Low back pain is a common health challenge that at some point affects more than 80% of people, making it second in commonality only to the common cold. However, unlike the common cold, back pain is often perplexing to most of its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving that mystery.

Anatomy

Knowledge of the anatomy of the spine is very important in understanding back pain. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back consist of posterior joints called facets that join vertebrae to one another and serve to guide the action of the spine. Inter-vertebral discs, made of strong cartilage, link the bodies of the vertebrae. This dense cartilage covers the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also link the vertebrae. The sacrum is a wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine. It is attached to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. The spinal cord is positioned between the facets of the vertebrae. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

The majority of back pain victims have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, bad work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise, and other negative lifestyle-related factors produce most back pain.  All of these factors produce stresses and imbalances on the spine and eventually generate pain. This is why people can often injure their back merely by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already at risk and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this happens, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles encompassing the spine can come about during and after prolonged sitting, especially in a awkward position. Eventually the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. Finally, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, letting the soft nucleus to bulge the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it creates the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, one can develop sciatica, which is defined as pain, tingling, numbness, and on occasion weakness in the lower extremities. On occasion if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition is not managed correctly, surgery is required to remove the herniated disc material. With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc complications, including sciatica, can be mended. If you are experiencing any of the problems defined above, it is very important for you to seek chiropractic attention.

Spondylosis

Repetitive assault to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments may cause increased wearing away and weight-bearing stress on the spine. Bone spurs are produced when the cartilage around the joints is adversely affected by stress that causes calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. These spurs can compress adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This condition – known as Spondylosis – is a type of arthritis that is likely to affect almost everyone at some point in life, as it is a common part of the aging process of the spine as well. Nevertheless, factors such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic adjustments and overall chiropractic management is very effective in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as aiding Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has treated many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

The sacroiliac joints are a general area of dysfunction or injury in the low back. These weight-bearing joints attach the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are innately very strong and stable. However with damage such as falls, sports injuries, or lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and move to an abnormal position.  This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Women may get this condition during or after their pregnancy. Sacroiliac subluxation causes imbalances in the lower extremities giving a person a functional long and short leg. Those with this condition will feel pain especially with prolonged standing and walking, or during or after physical activity. Many complain of lack of energy and exhaustion.  Other symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches, can advance further up the spine. Chiropractic adjustments and treatment are extremely effective in correcting this problem by establishing proper alignment of the joints.. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can receive effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A commonplace disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can happen on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. Subluxations are not only painful, but they can constrict the nerves as they exit the foramen (or spaces) between the vertebrae, creating paraesthesia. Paraesthesia is a change of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities usuallyoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is commonly associated with nerve dysfunctionin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also belinked to, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best corrected by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Injury such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can cause damage to the spine and lower back. Many times these traumas cause over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine. When this takes place a person can experience considerable pain and immobility. Expert chiropractic treatment at the onset of symptoms is vital in order to avoid long term disability and the development of any of the above conditions. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and skilled treatment for any of the above-mentioned problems of the spine and lower back.

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Anatomy

To understand neck pain, it is important to be aware of the anatomy of the spine. The movement of the spine is guided by neck vertebrae that are composed of posterior joints, called facets, that connect vertebrae to one another. The inter-vertebral discs join the bodies of the vertebrae and are composed of a form of dense cartilage that encases a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The principal function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. In a canal positioned between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. Spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae and provide energy to muscles and organs of the body. Transversely, they carry sensory impulses, including pain information, from the body to the brain.  The nerves that go out from the neck are responsible for the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The neck has a natural forward curve when observed from the side that helps appropriately balance the weight of the head, as well as to decrease stress on the neck joints. For more information please feel free to visit your Fort Worth Chiropractor.

Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use

More and more people are now earning a wage sitting at a desk in front of a computer. The use of computers has risen significantly, and many individuals spend eight to ten hours a day slumped over the keyboard and staring at the monitor. When we sit with our head in a forward bent position-the posture that most desk workers assume-the ligaments that hold the facets together and the muscles in the neck are put under enormous strain. Furthermore, the normal forward curve of the neck may become reversed and create more stress on the surrounding tissue of the neck. All of this can lead to spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the main causes of spinal nerve pain. Besides general pain, spinal nerve inflammation in the neck can cause symptoms such as headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

Headaches or migraines are usually associated with disorders of the cervical spine. When the cervical vertebrae lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels that are associated with structures in the head are stretched or irritated thus producing symptoms from a dull ache to throbbing pain. Trigger points, the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, can also refer pain to the head.  Of course there are other factors connected with headaches including toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. Nevertheless, the alignment of the neck and the agitation of surrounding tissues should be a primary consideration when treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractic manipulation and management have proved to be very effective in the treatment of headaches. Ask your Fort Worth Chiropractor about the benefits of Chiropractic care.

Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Many people are involved in car accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common. During such an accident, the passenger in the front vehicle gets his or her head powerfully jolted backward and then forward causing damage to the structures of the back and front of the neck. This kind of trauma is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force arising from such an accident is very intense and can cause trauma to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Whiplash injury includes neck pain and immobility, and other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and should pain, tingling in the hands and fingers, and weakness of the arms and hand. Immediate evaluation and x-rays are vital in order to rule out a fracture. More often than not in many cases, the injuries are mainly to the soft tissues and joints. Proper care is crucial in recovery from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is educated to understand whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from injury to recovery.

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