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.
Can individuals with sensory nerve dysfunction incorporate nonsurgical decompression to restore sensory-mobility function to their bodies?
Introduction
The spinal column in the musculoskeletal system comprises bones, joints, and nerves that work together with various muscles and tissues to ensure that the spinal cord is protected. The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system where the nerve roots are spread out to the upper and lower body parts that supply sensory-motor functions. This allows the body to move and function without pain or discomfort. However, when the body and spine ages or when a person is dealing with injuries, the nerve roots can become irritated and cause weird sensations like numbness or tingling, often correlating with body pain. This can cause a socio-economic burden on many individuals and, if not treated right away, can lead to chronic pain. To that point, it can lead to many individuals dealing with body extremity pain associated with sensory nerve dysfunction. This causes many individuals dealing with musculoskeletal disorders to start looking for treatment. Today’s article examines how nerve dysfunction affects the extremities and how nonsurgical decompression can help reduce nerve dysfunction to allow mobility back to the upper and lower limbs. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide nonsurgical solutions like decompression to help individuals with nerve dysfunction. We also inform patients how nonsurgical decompression can restore mobility-sensory to the upper and lower extremities. 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 sensory nerve dysfunction. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Nerve Dysfunction Affects The Extremities
Do you experience tingling or numb sensations in your hands or feet that don’t want to go away? Do you feel pain in different back portions that can only be relieved through stretching or resting? Or does it hurt to walk for long distances that you feel like you need to rest constantly? Many pain-like scenarios are associated with sensory nerve dysfunction that can affect the upper and lower extremities. When many individuals experience sensory nerve dysfunction and deal with weird sensations in their extremities, many think it is due to musculoskeletal pain in their neck, shoulders, or back. This is only part of the issue, as many environmental factors can be associated with sensory nerve pain, as the nerve roots are being compressed and agitated, causing sensory nerve dysfunction in the extremities. Since the nerve roots are spread out from the spinal cord, the brain sends the neuron information to the nerve roots to allow sensory-mobility function in the upper and lower extremities. This allows the body to be mobile without discomfort or pain and functional through daily activities. However, when many individuals start to do repetitive motions that cause the spinal disc to be compressed constantly, it can lead to potential disc herniation and musculoskeletal disorders. Since numerous nerve roots are spread to the different extremities, when the main nerve roots are aggravated, it can send pain signals to each extremity. Hence, many people are dealing with nerve entrapment that leads to lower back, buttock, and leg pain that can affect their daily routine. (Karl et al., 2022) At the same time, many people with sciatica are dealing with sensory nerve dysfunction that affects their walking ability. With sciatica, it can be associated with spinal disc pathology and causes many individuals to seek treatment. (Bush et al., 1992)
Sciatica Secrets Revealed-Video
When it comes to looking for treatment to reduce sensory nerve dysfunction, many individuals will opt for nonsurgical solutions to minimize the pain-like symptoms and reduce the pain signals that are causing the upper and lower extremities to suffer. Nonsurgical treatment solutions like decompression can help restore sensory nerve function through gentle traction by causing the spinal disc to lay off the aggravated nerve root and start the body’s natural healing process. At the same time, it helps reduce musculoskeletal disorders from returning. The video above shows how sciatica associated with sensory nerve dysfunction can be decreased through nonsurgical treatments to allow the body’s extremities to feel better.
Nonsurgical treatments can help reduce low back pain associated with sensory nerve dysfunction to restore sensory-motor function to the upper and lower extremities. Many individuals who incorporate nonsurgical treatments like decompression as part of their health and wellness routine can see improvement after consecutive treatment. (Chou et al., 2007) Since many healthcare practitioners incorporate nonsurgical treatments like decompression into their practices, there has been quite an improvement in pain management. (Bronfort et al., 2008)
When many individuals start to use nonsurgical decompression for sensory nerve dysfunction, many will see improvement in their pain, mobility, and activities of their daily living. (Gose et al., 1998). What spinal decompression does for the nerve roots is that it helps the affected disc that is aggravating the nerve root, pulls the disc back to its original position, and rehydrates it. (Ramos & Martin, 1994) When many individuals start thinking about their health and wellness, nonsurgical treatments can be effective for them due to their affordable cost and how they can be combined with other therapies to manage better the pain associated with nerve dysfunction affecting their body extremities.
