Dr. Alex Jmenez, Chiropractor Discusses: Spinal Decompression Therapies, Protocols, Rehabilitation and Advance Treatments Care Plans
At our offices, we offer conservative care for degenerative spinal conditions, including several treatment modalities. Thus, the traction distinguishes as it can elicit the body’s protective proprioceptive response to distraction, reducing intradiscal pressure and minimizing symptoms secondary to disc herniation and axial pain.
Our integrative treatments aim to determine the clinical effects of a short treatment course of motorized axial spinal decompression for patients with pain and physical impairment caused by either lumbar or cervical degenerative disc pathology with no immediate surgical indication.
Conservative care for mid to long-term degenerative spinal conditions with axial and irradiated pain generally includes pharmacological treatment, physical rehabilitation, or injections. Mechanical traction is an old treatment modality, which has been decreased in use facing other modern technologies or utilized in combination with other treatment modalities, such as manual therapy, exercises, heat, or electrotherapy. We, too, offer advanced spinal treatment workshops and boot camps to help educate patients on the dynamics of spinal hygiene.
Our patients get treated for chronic radicular axial spinal pain. This is a referred pain in the spinal axial skeleton and is considered a syndrome with both nociceptive and neuropathic pain components. Patients report improvement in symptoms with a reduction of the axial load in the spine.
Previous studies have shown a decrease of pressure in the intervertebral disc after traction, unloading of the spinal structure, and alleviating the inflammatory reaction of the nerve roots. Here, we present our patients’ literature and scientific background information to make educated decisions about the advanced spinal decompression protocols.
If you’re looking for a non-surgical solution for your persistent back or leg pain, you may want to try spinal decompression therapy. Unlike invasive or laparoscopic surgeries, spinal decompression does not require the patient to go under the knife. Instead, the patient’s spine is stretched to relieve back and leg pain. The goal of spinal decompression is to create an ideal healing environment for the affected areas.
This treatment is typically used for:
Bulging discs
Degenerating discs
Herniated discs
Call us today to schedule your first appointment! Our team in El Paso is happy to help.
Can individuals with cervical spinal pain incorporate spinal decompression therapy to reduce neck pain and headaches?
Introduction
Many individuals deal with neck pain at some point, leading to many issues that can impact their daily lives. See, the neck is part of the cervical region of the musculoskeletal system. It is surrounded by muscles, soft tissues, and ligaments that protect the spinal cord while allowing the head to be mobile. Like back pain, neck pain is a common issue that causes pain and discomfort from associated environmental factors and traumatic injuries. When a person is dealing with neck pain, they are also coping with comorbidities that cause overlapping risk profiles like headaches and migraines. However, treatments like spinal decompression can help reduce cervical spinal pain affecting the neck and reduce the painful effects of headaches and migraines. Today’s article looks at the impact of cervical pain and headaches, how spinal decompression can reduce cervical spinal pain, and how it benefits from reducing headaches. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how to mitigate cervical spinal pain from the neck. We also inform and guide patients on how spinal decompression can help reduce headaches caused by cervical spinal pain. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating spinal decompression therapy as part of their routine to reduce headaches and migraines associated with the neck. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Effects Of Cervical Pain & Headaches
Do you feel stiffness on both sides of your neck that causes you limited mobility when you turn your neck? Have you experienced constant throbbing pain in your temples? Or do you feel muscle aches on your neck and shoulders from being hunched on the computer for an extended period? Many individuals dealing with these pain-like issues could be coping with cervical spinal pain. Various causes that can lead to the development of cervical spinal pain include herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal stenosis, and muscle strain that originates from the neck region. This is because cervical spinal pain can be associated with environmental factors that can cause pain and discomfort, disability, and impaired quality of life as the surrounding neck muscles are overstretched and tight. (Ben Ayed et al., 2019) When people are dealing with cervical spinal pain, one of the symptoms it is associated with is headaches. This is because the intricated nerve pathways are connected to the neck and head. When cervical spinal pain is causing these issues, it can significantly impact a person’s daily body function as the pain is traveling upwards.
At the same time, neck pain is a multifactorial disease that can become a major issue worldwide. Like back pain, numerous risk factors can contribute to its development. (Kazeminasab et al., 2022) Some risk factors, like excessive phone usage, cause prolonged neck flexion to the neck and shoulders, causing static muscular loading with a lack of support to the upper extremities. (Al-Hadidi et al., 2019) To this point, environmental risk factors like excessive phone usage can make individuals develop a hunched position in their necks that can compress the spinal disc in the cervical region and aggravate the nerve roots to produce headaches and pain. However, many individuals have found ways to reduce cervical spinal pain and find pain relief from their headaches.
