin, Y., Yang, Y., & Ding, W. (2022). Electroacupuncture promoted intestinal defensins and rescued the dysbiotic cecal microbiota of high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Life Sci, 309, 120961. doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120961
Yang, Y., Pang, F., Zhou, M., Guo, X., Yang, Y., Qiu, W., Liao, C., Chen, Y., & Tang, C. (2024). Electroacupuncture Reduces Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Obese Mice by Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways and Repairing the Intestinal Barrier. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes, 17, 435-452. doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S449112
Yao, B., Cai, Y., Wang, W., Deng, J., Zhao, L., Han, Z., & Wan, L. (2023). The Effect of Gut Microbiota on the Progression of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Orthopaedic Surgery, 15(3), 858-867. doi.org/10.1111/os.13626
Can individuals with low back pain use electroacupuncture therapy to reduce pain and restore mobility back to their bodies?
Introduction
Many people worldwide have dealt with low back pain from numerous factors and traumatic injuries that can cause pain-like symptoms around the spinal discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerve roots. This is because the body goes through repetitive motions that cause the surrounding muscles and ligaments to be overstretched and tight, aggravating the nerve roots and causing referred pain. Or it can be traumatic injuries that affect the spinal discs in the lumbar region that can become herniated or degenerate to aggravate the nerve roots and lead to low extremity pain. Regardless of the outcome, low back pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, and many people will often seek treatment to reduce its pain-like effects and help many people have their mobility restored. Today’s article examines why low back pain is a global issue, how electroacupuncture can help reduce it, and how it can regain mobility. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to understand better why low back pain is an issue in their bodies. We also inform and guide patients on how electroacupuncture therapy can help reduce low back pain and even help with restoring body mobility. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about reducing the impact of low back pain and find various therapies to incorporate. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Why Low Back Pain Is A Global Issue?
Do you feel stiffness in your lower back after carrying or lifting a heavy object? Do you feel radiating pain traveling down to your legs? Or do you feel muscle aches in your lower back from being hunched for an extended period? Many of these pain-like issues are correlated with environmental factors that can cause the body to develop low back pain. When it comes to low back pain, it is a socio-economic issue that globally impacts many individuals, especially working individuals. When many people do various motions or perform tasks, these motions can gradually loosen the ligaments in the lower back. This causes the body to sense that something is wrong with the lower back and the vital structures of the spine, thus adopting other methods to maintain the spine’s stability. (Hauser et al., 2022)
Additionally, most low back pain symptoms are nonspecific, and motions of heavy lifting, bending, twisting, and whole-body vibrations are occupational risk factors that lead to the development of low back pain. (Becker & Childress, 2019) This causes many people with low back pain to deal with the burden of missing work or putting a hold on their daily routine. When this happens, many individuals begin to seek treatment to reduce the symptoms caused by low back pain.
Unlocking Pain Relief- Video
Electroacupuncture For Low Back Pain
When it comes to reducing low back pain, many individuals will go to various treatments to relieve the pain in their lower back and their associated symptoms. Hence, this is why non-surgical treatments like electroacupuncture can help alleviate lower back pain and help the lower extremities regain mobility. Electroacupuncture is another form of acupuncture that uses electric stimulation on the body’s acupoints to block pain signals. Electroacupuncture has been widely used for musculoskeletal disorders, including low back pain, as they have been used as a therapeutic option to reduce medication usage while being an effective option when combined with other therapies. (Sung et al., 2021)
Additionally, electroacupuncture is performed by highly trained professionals and, when being used to treat low back pain, allows stimulation on large areas of the body that are around the acupoint to allow parameters that include the intensity, duration, and frequency to enable the pain to the location to be identified by health care professionals. (Francescato Torres et al., 2019) Electroacupuncture can help reduce the pain in the lower back and support many individuals through various techniques to restore mobility. (Kong, 2020)
Electroacupuncture Restoring Mobility
When restoring body mobility from low back pain, electroacupuncture can provide therapeutic effects by blocking the pain signals, causing the body to be immobile, and allowing the muscles to relax. (Sheng et al., 2021) Electroacupuncture combined with other therapies like physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the surrounding back muscles and ligaments to reduce the aggravating pain affecting mobility and make many people more mindful of what motions are causing low back pain. When people start making small or big changes to their health and wellness, they will begin to notice how they carry themselves while preventing the same repetitive motions that are causing their lower back issues and living healthier lives.
References
Becker, B. A., & Childress, M. A. (2019). Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Return To Work. American Family Physician, 100(11), 697-703. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31790184
Francescato Torres, S., Brandt de Macedo, A. C., Dias Antunes, M., Merllin Batista de Souza, I., Dimitre Rodrigo Pereira Santos, F., de Sousa do Espirito Santo, A., Ribeiro Jacob, F., Torres Cruz, A., de Oliveira Januario, P., & Pasqual Marques, A. (2019). Effects of electroacupuncture frequencies on chronic low back pain in older adults: triple-blind, 12-months protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 20(1), 762. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3813-6
Hauser, R. A., Matias, D., Woznica, D., Rawlings, B., & Woldin, B. A. (2022). Lumbar instability as an etiology of low back pain and its treatment by prolotherapy: A review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 35(4), 701-712. doi.org/10.3233/BMR-210097
Kong, J. T. (2020). Electroacupuncture for Treating Chronic Low-Back Pain: Preliminary Research Results. Med Acupunct, 32(6), 396-397. doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1495
Sheng, X., Yue, H., Zhang, Q., Chen, D., Qiu, W., Tang, J., Fan, T., Gu, J., Jiang, B., Qiu, M., & Chen, L. (2021). Efficacy of electroacupuncture in patients with failed back surgery syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 22(1), 702. doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05652-4
Sung, W. S., Park, J. R., Park, K., Youn, I., Yeum, H. W., Kim, S., Choi, J., Cho, Y., Hong, Y., Park, Y., Kim, E. J., & Nam, D. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for nonspecific chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review and/or meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 100(4), e24281. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000024281
Can nonsurgical therapeutic options help individuals with chronic low back pain find the relief they are looking for to restore body function?