References
Bronfort, G., Haas, M., Evans, R., Kawchuk, G., & Dagenais, S. (2008). Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with spinal manipulation and mobilization. Spine J, 8(1), 213-225. doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2007.10.023
Bush, K., Cowan, N., Katz, D. E., & Gishen, P. (1992). The natural history of sciatica associated with disc pathology. A prospective study with clinical and independent radiologic follow-up. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 17(10), 1205-1212. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199210000-00013
Chou, R., Huffman, L. H., American Pain, S., & American College of, P. (2007). Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med, 147(7), 492-504. doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-147-7-200710020-00007
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
Karl, H. W., Helm, S., & Trescot, A. M. (2022). Superior and Middle Cluneal Nerve Entrapment: A Cause of Low Back and Radicular Pain. Pain Physician, 25(4), E503-E521. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35793175
Ramos, G., & Martin, W. (1994). Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. J Neurosurg, 81(3), 350-353. doi.org/10.3171/jns.1994.81.3.0350
Can individuals with low back pain find nonsurgical solutions to restore lumbar mobility and stability to the lower limbs?
Introduction
As one of the top three common problems that many young and older adults experience at some point in their lives, low back pain can have a huge impact on their routine. Back pain can often be due to normal factors like lifting heavy objects, being in a reclined position, or being physically inactive. Other times, it can be due to traumatic injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, or physical injuries. When many people are dealing with low back pain, many will often take over-the-counter medication to reduce the pain-like symptoms that they are experiencing. However, that is only a temporary solution, as the pain does come back through repetitive motions that can lead to a life of disability. To that point, many individuals, especially working adults, will have to call off work to get their lower back pain treated. This causes a socio-economic burden for many, and it can be miserable. Today’s article will examine what causes back pain and how various nonsurgical tips and tricks can reduce low back pain. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide multiple nonsurgical solutions to ease low back pain in many individuals. We also inform our patients of tips and tricks to reduce common back pain symptoms causing lumbar issues. 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.
What Causes Back Pain?
Do you feel constant aches or pains in your lower back after a long workday? Do you feel stiffness in your lower back muscles that hurts when stretched? Or are you in constant pain that you are unable to function throughout the entire day? Many of these scenarios that people are experiencing are correlated with low back pain. Since the back in the musculoskeletal system is a complicated structure consisting of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, it can succumb to various injuries, sprains, and aches, leading to lower back pain. Many individuals dealing with back pain are non-specific and can affect the state of the lumbar spinal discs. When many individuals have various physical activities, they will have disc abnormalities and low back pain. (Jensen et al., 1994) At the same time, many individuals will notice that a series of sequelae develop various pain-like symptoms that are taken into account and cause functional loss associated with acute or chronic lower back pain that can affect the lower limbs. (Hoy et al., 2014) Some of the other causes of low back pain can be musculoskeletal symptoms that can lead to a life of disability. (Malik et al., 2018) More often than not, many individuals dealing with lower back pain do recover; however, after a while, reoccurrence of lower back pain is common when the same repetitive motions are being performed and when people who had lower back pain in previous encounters will deal with chronic pain and disability. (Hartvigsen et al., 2018) Luckily, numerous treatments can help reduce the pain, like the effects of low back pain, help restore mobility to the lumbar spine, and stabilize the lower limbs.