Home Exercises for Pain Relief-Video
How Spinal Decompression Reduces Cervical Spinal Pain
When it comes to reducing cervical spinal pain, many individuals have experienced that spinal decompression can help mitigate the effects of cervical pain. Spinal decompression has increasingly been recognized as an effective non-surgical treatment when it comes to alleviating cervical spinal pain. What spinal decompression does is that it allows negative pressure on the cervical spine to relieve any herniated disc of the aggravated nerve roots and help improve neurological symptoms. (Kang et al., 2016) This is due to a person being strapped comfortably on a traction machine that gently stretches and decompresses the spinal vertebrae. Additionally, some of the benefits of spinal decompression for cervical spinal pain include:
Improved spinal alignment to reduce muscle strain on the neck muscles and joints.
Enhanced the body’s natural healing by increasing blood flow and nutrient exchange.
Increased neck mobility by decreasing muscle stiffness.
Reducing pain levels that are causing intense headaches.
The Benefits of Spinal Decompression For Headaches
Additionally, spinal decompression can help reduce headaches associated with cervical spinal pain as spinal decompression can be combined with other therapies like acupuncture and physical therapy to relieve the protruding spinal dice and stabilize within the annulus by spinal elongation. (Van Der Heijden et al., 1995) This is due to gentle traction on the neck that is causing the prolapsed disc to reposition itself while restoring disc height to minimize the pressure on the nerves. (Amjad et al., 2022) When a person is doing spinal decompression therapy consecutively, the pain-like effects of cervical spinal pain and the associated headaches begin to reduce over time, and many people will start to notice how their habits are in correlation with their pain. By incorporating spinal decompression therapy as part of their treatment, many people can make small changes in their routine and be more mindful of their bodies to prevent the progression of cervical spinal pain from returning.
References
Al-Hadidi, F., Bsisu, I., AlRyalat, S. A., Al-Zu’bi, B., Bsisu, R., Hamdan, M., Kanaan, T., Yasin, M., & Samarah, O. (2019). Association between mobile phone use and neck pain in university students: A cross-sectional study using numeric rating scale for evaluation of neck pain. PLOS ONE, 14(5), e0217231. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217231
Amjad, F., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Gilani, S. A., Ahmad, A., & Hanif, A. (2022). Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 255. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x
Ben Ayed, H., Yaich, S., Trigui, M., Ben Hmida, M., Ben Jemaa, M., Ammar, A., Jedidi, J., Karray, R., Feki, H., Mejdoub, Y., Kassis, M., & Damak, J. (2019). Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Neck, Shoulders and Low-Back Pain in Secondary-School Children. J Res Health Sci, 19(1), e00440. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31133629
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
Kazeminasab, S., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Amiri, P., Pourfathi, H., Araj-Khodaei, M., Sullman, M. J. M., Kolahi, A. A., & Safiri, S. (2022). Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 26. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Van Der Heijden, G. J., Beurskens, A. J., Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., De Vet, H. C., & Bouter, L. M. (1995). The Efficacy of Traction for Back and Neck Pain: A Systematic, Blinded Review of Randomized Clinical Trial Methods. Physical Therapy, 75(2), 93-104. doi.org/10.1093/ptj/75.2.93
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
Can individuals with leg and back pain find the relief by incorporating decompression to reduce pain-like associated symptoms?
Introduction
The lower extremities help stabilize the upper body’s weight and provide movement to the individual. The lower body portions include the lower back, pelvis, hips, thighs, legs, and feet, as they all have specific jobs to do and have an outstanding relationship with each other. However, their lower back and legs are susceptible to injuries. When environmental factors or injuries start to cause issues in the musculoskeletal system, it can lead to referred pain and overlapping risk profiles that can cause a person to have mobility and stability issues. The affected muscles, tissues, ligaments, and nerve roots can become irritated, weak, and tight when environmental factors start to compress the spine and lead to pain over time. Today’s article looks at how the back and legs work together in the body, how they are impacted by pain from environmental factors, and how spinal decompression can reduce leg and back pain. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to minimize back and leg pain affecting their mobility. We also inform and guide patients on how treatments like decompression can help reduce pain-like symptoms within the legs and back. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the referred pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from their legs and since that is disrupting their daily routine. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How The Back & Legs Work Together?
