Tag Archive for: Chronic Back Pain

Sciatica…Oh My Aching Back

lower_back_painSciatica symptoms can increase in severity until the sciatic nerve becomes very inflamed.
Most commonly, sciatica results when a spinal disc ruptures in the lower lumbosacral region of the spine. Instead of acting as a gelatinous cushion between the bony vertebrae of the spine, the disc squeezes out from between the vertebrae and presses on one or more of the spinal nerves that form the sciatic nerve, causing inflammation. When back stiffness and lack of flexibility, such as when you get into or out of a chair or car, are left untreated for as little as two or three weeks, symptoms can increase in severity until the sciatic nerve becomes very, very inflamed.

Who’s at risk?

People who sit for a living are at slightly higher risk of back related problems than people who have physical jobs, such as workers in forestry, mining, farming or construction. Sitting at a desk or a computer for eight hours a day, five days a week, can aggravate compression of the spine, which, in turn, can lead to lower back stiffness, back pain and inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

Read the complete article: sciatica_oh-my-aching-back which originally appeared in Canadian Health magazine.

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Physiotherapy Can Help Your Back Pain

Lower-Back-Pain-Treatment-NewmarketAccording to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, four out of five Canadians experience at least one episode of low back pain at some point in their life.

Physiotherapists focus on exercise, mechanics and posture, through customized treatments that work to increase your flexibility, strength, and endurance. Physiotherapists are effective in  helping to reduce acute and chronic pain.  There are three main types of back pain.

Localized pain is felt in the lower back and is restricted to a particular area on the body.

Radiating pain occurs when there is pain in the back and pain down the leg or foot, and is a sign that the nerve or nerve root is under pressure from either an injury or inflammation.

Referred pain is felt not only at the injured site, but also on different body areas, which is due to the fact that nerve signals from several areas of the body share the same nerve pathway leading to the spinal cord and brain.

Physiotherapists are skilled in manual therapy using precise hands-on techniques to relieve stiffness and improve movement of the joints and muscles. They incorporate movement exercises (Active physical therapy)that help restore motion and decrease radiating or referred pain; as well as progressive strengthening exercises that focus on increasing muscle strength, and function, while helping to increase core stability and endurance.

The physiotherapist may also use Passive physical therapy (modalities) including heat, ultrasound, eToims, Shockwave therapy, spinal decompression, class IV K-Laser therapy and trigger point dry needling, also referred to as intramuscular stimulation (IMS).

Health Link BC offers some helpful information on the different types of exercises you should try, depending on your symptoms:

Exercises to try if your back pain is eased by standing or lying down:

 Alternate arm and leg / Backward bend / Hip flexor stretch / Press-up / Relax and rest

Exercises to try if your back pain is eased by sitting down:

 Double knee-to-chest / Piriformis stretch / Single knee-to-chest

Exercises to try when no position eases your back pain:

Cat-camel / Curl-ups /Front plank /Hamstring stretch / Pelvic tilt / Walking

As with any medical advise, please contact your health care practitioner before starting any treatment or exercise regime.

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6 Tips To Prevent Chronic Back Pain

6 Tips To Prevent Chronic Back PainA healthy back is straight, moves easily and is free of pain.  The most common area for chronic back pain is the lower back; also called the lumbar spine.

Back pain is defined as either acute or chronic. Practitioners diagnose low back pain as acute if it lasts less than a month and is not caused by serious medical conditions. If the pain persists, it is considered chronic back pain. Almost 20 million (2 in 3) Canadians will have at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime.

Warning Signs of Chronic Back Pain?

  • If the pain lasts longer than month.
  • The pain can be anywhere in the back. It can be in one area only or spread across a wide area.
  • Your back might be stiff and the muscles swollen. This combination of pain, stiffness and swelling is called inflammation.
  • Some injuries will cause muscles spasms in the back, and pain or weakness in a leg.

Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. The pain can be localized or spread across a wide area and radiate from a central point. Muscle spasms may occur at the site of the pain. Some people also get pain or weakness in a leg as a result of back injury.

What causes Chronic Back Pain?

  • Poor posture is the most common cause of back pain.
  • Injury due to lifting heavy objects is also a frequent cause of back pain.
  • Being overweight and not exercising enough can increase your risk of back injury.
  • If your back is weak you can get back pain when you get upset or feel stressed.
  • Some types of arthritis can cause chronic back pain.

How to prevent Chronic Back Pain

  • When you lift a heavy item keep it as close to your body as possible. Keep your back straight and use your legs to do the lifting.
  • Use helpful devices such as a cart to carry your grocery bags.
  • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting extra stress on your joints.
  • Be aware of your posture
  • Wear shoes that support your feet; this will help keep your back and legs straight.
  • Sleep on a firm mattress and support your neck properly with pillows.

Disciplines that treat Chronic Back Pain – Acupuncture | Chiropractic | Massage | Physiotherapy

Treatments for Chronic Back Pain – eToims | Laser | Spinal Decompression | Shockwave Therapy

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What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome? | Health Care Victoria

What is myofascial pain syndrome?Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder that can involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. It refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissues. Myofascial pain is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles).