Diabetic Back Pain Explained- Video
Have you been experiencing muscle stiffness and aches in your lower back that are affecting your lower limbs? Did you lift a heavy object that caused you to strain your back muscles and make it difficult to work? Or were you bending over to pick up an object or tie your shoes so your back muscles are aching? When many individuals are dealing with low back pain from these various scenarios, it can lead to a life of disability and misery when not treated right away. Since low back pain is a pervasive musculoskeletal disorder, many individuals have different diagnoses, which can make it difficult to treat. (Deyo et al., 1990) However, there are numerous ways that many people dealing with low back pain can find the relief they deserve. Many people will often seek various treatments that can reduce low back pain and help them regain their spinal mobility so they can get back to their daily routine. The video above explains how back pain can be associated with autoimmune disorders like diabetes and how various treatments can help reduce pain-like symptoms.
Nonsurgical Tips & Tricks To Reduce Low Back Pain
When it comes to reducing and treating low back pain, many individuals will begin to seek treatment to reduce their low back pain. Many will often go to nonsurgical treatments since they are cost-effective and can be combined with other therapies to relieve musculoskeletal pain. Nonsurgical treatments can range from spinal decompression and chiropractic care to spinal manipulation. (Chou et al., 2017) When many people are finding relief for their lower back pain, some tips and tricks that many people can do to prevent it from flaring up include:
Maintaining a healthy weight and diet
Slowly incorporating exercises
Avoid prolonging activity
Stretch
Sleep on a medium-firm mattress
Continue nonsurgical treatments to reduce the chances of low back pain returning
Maintain good posture
With these tips and tricks, many individuals will begin to notice their lower back pain reducing and promote healthy lifestyle choices.
References
Chou, R., Deyo, R., Friedly, J., Skelly, A., Hashimoto, R., Weimer, M., Fu, R., Dana, T., Kraegel, P., Griffin, J., Grusing, S., & Brodt, E. D. (2017). Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline. Ann Intern Med, 166(7), 493-505. doi.org/10.7326/M16-2459
Deyo, R. A., Cherkin, D., & Conrad, D. (1990). The Back Pain Outcome Assessment Team. Health Serv Res, 25(5), 733-737. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2147670
Hartvigsen, J., Hancock, M. J., Kongsted, A., Louw, Q., Ferreira, M. L., Genevay, S., Hoy, D., Karppinen, J., Pransky, G., Sieper, J., Smeets, R. J., Underwood, M., & Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working, G. (2018). What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. Lancet, 391(10137), 2356-2367. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X
Hoy, D., March, L., Brooks, P., Blyth, F., Woolf, A., Bain, C., Williams, G., Smith, E., Vos, T., Barendregt, J., Murray, C., Burstein, R., & Buchbinder, R. (2014). The global burden of low back pain: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Ann Rheum Dis, 73(6), 968-974. doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204428
Jensen, M. C., Brant-Zawadzki, M. N., Obuchowski, N., Modic, M. T., Malkasian, D., & Ross, J. S. (1994). Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People without Back Pain. New England Journal of Medicine, 331(2), 69-73. doi.org/10.1056/nejm199407143310201
Malik, K. M., Beckerly, R., & Imani, F. (2018). Musculoskeletal Disorders a Universal Source of Pain and Disability Misunderstood and Mismanaged: A Critical Analysis Based on the U.S. Model of Care. Anesth Pain Med, 8(6), e85532. doi.org/10.5812/aapm.85532
Can healthcare providers help many individuals with lumbar disc degeneration find relief through spinal decompression treatments?
Introduction
Many individuals often do everyday motions that can allow the spine to bend, twist, and turn in various ways without feeling pain and discomfort. However, as the body ages, so does the spine, as the spinal discs begin the natural process of degeneration. Since the spinal discs in the spinal column absorb the vertical pressure weight, it stabilizes the upper and lower extremities and provides motion. To that point, when many individuals suffer from various injuries or environmental factors that cause the spinal disc to be compressed, it can lead to low back issues that cause pain and discomfort when a person is doing an activity. Since low back pain is one of the three most common problems that many people worldwide have dealt with, it can become a socio-economic issue that can lead to a life of disability and misery. Low back pain is often correlated with disc degeneration, and the surrounding ligaments and muscle tissues can affect the upper and lower extremities. This causes referred pain to the different musculoskeletal groups, causing many people to seek treatment that can not only be affordable but also effective in reducing the pain. Today’s article looks at the anatomy of the lumbar disc, how disc degeneration affects the lumbar spine, and how spinal decompression can reduce lumbar disc degeneration from causing more pain to the lower back. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to ease the pain-like symptoms associated with lumbar disc degeneration causing low back pain. We also inform our patients that there are non-surgical options to reduce these pain-like issues correlated with disc degeneration and restore lumbar 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.