Do you feel radiating pain in your back that is affecting your ability to walk? Do you experience muscle aches or tiredness in your legs after a long workday? Or do you feel stiffness in your back and legs after waking up? Many of these scenarios are correlated with leg and back pain that can impact a person’s gait and lead to associated pain-like symptoms. The back and leg muscles work together through the sciatic nerve, a long nerve from the lumbar spinal region, past the gluteal muscles, traveling down the back of the legs and stopping at the knees. The back consists of the core muscles and the lumbar spinal region, allowing the person to bend, twist, and extend.
Meanwhile, the leg muscles help a person become mobile while stabilizing the person’s weight. These two muscle groups have an outstanding relationship in the lower extremities, as people need to be mobile when doing activities. However, they can also become vulnerable to injuries and pain that can cause disability issues.
How Pain Is Associated With The Back & Legs?
When it comes to the lower back and the legs, environmental factors and traumatic injuries can affect the surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerve roots. For example, when working individuals routinely lift heavy objects, it can increase the risk of developing lower back pain while causing whole-body vibrations in the legs. (Becker & Childress, 2019) This is because what the heavy loading object does to the lower back is that it causes the spine to be compressed and contract the surrounding muscle. When it is repeated constantly, it can cause the spinal disc to herniate and aggravate the nerve roots. When these nerve roots become aggravated, it can lead to nerve entrapment and inflammation, thus causing individuals to experience chronic leg pain, foot drop, or ankle stability that affects their mobility. (Fortier et al., 2021)
Additionally, back and leg pain can even happen when the spine starts to experience degeneration, a natural process when the spinal disc shrinks over time. When the spinal disc in the lumbar spinal region degenerates over time, the nutrient supplies and changes in the extracellular composition cause the discs to be less capable of maintaining their load distribution function in the lower extremities. (Kim et al., 2020) However, many people who are experiencing leg and back pain can seek treatment to reduce the pain-like symptoms.
Chiropractic Care For Leg Instability- Video
Spinal Decompression Reducing Pain On The Legs & Back
When it comes to treating leg and back pain, many individuals will start to seek affordable treatment that can reduce pain-like symptoms. Many non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression are excellent for reducing pain that is affecting the back and legs. Spinal decompression uses a traction machine that can help stretch out the tight muscles from the lower back and provide negative pressure to the affected disc by increasing the blood nutrient flow back to the disc while reducing pressure off the aggravated nerve root. (Choi et al., 2022) Spinal decompression can be combined with core stabilizing exercises that can help reduce pain and disability and improve stability in the legs and lower extremities. (Hlaing et al., 2021) With spinal decompression to reduce back and leg pain, many individuals can notice positive results after consecutive treatment, and their mobility is improved. (Vanti et al., 2021) When individuals who are experiencing leg and back pain and are looking for treatment can find the benefits of spinal decompression to be incorporated into their daily routine since it can be customizable and help them be more mindful of what movements and environmental factors are causing them pain. Making these small changes over time can improve their health and help them live 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
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
Fortier, L. M., Markel, M., Thomas, B. G., Sherman, W. F., Thomas, B. H., & Kaye, A. D. (2021). An Update on Peroneal Nerve Entrapment and Neuropathy. Orthop Rev (Pavia), 13(2), 24937. doi.org/10.52965/001c.24937
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
Kim, H. S., Wu, P. H., & Jang, I. T. (2020). Lumbar Degenerative Disease Part 1: Anatomy and Pathophysiology of Intervertebral Discogenic Pain and Radiofrequency Ablation of Basivertebral and Sinuvertebral Nerve Treatment for Chronic Discogenic Back Pain: A Prospective Case Series and Review of Literature. Int J Mol Sci, 21(4). doi.org/10.3390/ijms21041483
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
Can working individuals dealing with degenerative pain syndrome incorporate decompression to provide body relief and mobility?