Introduction
Between the upper, middle, and lower back portions of the musculoskeletal system, many individuals have succumbed to traumatic injuries, repetitive motions, and overlapping environmental risk profiles that cause pain and disability, thus affecting their everyday routine. As one of the most common work conditions, back pain can cause individuals to deal with socio-economic burdens and can range from acute to chronic, depending on the injuries and factors that correlate with this issue. As part of the musculoskeletal system, the back has various muscles in the three quadrants that support the upper and lower extremities and have an outstanding relationship with the spine as each muscle group surrounds the spine and protects the spinal cord. When environmental factors and traumatic injuries start to cause pain-like symptoms in the back, it can put a person in excruciating pain, hence why many seek non-surgical treatments to reduce the pain-like effects of back pain and find the relief they are seeking. Today’s article looks at the impact of chronic low back pain and how non-surgical treatments can positively affect individuals dealing with chronic low back pain. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous non-surgical treatment options to minimize chronic lower back pain affecting their extremities. We also inform and guide patients on how various non-surgical treatments can benefit their health and wellness as they can help reduce musculoskeletal conditions like chronic back pain. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about their chronic low back pain and what small changes they can incorporate to reduce its pain-like symptoms. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Impact Of Chronic Low Back Pain
Do you constantly feel severe muscle aches or pains in your back after an excruciating long workday? Do you experience muscle tiredness from your back to your legs after carrying a heavy object? Or have you noticed that twisting or turning motions temporarily relieve your lower back, only to worsen after a while? Often, many of these pain-like scenarios are correlated with chronic low back pain, and it can be due to the various factors that correlate with this common musculoskeletal condition. When it comes to musculoskeletal conditions associated with chronic low back pain, they are prevalent while their impact is pervasive. To that point, they affect many individuals as they are the number one most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability. (Woolf & Pfleger, 2003) Since back pain can be either acute or chronic, it can become multifactorial as many other pain symptoms tend to cause overlapping risk profiles in the body. The impact of chronic low back pain has underlying pathological causes that are not well-defined but can be related to psychosocial dysfunction. (Andersson, 1999)
Additionally, degenerative changes within the spine can also cause an impact on the development of chronic lower back pain. The risk factors that cause overlapping risk profiles can range from smoking and obesity to various occupations that require excessive motions. (Atkinson, 2004) When that happens, it causes people to have unnecessary stress that impacts their lives and causes them to be miserable. This is where many individuals start seeking treatment to reduce the effects of chronic lower back pain and reduce the chances of seeking surgical intervention.
The Role Of Chiropractic Care On Improving Your Health- Video
Non-Surgical Treatments For Chronic Back Pain
When people deal with chronic lower back pain, many often don’t realize that various motions, ages, and pathologies can modify the spine, causing the spinal discs to go through degenerative changes that correspond to the development of chronic lower back pain. (Benoist, 2003) When degenerative changes start to cause pain-like symptoms in the back, many will begin looking for affordable and effective treatments. Hence, this is why non-surgical treatments can help reduce the pain-like symptoms of chronic lower back pain and help restore body mobility. Non-surgical treatments are personalized to the person’s pain and range from acupuncture to massage therapy and spinal decompression. Non-surgical treatments are also affordable and help reduce the overlapping risk profiles of chronic low back pain while reducing its associated conditions.
Spinal Decompression Effects On Chronic Low Back Pain
Spinal decompression, as stated before, is a form of non-surgical treatment that incorporates mechanical gentle traction on the spine to alleviate chronic low back pain and can reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with it. Spinal decompression helps reduce the friction of the lumbar muscles, affecting the lumbar spine but also provides pain relief and body function. (Choi et al., 2022) Spinal decompression is safe while being gentle on the spine, combined with stabilization exercises to enhance intra-abdominal pressure and spinal ability to the lumbar. (Hlaing et al., 2021) When a person incorporates spinal decompression as part of their health and wellness journey, their pain and disability will lower over time while strengthening weakened muscles that were affected by chronic lower back pain. Incorporating these non-surgical treatments can help a person be more mindful of the environmental impact they are inflicting on their backs and live a better and healthier life.
Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P. B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 6343837. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Hlaing, S. S., Puntumetakul, R., Khine, E. E., & Boucaut, R. (2021). Effects of core stabilization exercise and strengthening exercise on proprioception, balance, muscle thickness and pain related outcomes in patients with subacute nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 22(1), 998. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04858-6
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
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