The Anatomy Of The Lumbar Disc
Do you feel tension or stiffness in your lower back after waking up in the morning? Do you feel sudden or gradual pain from bending down to lift a heavy object that is affecting your lower back? Or do you feel the pain in one location or another in your back that is causing you pain and discomfort in your lumbar spinal region? Many of these pain-like issues are often correlated with disc degeneration combined with low back pain. The spinal disc’s anatomy comprises three elements that work together in a specific pattern to resist forces placed in the lumbar spine. (Martin et al., 2002) Since the lumbar spine is the thickest portion of the back, the spinal disc supports the upper body’s weight while stabilizing the lower body. However, the spinal disc will shrink over time when the body ages. Since degeneration is a natural process, many individuals will begin to feel less mobile, which can cause many issues within the lumbar spine.
How Disc Degeneration Affects The Lumbar Spine
When disc degeneration occurs in the lumbar spine, the spinal disc begins to decrease in volume, and the nutrients that hydrate the disc start to deplete and become compressed. When disc degeneration affects the lumbar spine, the nerve roots from the central system are affected. They can be associated with any particular group of pathological conditions that may irritate the surrounding nerves and produce pain-like symptoms. (Bogduk, 1976) To that point, this causes referred pain in the lower limbs and radiating pain in the lower back. At the same time, glycosphingolipid antibodies are activated in the immune system, causing inflammatory effects. (Brisby et al., 2002) When people are dealing with low back pain associated with disc degeneration, many people will feel their lower back lock up, causing limited mobility and stiffness. At the same time, the surrounding muscle and soft tissues are overstretched and tightened. The spinal disc will also affect the nerve fibers surrounding the spine, leading to nociceptive lower back pain. (Coppes et al., 1997) However, many individuals can find available treatments to reduce low back pain associated with disc degeneration.
An Overview Of Spinal Decompression- Video
Spinal Decompression Can Reduce Lumbar Disc Degeneration
Many individuals can seek out non-surgical treatments to reduce low back pain associated with disc degeneration as it is cost-effective and, through consecutive treatments, can start feeling better. Some non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help rehydrate the spinal disc through gentle traction and promote natural healing. Spinal decompression can be manual or mechanical, using negative pressure to increase disc height. (Vanti et al., 2021) This allows many individuals to feel the relief they deserve and feel better over time. Spinal decompression can reduce disc degeneration, stabilize the lumbar spine, and help regain spinal mobility back to the lower portions. (Daniel, 2007) When many individuals begin to take care of their bodies and reduce the chances of low back pain from returning to cause more issues to the back.
References
Bogduk, N. (1976). The anatomy of the lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome. Med J Aust, 1(23), 878-881. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/135200
Brisby, H., Balague, F., Schafer, D., Sheikhzadeh, A., Lekman, A., Nordin, M., Rydevik, B., & Fredman, P. (2002). Glycosphingolipid antibodies in serum in patients with sciatica. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 27(4), 380-386. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200202150-00011
Coppes, M. H., Marani, E., Thomeer, R. T., & Groen, G. J. (1997). Innervation of “painful” lumbar discs. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 22(20), 2342-2349; discussion 2349-2350. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199710150-00005
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
Martin, M. D., Boxell, C. M., & Malone, D. G. (2002). Pathophysiology of lumbar disc degeneration: a review of the literature. Neurosurg Focus, 13(2), E1. doi.org/10.3171/foc.2002.13.2.2
Vanti, C., Turone, L., Panizzolo, A., Guccione, A. A., Bertozzi, L., & Pillastrini, P. (2021). Vertical traction for lumbar radiculopathy: a systematic review. Arch Physiother, 11(1), 7. doi.org/10.1186/s40945-021-00102-5
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
Individuals dealing with back pain problems could be suffering from a bulging disc. Could knowing the difference between slipped and herniated disc symptoms help with treatments and finding relief?