Introduction
As part of the musculoskeletal system, the spine allows the body to stand vertically and helps protect the spinal cord from injuries. Since the central nervous system provides neuron signals from the brain to the nerve roots, the human body can be mobile without pain or discomfort. This is due to the spinal discs between the facet joints, which can be compressed, absorb the vertical axial pressure, and help distribute the weight to the lower and upper extremity muscles. However, as many people realize, repetitive movements and wear and tear on the spinal structure can lead to overlapping risk profiles that can cause the spinal disc to degenerate and invoke pain in the musculoskeletal system. To that point, it can cause the individual to be in extreme pain and discomfort over time. Today’s article looks at how degenerative pain syndrome affects the spine, the symptoms it’s associated with, and how decompression can reduce degenerative pain syndrome. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to relieve degenerative pain syndrome that is causing mobility issues on the spine. We also inform and guide patients on how decompression can help reduce the pain-like symptoms correlating with degenerative pain syndrome. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the referred pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from degenerative pain that is affecting their quality of life. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Degenerative Pain Syndrome On The Spine
Do you feel muscle aches or pains in your back after an extended period of lying down, sitting, or standing? Do you feel constant pain after carrying a heavy object from one location to another? Or does twisting or turning your torso provide temporary relief? Many people often don’t realize that many of these pain-like issues are associated with degenerative pain syndrome that affects the spine. Since the body ages naturally, the spine does as well through degeneration. When the spinal discs start to degenerate, it can cause the vertical axial pressure to flatten and squeeze the disc, disrupting its ability to keep hydrated and causing it to protrude out of its original position. At the same time, the height of the spinal disc will gradually fall, and the consequence is a change in dynamics in the affected spine segments. (Kos et al., 2019) Degeneration can cascade down to the surrounding ligaments, muscles, and joints when degeneration starts to affect the spine.
The Symptoms Associated With Degenerative Pain
When the surrounding joints, muscles, and ligaments are affected by degenerative disc pain, it can be due to multiple factors contributing to the pain-like symptoms. Inflammation is one of the symptoms that are associated with degenerative pain syndrome, as disturbances can affect the circadian rhythm and disrupt homeostasis, which then leads to increased stress on the spinal disc, which then contributes to the degenerative process. (Chao-Yang et al., 2021) Inflammation can cause the affected muscles to be inflamed and cause more overlapping risk profiles, as it can affect the upper and lower extremities. Additionally, mechanical loading may affect disc degeneration in various ways at the different vertebral levels. (Salo et al., 2022) This can lead to pain-like symptoms like:
Arm and leg tenderness
Nerve pain
Loss of sensory functions on the upper and lower extremities
Tingling sensations
Muscle pain
However, numerous treatments can help restore spinal mobility and lessen the painful effects of the degenerative pain syndrome of the spine.
The Non-Surgical Approach To Wellness- Video
When it comes to seeking treatment for degenerative pain syndrome, many individuals will do research on which treatment is affordable for their pain, hence why many people opt for non-surgical treatment to alleviate their pain. Non-surgical treatments are customized to the individual’s pain. They can help kickstart the person’s wellness journey, which can include a combination of exercise, manual therapy, and lifestyle modifications. (Brogger et al., 2018) The video above shows how a non-surgical approach can benefit someone with degenerative pain syndrome affecting their spine.
Decompression Reducing Degenerative Pain Syndrome
With many available treatments to reduce pain-like symptoms affecting the spine, non-surgical treatments can be an option. Ranging from chiropractic care to acupuncture, non-surgical treatments can be combined to minimize the pain-like effects. Decompression, as part of the non-surgical treatment options, is an excellent way to reduce the degenerative pain process in the spine. Decompression allows the spinal column to be gently pulled through a traction machine to relieve the spinal disc. When a traction machine decomposes the spine, the pain intensity is significantly reduced in all body parts. (Ljunggren et al., 1984) This is due to negative pressure being reinstated back to the spine to increase disc height and restore the nutrients back to the affected disc and rehydrate them. (Choi et al., 2022) When people start incorporating decompression through consecutive treatment, their pain intensity is reduced, and their spine is mobile again while slowing down the degenerative process on the spine. This allows them to take better care of their bodies by making small changes in their health and wellness.