The pain associated with this condition can range from burning, stabbing, aching sensations to include a combination of these symptoms.   With myofascial pain syndrome, excessive strain on a particular muscle, muscle group, ligament or tendon can prompt the development of a “trigger point” that, in turn, causes pain.

Where a person experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located. This is known as referred pain.  Myofascial pain symptoms usually involve muscle pain with specific “trigger” points which can be made worse with activity.

What causes myofascial pain & what are the symptoms?

Myofascial pain typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. This can be caused by repetitive motions, injury to an intervertebral disc, or lack of activity (such as a broken leg).

The main symptom of myofascial pain is ongoing muscle pain, in areas such as the low back, neck, shoulders, and chest.  These symptoms may include a muscle that is sensitive or tender when touched, or a pain that feels aching, burning, stinging, or stabbing and does not lessen in intensity.  Another symptom is reduced range of motion in the affected area and a feeling of weakness in the affected muscle.

How is myofascial pain diagnosed?

Trigger points can be identified by pain produced upon digital palpation (applying pressure with one to three fingers and the thumb). In the diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome, four types of trigger points can be distinguished:

  •  An active trigger point is an area of extreme tenderness that usually lies within the skeletal muscle and which is associated with a local or regional pain.
  • A latent trigger point is a dormant (inactive) area that has the potential to act like a trigger point.
  • A secondary trigger point is a highly irritable spot in a muscle that can become active due to a trigger point and muscular overload in another muscle.
  • A satellite myofascial point is a highly irritable spot in a muscle that becomes inactive because the muscle is in the region of another trigger pain.

How is myofascial pain treated?

Treatments may include any of the following:

  •     Massage Therapy
  •     Physiotherapy
  •     Lifestyle changes -adjusting your workstation, improving posture, avoiding muscle tension
  •     IMS | Trigger point dry needling
  •     Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation | TENS
  •     Laser
  •     Ultrasound

Often a combination of physical therapy, trigger point dry needling and massage are needed in chronic cases.  Please talk with one of our health care practitioners to discuss myofascial pain syndrome.

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Our Health Clinic Answers the Question, What is Chronic Back Injury?

Our health clinic answers the question, What is Chronic Back Injury?  A healthy back is straight, moves easily and is free of pain. When there is pain in any area of the back for a very long period of time, this is called chronic back injury, or chronic back pain.

The most common area for chronic back injury is the lower back; also called the lumbar spine.

Back pain is usually defined as either acute or chronic. Doctors may diagnose low back pain as acute if it lasts less than a month and is not caused by serious medical conditions. If the pain persists, it is considered chronic back injury, also called chronic back pain. This constitutes only 1% to 5% of back pain cases.

Our Health Clinic Answers the Question, What is Chronic Back Injury?
Chronic Back pain

Herniated discs are also a common source of back pain. Inside each disc is a jelly-like substance and 80% of the disc is water, which makes it very elastic. A disc does not contain any blood and relies on nearby blood vessels to keep it nourished. A herniated disc occurs when the cartilage between the vertebrae tears. As a result the cartilage and its contents will bulge out from between the vertebrae, often putting pressure on the nerves in the area.

How Common is Chronic Back Pain?

  • Almost 20 million (2 in 3) Canadians will have at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime.
  • 600,000 (1 in 50) Canadians will be disabled by it.
  • Chronic back injury occurs in both men and women.
  • It can affect people of any age, but older people are more likely to have chronic back pain.

Back pain is the most prevalent medical disorder in industrialized societies.

What are the Warning Signs of Chronic Back Injury?

  • If you have pain in the back that lasts for longer than a few days but less than a month this is called acute back injury.
  • If the pain lasts longer than month this is called chronic back injury.
  • The pain can be anywhere in the back. It can be in one area only or spread across a wide area.
  • Your back might be stiff and the muscles swollen. This combination of pain, stiffness and swelling is called inflammation.
  • Some injuries will cause muscles spasms in the back, and pain or weakness in a leg.

Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. The pain can be localized or spread across a wide area and radiate from a central point. Muscle spasms may occur at the site of the pain. Some people also get pain or weakness in a leg as a result of back injury.

What causes Chronic Back Injury?

  • Many times the cause of chronic back injury is not known.
  • Poor posture is the most common cause of back pain.
  • Injury due to lifting heavy objects is also a frequent cause of back pain.
  • Being overweight and not exercising enough can increase your risk of back injury.
  • If your back is weak you can get back pain when you get upset or feel stressed.
  • Some types of arthritis can cause chronic back pain.

How to avoid Chronic Back Injury;

  • Be kind to your body. After doing heavy work, or doing the same task over and over, stop and rest.
  • Use your back, arms and legs in safe ways to avoid putting stress on joints.
  • When you lift a heavy item keep it as close to your body as possible. Keep your back straight and use your legs to do the lifting.
  • Use helpful devices such as a cart to carry your grocery bags.
  • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting extra stress on your joints.
  • Be aware of your posture and be sure to stand and sit straight.
  • Wear proper walking shoes that support your feet and help keep your back and legs straight.
  • Sleep on a firm mattress and support your neck properly with pillows. Do not sleep on your stomach as this can strain your neck.

Receiving regular maintenance treatments from your health practitioner is a great preventative measure; so when our health clinic answers the question, What is Chronic Back Injury? You will already know how to avoid this condition.

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