Bulging Disc Pain
Back pain can become debilitating if not treated properly. A bulging disc is a common cause of cervical, thoracic, and lower back pain symptoms. It happens when one of the fluid-filled cushions between the vertebrae begins to shift out of place. Instead of being aligned with the edges, the disc bulges over. This begins to generate pressure on the nerves causing pain and inflammation.
Bulging discs are often caused by age, but repetitive movements and/or lifting heavy objects can contribute to the condition.
Symptoms can resolve on their own, but individuals are recommended to consult with a physical therapist and/or chiropractor to make sure the disc healed properly, otherwise, it can lead to worsening and/or further injuries.
Bulging Disc vs. Herniated Disc
Bulging and herniated discs cause pain symptoms.
They both can be linked to injuries and degenerative disc disease but are not the same condition. (Penn Medicine. 2018)
This is because the lower back is subject to all kinds of pressure and movement with daily activities, increasing the chances of pain and injuries.
The next most common place is the neck/cervical spine where there are constant movements making it prone to injury and pain symptoms.
Causes
Bulging discs are most often caused by body aging and normal wear and tear. As time goes on the intervertebral discs naturally degenerate, known as degenerative disc disease. This can cause the discs to pull downward, causing them to bulge from their placement. (Penn Medicine. 2018) Factors that can cause or worsen the condition include:
Practicing unhealthy postures.
Repetitive motions.
Lifting heavy objects
Spinal injuries.
Medical history of spinal or disc disease in the family.
Individuals with back pain that interferes with daily functions or has lasted longer than six weeks, should see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. They will order a magnetic resonance imaging scan/MRI, which can show where a disc is protruding. (American Academy of Neurological Surgeons. 2023)
Rest
For bulging disc pain, resting the back is necessary. However,
Can individuals with low back pain find relief with spinal decompression combined with chiropractic care to reduce muscle pain?
Introduction
Everyone worldwide has dealt with low back pain, a multifactorial common problem that can mask other musculoskeletal disorders. Low back pain can develop naturally through spinal degeneration, normal environmental factors people put their bodies through, or traumatic factors that can gradually affect the lumbar region over time. The lower back is part of the lumbar spine region as it takes most of the upper body’s weight and stabilizes the lower body when in motion. The lumbar region is thick to support the upper body’s weight and is protected by the surrounding ligaments, muscles, and tissues; however, it is the most susceptible to injury. Many people don’t realize they are experiencing low back pain until an accident or repetitive motions begin to affect the surrounding ligaments or the lumbar intervertebral discs are severely compressed. To that point, many individual are experiencing radiating pain in their lower extremities. However, all is not lost, as there are numerous ways to alleviate low back pain and provide relief to many individuals. Today’s article focuses on the factors that lead to the development of low back pain and how treatments like chiropractic care and spinal decompression can help reduce low back pain and its symptoms. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to ease low back pain and its associated symptoms. We also inform our patients that there are non-surgical options like chiropractic care and spinal decompression to minimize the radiating pain associated with low back pain. 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
Factors That Lead To The Development Of Low Back Pain
Do you feel muscle aches and pains in your lower back when stretching? Does the pain cause issues in your mobility when going to run errands? Or do you feel sudden or gradual pain after a long workday of carrying heavy objects or excessively sitting at your desk? When many individuals are experiencing pain in these various scenarios, it can lead to the development of a lower back that correlates with these environmental factors. Low back pain is a common nuisance that many working and non-working individuals experience occasionally. When various risk factors are associated with low back pain, it can cause many individuals to deal with the physical and psychological demands that cause them to do multiple things like heavy lifting, awkward positions, and excessive bending, which can develop pain-like symptoms in the lumbar region. (To et al., 2021) At the same time, compared with other health conditions, low back pain is the highest global burden, causing many individuals to miss out on important events like work and daily activities. (Petrozzi et al., 2020) This causes them to live a life of disability and causes them to feel miserable. Low back pain can affect a person’s socioeconomic demographic and the functionality that they seek the treatment they deserve.