References
Brogger, H. A., Maribo, T., Christensen, R., & Schiottz-Christensen, B. (2018). Comparative effectiveness and prognostic factors for outcome of surgical and non-surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis in an elderly population: protocol for an observational study. BMJ Open, 8(12), e024949. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024949
Chao-Yang, G., Peng, C., & Hai-Hong, Z. (2021). Roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in intervertebral disc degeneration. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 29(6), 793-801. doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2021.02.204
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, 1-9. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Kos, N., Gradisnik, L., & Velnar, T. (2019). A Brief Review of the Degenerative Intervertebral Disc Disease. Med Arch, 73(6), 421-424. doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2019.73.421-424
Ljunggren, A. E., Weber, H., & Larsen, S. (1984). Autotraction versus manual traction in patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs. Scand J Rehabil Med, 16(3), 117-124. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6494835
Salo, S., Hurri, H., Rikkonen, T., Sund, R., Kroger, H., & Sirola, J. (2022). Association between severe lumbar disc degeneration and self-reported occupational physical loading. J Occup Health, 64(1), e12316. doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12316
Can individuals dealing with hip pain, find the relief they are looking for from spinal decompression to reduce their sciatica pain?
Introduction
When it comes to individuals doing everyday movements, the body can be in weird positions without pain or discomfort. Hence, people can stand or sit for prolonged periods and feel all right when doing strenuous activities. However, as the body ages, the surrounding muscles and ligaments can become weak and tight, while the spinal joints and discs start to be compressed and wear and tear. This is because many individuals make repetitive motions on their bodies that cause pain-like symptoms in the back, hips, neck, and body extremities, leading to referred pain in different body locations. When individuals are experiencing musculoskeletal pain in their bodies, it can cause overlapping risk profiles that can hinder the individual and cause them to be miserable. Additionally, when people experience musculoskeletal pain in their bodies, many will seek treatment to reduce the referred pain-like symptoms associated with the musculoskeletal pain. Today’s article will examine one type of musculoskeletal pain on the hips, how it can cause sciatica pain-like problems, and how treatments like decompression can reduce the pain-like effects of hip pain correlated with sciatica. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to relieve hip pain associated with sciatica. We also inform and guide patients on how decompression can help reduce pain-like symptoms like sciatica and restore hip mobility. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from hip pain. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Hip Pain Associated With Sciatica
Do you often experience stiffness in your lower back and hips after sitting down for an excessive period? How about feeling radiating pain running down from your lower back to your legs? Or do you think your hip and thigh muscles become tight and weak, which is affecting your gait stability? Many individuals experiencing these pain-like issues are experiencing hip pain, and it can be an issue when it is not treated over time. Since hip pain is a common and disabling condition that is challenging to diagnose, many individuals often express localized pain in one of the three anatomic regions: the anterior, posterior, and lateral hip sections. (Wilson & Furukawa, 2014) When individuals are dealing with hip pain, they will also experience referred pain in their lower backs, which causes them to be in distress and miserable. At the same time, simple ordinary movements like sitting or standing can affect the muscles and ligaments surrounding the hips and can be damaging. This can cause hip pain to be referred from the lumbar spine and spine problems, which then cause musculoskeletal issues in the lower extremities. (Lee et al., 2018)
So, how would hip pain be associated with sciatica and causing pain in many lower extremities? The hip areas in the musculoskeletal system have numerous muscles surrounding the pelvic bone area that can become tight and weak, causing referred musculoskeletal pain from intrapelvic and gynecologic issues. (Chamberlain, 2021) This means that musculoskeletal disorders like piriformis syndromes associated with hip pain can lead to sciatica. The sciatic nerve travels down from the lumbar region and the buttocks and behind the leg. When a person is dealing with sciatica and is going to their primary doctor to get treated for the pain, their doctors will do a physical examination to see what factors are causing the pain. Some of the common findings during a physical exam were tenderness and palpation of the greater sciatic notch and the reproduction of pain along the hips. (Son & Lee, 2022) This causes associated symptoms that correlate with sciatica and hip pain, including:
Tingling/numbing sensations
Muscle tenderness
Pain while sitting or standing
Discomfort
Is Motion The Key To Healing- Video
Spinal Decompression Reducing Hip Pain
However, many individuals will find non-surgical treatments to help reduce sciatica associated with hip pain. Non-surgical treatments are customized to a person’s pain and are cost-effective while being gentle on the spine. Spinal decompression can help reduce hip pain associated with sciatica. Decompression on the spine allows gentle traction to stretch out weak muscles along the lower back and hips while the spinal discs are experiencing negative pressure. When a person is dealing with sciatica pain associated with hip pain and trying decompression for the first time, they are provided with the relief they deserve. (Crisp et al., 1955)
Additionally, many individuals who incorporate decompression for their hip pain can begin to feel its effects as it helps improve blood flow circulation back to the hips to start the natural healing process. (Hua et al., 2019) When people begin incorporating decompression for their hip pain, they can relax as they feel all their aches and pain gradually disappear as mobility and rotation are back on the lower extremities.
