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BACK PAIN 6 Q’s

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Back Pain – 6 Of The Most Common Questions

What causes low back pain?

How do I prevent lower back pain?

What are the low back pain types?

Should I call a back specialist about low back pain?

What are some low back pain treatment options?

When is surgery recommended for lower back pain?

Severe lower back pain may be cause for worry. However, the kind of symptom rather than pain severity is the better indicator. Low back pain is something that 80% of the population have had or will experience at some point in their lifetime. It is one of the most common medical conditions in the world.

Also, it is the leading reason why people visit a doctor and/or stop or change their activities. Low back pain also contributes to lost time at work and limits physical activity that is detrimental to sustaining quality of life. It can also have an enormous impact on your life. Medical research indicates lower back pain to be a leading cause of disability with a wide range of causes, most of which are avoidable.

Incorrectly lifting a heavy load is a quick way to get low back pain. However, most people damage their backs by injuring it a little each day. It surprises people to learn, office workers injure their lower backs more than laborers. Why? The cumulative trauma from sitting too long, bending in the wrong way, and inactivity add up. One day something gives out. Low back bone or tissue damage can occur and pain manifests. It is usually at this point people seek treatment for their lower back pain.

Reducing daily micro back injuries is key to staying active throughout your life. Staying active is pivotal to staying healthy. Keeping a strong and pain free back is a life long pursuit. Unfortunately, there are no replacements. While it’s better to avoid the damage in the first place, good advice and low back pain treatment is better late than never.

Low back pain does not just affect adults. It can affect children and the elderly as well. Further, lower back pain symptoms may return from time to time in many people and sometimes throughout a lifetime. On another note, the population is aging to be older and older. Consider some causes of pain to be related to degenerative disorders. Typical examples would be degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. As the population ages more and more, cases of low back pain are expected to increase.

What causes low back pain?

Causes of low back pain can be viewed as being mechanical, organic or idiopathic. In some cases spinal conditions are congenital (at birth). In most others it is acquired, meaning the disorder develops later in life.

  1. Mechanical causes of lower back symptoms or pain can often be triggered by spinal movement involving spinal structures like facet joints, inter-vertebral discs, vertebrae, ligaments, muscles and/or the soft tissue.
  2. Organic causes of lower back symptoms or pain can be related to disease, such as space occupying lesions or cancer.
  3. Idiopathic causes of lower back symptoms or pain refer to an unknown cause.

The following are the most likely possible causes of low back pain. Many back pain problems may involve more than one.

Low Back Pain (Mechanical)

  1. Herniated disc, disc bulge, degenerative disc disease (DDD)
  2. Pinched nerves, sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy
  3. Muscle strains
  4. Ligament sprains
  5. Abnormal spinal curvatures: scoliosis, kyphosis, or lordosis
  6. Spondylolisthesis
  7. Spinal stenosis

Low Back Pain (Organic)

  1. Osteoarthritis, spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis
  2. Fibromyalgia
  3. Kidney stones
  4. Osteoporosis (loss of bone mass causing vertebral fracture)
  5. Discitis (a bacterial infection in intervertebral disc)
  6. Compression of the bundle of nerves formed below the spinal cord in the lumbar region known as Cauda equina syndrome
  7. Benign or cancerous spinal tumors
  8. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (weakening/enlargement of aortic blood vessel)
  9. Osteomyelitis (bacterial infection in vertebra)

How do I prevent lower back pain?

At this point, lifestyle changes are the only thing you can do that can help manage or prevent low back pain. Unfortunately you can’t prevent accidents, injuries, stop aging, or change your genetics.

  1. Avoid sedentary lifestyles and stay active
  2. Use proper posture and body mechanics
  3. Improve physical fitness, strong core muscles help support the low back
  4. Apply ergonomic principles to your work space
  5. Lose weight; even carrying an extra 10 pounds contributes to lower back pain
  6. Maintain spinal alignment and health through chiropractic care
low back pain patient MRI clarks summit

What are the low back pain types?

Low back pain types can be categorized as acute, subacute or chronic. Acute low back symptoms or pain typically lasts a few days to as much as 4 weeks. Subacute low back symptoms or pain lasts between 4 to 12 weeks. However, according to medical research roughly 20% of people with acute back pain develop further into chronic back pain. Chronic back pain is understood to be pain that lasts 12 weeks or longer. There are many different treatment options to help relieve pain symptoms, even in chronic cases.

Many people suffering severe low back pain feel a cause to worry. However, severe pain is not always an indicator of a serious condition. Rarely does lower back symptoms or pain require urgent medical attention.

Should I call a back specialist about low back pain?

Many instances of lower back pain can resolve with little to no intervention. However, there are times when you should call a back specialist or seek urgent medical care. Some of these occurrences include when it:

  1. is the result of an accident, injury, other trauma
  2. causes loss of bladder or bowel control
  3. causes weakness, numbness and/or tingling sensations in the legs and/or feet
  4. is in children
  5. is severe, constant, or progressively worsening, and/or does not go away
  6. is interrupting sleep

What are some low back pain treatment options?