Many individuals who experience low back pain will often lead a life of disability and socioeconomic burden correlated with these factors. (Wong et al., 2022) Many people often think that low back pain only happens to older adults, but low back pain can happen to anybody at any age. Many factors that correlate to the development of low back pain include:
Improper heavy lifting
Walking incorrectly
Being in a slouched or hunched position
An auto accident
Obesity
Gastrointestinal issues
Referred musculoskeletal disorders
Physical inactivity
Many of these environmental factors are associated with low back pain that many people are unaware of when doing their routine. This is due to the surrounding tissues, ligaments, and muscles being overused and affected and the intervertebral disc being constantly compressed from repetitive motions. When this happens, many individuals will often seek treatment to reduce the painful effects of low back pain.
How Chiropractic Care Can Transform Pain Into Relief- Video
When it comes to reducing low back pain, many individuals will try home remedies to mitigate muscle pain and reduce inflammation associated with low back pain. This provides temporary relief to acute low back pain, but many will seek non-surgical treatment when it comes to chronic low back pain. Non-surgical treatments can help reduce low back pain and its associated symptoms through mechanical and manual techniques. Non-surgical treatments, which include chiropractic care and spinal decompression, could help alleviate low back pain. Since low back pain is associated with altered motor control within the lumbar region, it can hinder lumbar stability, cause impaired detection of passive motion, and affect postural stability. (Fagundes Loss et al., 2020) With non-surgical treatments, many pain specialists can incorporate vertebral mobilizations and manipulation procedures to improve spinal mobility and reduce pain in the lumbar region. The video above explains how chiropractic care and spinal decompression can alleviate lower back pain and help restore functionality in the body.
Chiropractic Care & Low Back Pain
When it comes to reducing low back pain associated with environmental factors, many pain specialists can look at the physical distress cognitive, and functional patterns that are correlated with faulty lumbar movement. (Khodadad et al., 2020) This allows the pain specialist to create a personalized treatment plan for low back pain. Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care are excellent for reducing low back pain. Chiropractic care incorporates spinal manipulation techniques to realign the spine and help stretch the affected surrounding muscles. Many individuals who include chiropractic care in their routine find significant pain reduction and reduced disability after a few consecutive treatments. (Gevers-Montoro et al., 2021) Chiropractic care can be combined with physical and massage therapy to stretch and strengthen the affected muscles. This, in turn, helps the individual regain spinal mobility and reduce pain.
Spinal Decompression & Low Back Pain
Spinal decompression is another non-surgical treatment that can help alleviate low back pain, like chiropractic care. Spinal decompression utilizes gentle traction on the lumbar spine to be gently pulled to relieve the affected muscles causing lower back pain. Spinal decompression can also ease leg pain associated with low back pain and reduce referred pain affecting the lower extremities. (Wang et al., 2022) Spinal decompression can also improve spinal disc height and help improve muscle strength and trunk endurance. (Kang et al., 2016) The combination of spinal decompression and chiropractic care to reduce lower back pain is effective as these two forms of non-surgical treatments can effectively reduce many people’s musculoskeletal pain and make them aware of the environmental factors that are the root causes of their lower back pain and prevent it from returning.