References
Chamberlain, R. (2021). Hip Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis. American Family Physician, 103(2), 81-89. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33448767
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
Hua, K. C., Yang, X. G., Feng, J. T., Wang, F., Yang, L., Zhang, H., & Hu, Y. C. (2019). The efficacy and safety of core decompression for the treatment of femoral head necrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res, 14(1), 306. doi.org/10.1186/s13018-019-1359-7
Lee, Y. J., Kim, S. H., Chung, S. W., Lee, Y. K., & Koo, K. H. (2018). Causes of Chronic Hip Pain Undiagnosed or Misdiagnosed by Primary Physicians in Young Adult Patients: a Retrospective Descriptive Study. J Korean Med Sci, 33(52), e339. doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e339
Son, B. C., & Lee, C. (2022). Piriformis Syndrome (Sciatic Nerve Entrapment) Associated With Type C Sciatic Nerve Variation: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review. Korean J Neurotrauma, 18(2), 434-443. doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2022.18.e29
Wilson, J. J., & Furukawa, M. (2014). Evaluation of the patient with hip pain. American Family Physician, 89(1), 27-34. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24444505
Can individuals with osteoarthritis incorporate spinal decompression therapy to restore spinal mobility and quality of life?
Introduction
As the body ages, so does the spine, as the spinal disc between the joints and the bones starts dehydrating from constant compression through repetitive motions. The many environmental factors contributing to this degenerative disorder can vary within the person and lead to arthritic conditions within the upper and lower extremities. One of the most common types of arthritis is osteoarthritis, and it can affect many people worldwide. Dealing with osteoarthritis in their joints can cause numerous pain-like symptoms that correlate with other body conditions, causing referred pain. However, many treatments can help slow the process of osteoarthritis and relieve the body from the pain-like symptoms of the joints. Today’s article looks at how osteoarthritis affects spinal mobility and how treatments can restore spinal mobility from the effects of osteoarthritis. We talk with certified medical providers who utilize our patients’ information to provide various treatments to reduce the impact of osteoarthritis on the joints. We also inform patients how multiple treatments can help slow down the degenerative process of osteoarthritis. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from osteoarthritis. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Does Osteoarthritis Affect Spinal Mobility?
Have you noticed morning stiffness after a good night’s rest? Do you feel tenderness in your joints after some light pressure? Or do you feel limited mobility in your joints, causing a restricted range of motion? Many of these pain-like scenarios are correlated with osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disorder that has affected many individuals, including older adults. As stated earlier, when the body ages, so do the joints, bones, and spine. Regarding osteoarthritis, the joints will degenerate through natural wear and tear around the cartilage. Osteoarthritis affects multiple joints like the hips and knees, which are the most common, and the spine, and causes numerous sensory-motor dysfunctions. (Yao et al., 2023) When the cartilage around the affected joints starts to deteriorate, the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis causes a disturbed cytokine balance of the proinflammatory cytokines to initiate a vicious cycle that causes cartilage and other intra-articular structure damage around the joint. (Molnar et al., 2021) What this does is that when osteoarthritis starts to affect the joints, it can lead to numerous referred pain-like symptoms.
However, although osteoarthritis can affect the joints, naturally, numerous environmental factors do play a part in the development of osteoarthritis. Physical inactivity, obesity, bone deformities, and joint injuries are some of the causes that can progress the degenerative process. The symptoms that are associated with these environmental factors include:
Pain
Joint stiffness
Tenderness
Inflammation
Swelling
Grating sensation
Bone spurs
Many individuals dealing with pain-like symptoms caused by osteoarthritis will explain to their primary doctors that the pain varies in duration, depth, type of occurrence, impact, and rhythm. This is because the pain from osteoarthritis is complex and multifactorial. (Wood et al., 2022) However, many individuals can look for the help they need to reduce the pain-like issues caused by osteoarthritis through treatments that can slow down the degenerative progress.