Over the years, our Scranton area chiropractors have helped countless people with their lower back pain. We can get results, regardless of the damage already done. We differ with our use of a multitude of therapies ranging from decompression therapy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic treatment. If you have chronic back pain, you probably realize you are in need of real professional help. Our low back pain treatments are specialized around disc herniation and radicular nerve pain. Realize though as our treatments have been successful on complicated cases like these, you would be better off to get treatment as early as possible before complications set in.

If you have long standing back pain or have recently injured yourself, contact us now.  It’s very possible to resolve your lower back symptoms or pain quickly and completely. By tackling muscular, nerve and joint issues, we can help you get the most out of your back.

When low back pain occurs many take to their bed or recliner to rest. However, medical research suggests patients who did so actually experienced more pain and slower recoveries than those who modified activities. The better course of care under your doctor’s direction is to remain active and avoid activity that causes or increases your low back symptoms or pain. Staying active while slowly increasing physical limits helps increase circulation needed for healing while simultaneously releasing enkephalins and endorphins (the body’s natural extremely powerful pain killers).

Many people find that brief ten minute intervals of ice therapy is effective during the acute phase (first 2 to 3 days) of lower back pain to reduce inflammation. It’s essential not to place ice or ice packs directly onto skin but wrap in a towel to create a protective barrier. Heat therapy, such as a moist heating pad, may be helpful thereafter. Again, heat should be carefully used in ten minute intervals, not continuously.

Chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) and/or Physical therapy (PT) and/or rehabilitation may be recommended and included in patient’s multidisciplinary lower back treatment plan. CMT involves ‘adjustments’ (passive joint mobilization of spinal segment fixations) to improve spinal flexibility, range of motion, and correct posture while PT involves passive and active therapies to help the patient build core muscle strength and teach ergonomic principles. Passive therapies may include ice/heat, massage, flexion distraction, decompression, EMS (electronic muscle stimulation), TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), and ultrasound.

Acupuncture can be another option which involves insertion of fine sterile needles into the body’s meridians associated with lower back symptoms. A meridian is one of 12 Qi pathways (pronounced chee). In traditional Chinese medicine, Qi is recognized as the body’s life force. It is believed that injury and/or disease (among other things) may disrupt the flow of Qi. The acupuncture needles may be twisted and stimulated using low-level electrical current to release naturally occurring endorphins (and other chemicals) that alleviate pain and benefit healing.

Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID, such as ibuprofen or naproxen) used during the acute phase may help reduce both low back inflammation and pain. NSAIDs should be used with care as they can cause stomach and gastrointestinal problems and increase risk for heart attack and stroke in some. OTC analgesics or pain medications include acetaminophen. These types of medications are available in prescription strength provided under your family medical doctor’s direction.

Your family medical doctor may also prescribe an anticonvulsant medication (eg, gabapentin, pregabalin) in low doses for low back symptoms or pain that causes radiculopathy, such as leg pain (eg, sciatica), which can lessen the leg pain without the use of narcotics. Prescriptions may also include muscle relaxant variants to help reduce painful muscle spasms, commonly associated with pain.

Epidural steroid injections or nerve blocks may provide short-term pain relief when lower back symptoms cause sciatica (eg, leg pain). Long-term use of has not proven to be beneficial.

When is surgery recommended for lower back pain?

Fortunately in most, surgery is not needed. Most people find noninvasive, nonsurgical treatments. Whether it’s one or a combination of treatments that help relieve and manage low back symptoms including pain.

There are serious indicators to watch for that may suggest surgical intervention. These include bowel and/or bladder dysfunction, vertebral fracture, worsening pain that may be described as unrelenting (eg, disrupts sleep, not relieved with rest), spinal infection, spinal tumor (benign or cancer), or spinal nerve compression causing neurological dysfunction, weakness or loss of function.

While some serious indicators may warrant immediate surgical intervention, most cases are not urgent. Many lumbar spine surgical procedures can be performed in an outpatient surgery center.

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SCIATICA

Cause, Symptom, Treatment

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Is My Back Pain Sciatica?

Sciatica relates to a group of symptoms that happen when the left, or right sciatic nerve is compressed, injured or inflamed. The sciatic nerves are the largest nerves in the body. They branch from the spinal cord in the lower lumbosacral region or back and run through the buttocks and down the legs. The sciatic nerves and their branches are responsible for both movement and sensation in the legs and feet.

Injury, compression, or inflammation of the sciatic nerve results in symptoms that typically include pain anywhere along the nerve path through the buttock, leg and foot on the affected side. Weakness and numbness can also occur. There can be marked variability in the specific combination of motor and sensory symptoms. A common cause of sciatic nerve compression and inflammation is a herniated, or bulging, disk in the lower spine. Sciatic nerve compression can also be due to general wear and tear on the spine and the disks that cushion the vertebrae of the spine.