References
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
Gevers-Montoro, C., Provencher, B., Descarreaux, M., Ortega de Mues, A., & Piche, M. (2021). Clinical Effectiveness and Efficacy of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Spine Pain. Front Pain Res (Lausanne), 2, 765921. doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2021.765921
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
Khodadad, B., Letafatkar, A., Hadadnezhad, M., & Shojaedin, S. (2020). Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Functional Treatment and Lumbar Stabilization Treatment on Pain and Movement Control in Patients With Low Back Pain. Sports Health, 12(3), 289-295. doi.org/10.1177/1941738119886854
Petrozzi, M. J., Rubinstein, S. M., Ferreira, P. H., Leaver, A., & Mackey, M. G. (2020). Predictors of low back disability in chiropractic and physical therapy settings. Chiropr Man Therap, 28(1), 41. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-020-00328-3
To, D., Rezai, M., Murnaghan, K., & Cancelliere, C. (2021). Risk factors for low back pain in active military personnel: a systematic review. Chiropr Man Therap, 29(1), 52. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-021-00409-x
Wang, W., Long, F., Wu, X., Li, S., & Lin, J. (2022). Clinical Efficacy of Mechanical Traction as Physical Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Meta-Analysis. Comput Math Methods Med, 2022, 5670303. doi.org/10.1155/2022/5670303
Wong, C. K., Mak, R. Y., Kwok, T. S., Tsang, J. S., Leung, M. Y., Funabashi, M., Macedo, L. G., Dennett, L., & Wong, A. Y. (2022). Prevalence, Incidence, and Factors Associated With Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Aged 60 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain, 23(4), 509-534. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.07.012
In individuals with lumbar back pain, can pain specialists utilize distraction techniques to reduce muscle spasms?
Introduction
Many individuals dealing with specific or nonspecific back pain can agree that it can dampen their moods as they try to find the relief they seek to get back to their routine. More often than not, back pain is a common multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder that can affect the entire body, and it all starts with how people do simple movements incorrectly, causing compression to the spine. Since the spine is the main backbone of the body, it is responsible for training, stability, and flexibility. The surrounding muscles that encompass the spine act like a barrier to protect the skeletal joints and the spinal cord from injuries that are either traumatic or normal wear and tear. Lumbar back pain is also an economic burden that can cause unnecessary stress to the body, which leads to muscle spasms and causes even more stress to the individual. With lumbar back pain being a common nuisance to everyone worldwide, many will opt for treatment to reduce the pain and continue their daily activities. In today’s article, we will explore the issues of lumbar back pain and how treatments with distraction techniques alleviate the effects of lumbar back pain and reduce muscle spasms. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to mitigate lumbar back pain associated with environmental factors. We also inform our patients that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms related to lumbar back pain and reduce the effects of muscle spasms. We encourage our patients to ask astounding educational questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with the lumbar spine. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
The Issues Of Lumbar Back Pain
Do you often feel pain radiating from your lower back to your legs after work? Did you lift something heavy that caused your back muscles to strain and be in pain? Or do you and your loved ones feel muscle spasms in your lower back after stretching in the morning? When many individuals are dealing with these musculoskeletal issues, it often correlates with lumbar back pain. As stated earlier, the spine is the body’s backbone, and its main job is to support the body’s weight, provide stability to the upper and lower quadrants, and allow the host to move without pain or discomfort. When normal or traumatic factors start to affect many individuals over time, it can lead to the development of lumbar back pain, and it can become an issue for many young and older adults. Since lumbar back pain can be mechanical or nonspecific, it can arise intrinsically from the spine and the spinal components through repetitive muscle trauma that can be overused while being one of the common causes many people experience pain in their lumbar spine. (Will et al., 2018) When many individuals are dealing with lumbar back pain, it can become a reoccurring issue, and many go to medical clinics to get treatment for their lumbar back pain.
Another issue that lumbar back pain causes is affecting the spinal structure and the surrounding muscles, tissues, and ligaments that protect the spine. Since the body is remarkable for sensing when pain affects the spine, the vital structures are affected and start to respond by adopting other measures to maintain the spine’s stability. (Hauser et al., 2022) This means that when the body starts to develop muscle spasms in the spine, the stretched ligaments react rapidly to prevent the spine from destabilizing. This leads to individuals feeling aches and pain in their lower back, which then causes them to miss out on their activities.