An In-depth Look At Spinal Decompression-Video
When it comes to seeking treatment to reduce the effects of osteoarthritis, many individuals seek out treatments that are cost-effective and safe for older individuals. Non-surgical treatments could be the solution many individuals seek to reduce the progress of osteoarthritis. When people experiencing osteoarthritis go to non-surgical treatments, they find out that the pain is decreased, their range of motion is increased, and their physical function has improved. (Alkhawajah & Alshami, 2019) At the same time, non-surgical treatments can be combined with other therapies to the individual’s personalized treatment plan. No-surgical treatments can range from chiropractic care to spinal decompression as they work on gently realigning the spine through traction and help reduce joint and muscle pain. The video above gives an in-depth look at spinal decompression and how it can benefit individuals who are in pain.
Spinal Decompression Restoring Spinal Mobility From Osteoarthritis
Since spinal decompression is a form of non-surgical treatment, it can help slow down the process of osteoarthritis. Spinal decompression incorporates traction to gently pull on the spine, allowing the discs and joints to be lubricated and permitting the natural healing process to occur. This is because the surrounding muscles that protect the joints are being stretched gently and the vertebral disc space is being increased to allow the disc to be rehydrated and the protrusion to recede back to its original position. (Cyriax, 1950) Spinal decompression can help slow down the degenerative process of osteoarthritis, and when combined with physical therapy, the surrounding muscles, tissues, and ligaments are strengthened.
In contrast, joint and spinal mobility and flexibility are increased. Spinal decompression can also help many individuals reduce their chances of surgery, as consecutive sessions can help provide pain relief and functional improvement to the spine. (Choi et al., 2022) When people regain their spinal mobility back to their bodies from spinal decompression, they can make small changes in their daily routine to slow down the degenerative process of osteoarthritis.
References
Alkhawajah, H. A., & Alshami, A. M. (2019). The effect of mobilization with movement on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 20(1), 452. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2841-4
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
Molnar, V., Matisic, V., Kodvanj, I., Bjelica, R., Jelec, Z., Hudetz, D., Rod, E., Cukelj, F., Vrdoljak, T., Vidovic, D., Staresinic, M., Sabalic, S., Dobricic, B., Petrovic, T., Anticevic, D., Boric, I., Kosir, R., Zmrzljak, U. P., & Primorac, D. (2021). Cytokines and Chemokines Involved in Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci, 22(17). doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179208
Wood, M. J., Miller, R. E., & Malfait, A. M. (2022). The Genesis of Pain in Osteoarthritis: Inflammation as a Mediator of Osteoarthritis Pain. Clin Geriatr Med, 38(2), 221-238. doi.org/10.1016/j.cger.2021.11.013
Yao, Q., Wu, X., Tao, C., Gong, W., Chen, M., Qu, M., Zhong, Y., He, T., Chen, S., & Xiao, G. (2023). Osteoarthritis: pathogenic signaling pathways and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther, 8(1), 56. doi.org/10.1038/s41392-023-01330-w
Can working individuals with low back pain incorporate nonsurgical treatments to reduce limited mobility and provide relief?
Introduction
Many working individuals will slowly develop low back pain due to excessive standing or sitting, physical demands that cause them to lift heavy objects, or improper footwear that causes them to be imbalanced. Since the spine is part of the musculoskeletal system, the spinal discs in the lumbar region are the most susceptible to being compressed. They can be one of the issues why many individuals tend to develop lower back pain. Low back pain is common for working individuals and is a multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder that causes many working people to miss out on work. However, many people with low back pain often seek treatment to reduce the pain and help them get back to work. Today’s article looks at the causes of low back pain and how nonsurgical treatments can help reduce low back pain and restore mobility to the body. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatments to ease low back pain. We also inform patients how nonsurgical treatments can help restore mobility to the body while giving numerous techniques to reduce the chances of low back pain returning. We encourage our patients to ask intricated questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with their backs. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
The Causes For Low Back Pain
Do you feel stiffness in your lower back after a hard workday? Do you experience muscle aches or pain in your lower back after picking up a heavy object? Or do you experience limited mobility and stiffness over time after excessive standing or sitting at your job? Many individuals in these pain-like scenarios have experienced low back pain at some point in their lives, and it has impacted them to miss out on work. Since many people worldwide have experienced low back pain at some point in their lives, it has become a common problem that has become the leading cause of disability and is often associated with high cost. (Chou, 2021) Low back pain is a multifactorial condition that is specific or non-specific depending on the severity of the person’s experience. Non-specific low back pain often refers to when there isn’t a particular disease or structural reason for the pain to occur. This causes many people to go into early retirement due to losing their ability to work and become a socio-economic burden when seeking treatment. (Chenot et al., 2017) Specific low back pain is due to repetitive trauma and overusing the surrounding muscles that can cause the spine and spinal disc to be constantly compressed. This causes musculoskeletal pain symptoms and affects the rest of the lower extremities. (Will et al., 2018)
Some of the causes that low back pain is associated with can range from normal environmental factors to traumatic injuries that many working individuals have endured. Since low back pain is one of the leading causes of lost workdays around the world, some of the common causes that are contributed to low back pain include:
Mechanical strain
Obesity
Poor body mechanics
Trauma
Repetitive motions (twisting, bending, or lifting)
Herniated disc
Spinal stenosis
These pain-like causes can affect the upper and lower extremities and, when not being treated, lead to pain-like symptoms from radiating pain to limited mobility. However, when many people decide that enough is enough and want to get the treatment they need, they will seek out something that is not only affordable but can reduce the pain while restoring mobility.