Sciatica is treatable. Treatment for sciatica varies depending on the severity of your symptoms, the presence of complications, your age and medical history, and the type of work and activities you perform.

Seek medical care if you experience symptoms of sciatica, such as pain that runs down the leg. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce or eliminate symptoms and complications, such as loss of leg movement and disability. Seek immediate emergency care if you, or someone you are with, have loss of leg movement or sensation, or loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence).

Cause

Causes of sciatica

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Sciatica frequently occurs due to a bulging or herniated disk in the lower spine. This can pinch or put pressure on the sciatic nerve, which is responsible for movement and sensation in the legs and feet.

Other causes of sciatica include Degenerative disk disease (DDD), Osteoarthritis, Pregnancy, Spinal tumor (rare), Trauma to the spine or back.

Risk factors for sciatica

A number of factors increase the risk of developing sciatica. Risk factors include a genetic predisposition, age over 40, back injury, contact sports, degenerative spine disease, Obesity and being overweight, occupation that includes heavy lifting, bending, or twisting and using improper lifting techniques, sedentary lifestyle or occupation which can weaken the muscles that support the spine, smoking.

Reducing your risk of sciatica

You can lower your risk of developing sciatica by maintaining a healthy weight, participating in moderate exercise program’s that include stretching and core exercises. Strengthening the muscles of your abdomen and hamstrings, taking exercise breaks when sedentary (microbreaking) every 30 minutes, such as walking and stretching for 1 minute every half hour when working all day at a computer, using proper techniques or body mechanics when lifting heavy objects, ie. lift with legs not the back.

Symptom

Symptoms of sciatica

The type and severity of symptoms of sciatica vary among individuals. Certain activities, such as coughing, sneezing, movement of the back, or sudden movements, can make symptoms worse.

Symptoms of sciatica may include burning, numbness or tingling in the back, buttock, leg or foot, or pain in the back, buttock, leg or foot. Pain can shoot down from the lower back through the buttock and leg and into the foot. Pain may also occur in only one area of the lower extremity, such as above or below the knee, or manifest as weakness in the back, buttock, leg or foot.

Symptoms that may indicate a serious condition

In some patient’s, the cause of sciatica can be serious. Seek immediate medical care if you or someone you are with, cannot feel or move their lower extremity, or have a loss of bowel or bladder control (incontinence).

Treatment

Sciatic treatments in the Scranton area

Depending on the underlying cause of sciatica, a variety of treatments and therapies may be recommended including rest and physical restrictions. Chiropractic therapies, such as spinal adjustments, electrical stimulation, and spinal decompression therapy.

With early diagnosis and treatment at Back & Neck Care Chiropractic, it is possible to reverse the symptoms of sciatica in many cases. Treatment plans use a comprehensive approach individualized to the underlying cause, the severity of your symptoms, your medical history and general health, and other factors. Treatment also includes diagnosing and treating some underlying conditions that may be causing sciatica, such as herniated disk or osteoarthritis.

Treatment length can vary significantly between patients. Some respond very quickly while others take longer to recover. It can be dependant on a few things, such as; How long the condition has been present and the condition of the disc or the joints that the chiropractor has to correct. Mostly, the longer the issue has been present the longer it will take. The good news is that it normally takes less time to correct symptoms of sciatica than it took to create them.

If you are serious about turning your symptoms off and avoiding surgery, call chiropractor Alfred Canal in Dunmore PA Throop. We are here to answer any questions you have and look forward to helping you feel better.

Additional treatment options

Complementary therapies, such as yoga, acupuncture, and massage. Physical therapy and prescribed exercise to improve muscle strength in the hamstrings and abdomen, increase flexibility and movement, and reduce pain.

Medications used in the medical model to treat sciatica typically include Antidepressants, which is said to help to reduce nerve pain, corticosteroid medications, which might reduce inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids are generally given through direct injection into the spine. Muscle relaxants, which may ease muscle tension and pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), which help to control inflammation and pain. It has been reported the use of NSAIDs can cause serious, even life-threatening side effects in some people. Non-opioid pain drugs that work at the opioid receptor (Tramadol) for treatment of chronic sciatic pain, short-term opioids for relief of acute sciatic pain.

Surgery to relieve severe pain or to address bowel incontinence, bladder incontinence, or leg weakness. Surgery may also include diagnosing and treating other underlying conditions that may be causing sciatica, such as spinal tumor or osteoarthritis. Other surgical options for pain include laminectomy or discectomy, both of which may relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. The number of people that under go surgery for back pain is astonishing with a low success rate for those without underlying complicating causes. Estimations are that back pain surgery is about 15% effective.

Sciatica complications

Complications of sciatica can have a profound effect on the ability to function in everyday life and can be permanently disabling in some cases. You can reduce the risk of serious complications of sciatica by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you.

Complications of sciatica include bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence, loss of leg movement, permanent disability, poor quality of life, adverse effects of treatment, pain medication addiction.

Take the first step to relief. Call today and lose your pain!

CALL (570) 558-1166
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