The Road To Recovery: Chiropractic Care- Video
When it comes to lumbar back pain, many everyday factors can contribute to its development and cause issues for many individuals. Many individuals with lumbar back pain often experience referred pain in their lower extremity regions as the lumbar portions of the spine have compressed spinal discs, which can also correlate with nerve entrapment. To this point, many will seek out various treatments to reduce low back pain and its associated symptoms. When patients have prolonged symptoms correlating with lumbar pain, conservative management that is either non-surgical or surgical can help treat the pain-like symptoms related to lumbar back pain. (Mohd Isa et al., 2022) Lumbar back pain treatments can be customizable and cost-effective to the person’s pain severity. Non-surgical treatments can help lumbar back pain issues and reduce referred pain symptoms from different body locations in the upper or lower body quadrants. When people go to get their lumbar back pain treated, pain specialists like chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists utilize various techniques and treatments to reduce pain affecting the surrounding ligaments, tissues, and muscles through stretches and traction. The video above explains how these treatments can help reduce pain caused by environmental factors and also help speed up recovery.
Distraction Techniques To Reduce Lumbar Back Pain
When many individuals get treated for lumbar back pain, many opt for non-surgical treatments due to being more affordable than surgical treatments. Pain specialists like chiropractors or massage therapists use distraction techniques to reduce the pain. These pain specialists also incorporate manual and mechanical therapy to be body-oriented to mobilize, manipulate, and stretch out the soft tissues and strengthen them. (Kuligowski et al., 2021) This, in turn, can help reduce lumbar back pain while allowing the individual to be more mindful about their actions to reduce the chances of back pain from returning. At the same time, the effectiveness of treating lumbar back pain through traction can effectively reduce nerve root compression and unresponsive movement symptoms. (Vanti et al., 2021) Traction therapy is a non-surgical treatment that gently stretches the spine to alleviate pain and help kick-start the natural healing process.
Distraction Techniques Reducing Muscle Spasms
Pain specialists incorporate distraction techniques to reduce lumbar back pain and muscle spasms in the lumbar region. As stated earlier, distraction techniques associated with non-surgical treatments can be an excellent way to minimize lumbar back pain. Distraction manipulation can help elevate the affected intervertebral disc by reducing the pressure off the disc and increasing its height in the spine. (Choi et al., 2015) Many individuals feel better when they incorporate distraction therapy to reduce lumbar pain. At the same time, distraction therapy can also be incorporated into a personalized plan to reduce muscle spasms and strengthen weak muscles that surround the lumbar region. The effects of lumbar traction combined with distraction therapy can improve pain and reduce functional disability within the lumbar spine. (Masood et al., 2022) When many people start to think more about their health and wellness, they can make small changes in their routine to prevent low back pain from progressing into something chronic and strengthen their weak muscles to control the pain-like symptoms from returning.
References
Choi, J., Lee, S., & Jeon, C. (2015). Effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(6), 1937-1939. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.1937
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
Kuligowski, T., Skrzek, A., & Cieslik, B. (2021). Manual Therapy in Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(11). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116176
Masood, Z., Khan, A. A., Ayyub, A., & Shakeel, R. (2022). Effect of lumbar traction on discogenic low back pain using variable forces. J Pak Med Assoc, 72(3), 483-486. doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.453
Mohd Isa, I. L., Teoh, S. L., Mohd Nor, N. H., & Mokhtar, S. A. (2022). Discogenic Low Back Pain: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Treatments of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci, 24(1). doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010208
Vanti, C., Turone, L., Panizzolo, A., Guccione, A. A., Bertozzi, L., & Pillastrini, P. (2021). Vertical traction for lumbar radiculopathy: a systematic review. Arch Physiother, 11(1), 7. doi.org/10.1186/s40945-021-00102-5
Will, J. S., Bury, D. C., & Miller, J. A. (2018). Mechanical Low Back Pain. American Family Physician, 98(7), 421-428. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30252425
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