The Power Of Chiropractic Care-Video
Nonsurgical Treatments For Low Back Pain
When it comes to seeking treatment for low back pain, many individuals are looking for something that is not only cost-effective but can help reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with the lower back. Nonsurgical treatments can help reduce low back pain and are cost-effective for many individuals including working individuals. Treatments like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and spinal decompression have various techniques and methods to provide pain relief to many individuals dealing with low back pain. Knowing the prevalence of the multiple pathologies of low back pain, a detailed history, and physical examination maneuvers allow doctors to accurately and quickly classify the most common causes of low back pain. (Kinkade, 2007) This will give them a better understanding of what kind of low back pain treatment they need to restore mobility to their bodies.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a nonsurgical treatment that incorporates manual and mechanical manipulation to realign the body out of subluxation from low back pain. Chiropractic care can be incorporated into a person’s health and wellness treatment plan as it can help improve pain and disability associated with low back pain. (Bussieres et al., 2018) Chiropractors combine various techniques to stretch and strengthen weak muscles around the lower back and reduce low back pain intensity and disability. (Vining et al., 2020) Chiropractic care can also work with other forms of therapies to reduce the chances of low back pain from returning.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression is another form of nonsurgical treatment that can help the lumbar spine through gentle traction and help decompress affected spinal discs from causing mechanical back pain. Spinal decompression can also alleviate the referred pain-like symptoms from the nerve roots involved in the lumbar region while rehydrating herniated discs. Spinal decompression can also help many individuals have their lumbar range of motion back and improve their pain and endurance while restoring their quality of life. (Amjad et al., 2022) Just like chiropractic care, spinal decompression can be combined with other therapies to strengthen the surrounding muscles and ligaments.
Acupuncture
With low back pain being a common problem for many individuals, sometimes it could be due to aggravated nerve roots along the surrounding muscles that are causing referred trigger pain correlating with low back pain. When that happens, many individuals will seek out acupuncture to reduce the pain and improve their quality of life. (Baroncini et al., 2022) Acupuncture can reduce the inflammatory effects caused by inflammation associated with low back pain and can increase mobility in the sacroiliac joint to improve mobility. (Sudhakaran, 2021) Depending on the source of pain in the back, acupuncture can help reduce the pain and provide relief. Many individuals seeking treatment for their lower back can incorporate these treatments to improve their health and restore their quality of life.
References
Amjad, F., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Gilani, S. A., Ahmad, A., & Hanif, A. (2022). Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 255. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x
Baroncini, A., Maffulli, N., Eschweiler, J., Molsberger, F., Klimuch, A., & Migliorini, F. (2022). Acupuncture in chronic aspecific low back pain: a Bayesian network meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res, 17(1), 319. doi.org/10.1186/s13018-022-03212-3
Bussieres, A. E., Stewart, G., Al-Zoubi, F., Decina, P., Descarreaux, M., Haskett, D., Hincapie, C., Page, I., Passmore, S., Srbely, J., Stupar, M., Weisberg, J., & Ornelas, J. (2018). Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Other Conservative Treatments for Low Back Pain: A Guideline From the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 41(4), 265-293. doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.12.004
Chenot, J. F., Greitemann, B., Kladny, B., Petzke, F., Pfingsten, M., & Schorr, S. G. (2017). Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Dtsch Arztebl Int, 114(51-52), 883-890. doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2017.0883
Vining, R., Long, C. R., Minkalis, A., Gudavalli, M. R., Xia, T., Walter, J., Coulter, I., & Goertz, C. M. (2020). Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med, 26(7), 592-601. doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0107
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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