Back pain (also known "dorsalgia") is pain felt in the back that may originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.
The pain may have a sudden onset or it can be a chronic pain, it can be felt constantly or intermittently, stay in one place or refer or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be felt in the neck (and might radiate into the arm and hand), in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.
Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Osteopathy and Low Back Pain

During our lives more than 80% of us suffer at least a consequence of low back pain for more than 2 weeks. In this case, we are often at a loss, what we should do and how can we return our health. In this article, the structures that cause pain and to discuss what we can do to prevent a deterioration or repeated.

I graduated as an osteopath in 1999 by the British School of Osteopathy in London after a 4-year full-time degree in osteopathy. I am currently in practice in downtown Vancouver. During my training and subsequent practice, I have noticed that the osteopathic treatment can be very useful in the management of low back pain. In fact, I often refer to my patients than the bread and butter for my company, as it is a joint presentation.

If a patient with low back pain I will be taking into account the following structures, possibly the cause of the pain: - muscle, ligaments, discs, nerves, bone or joint damage.

muscle pain can be on local injury or trauma caused by congestion, during the exercise or termination. Muscle pain can be achieved by chronic hypertonic the inner city and outer muscles of the spine, and how they compensate for the protection of others injured structure.

The posterior spinal ligaments can often be strained due to poor lifting technique or damaged in the long term by poor posture and slouching during prolonged sitting.

Our slipped a tremendous amount of trauma in the course of our lives, and they can be damaged resulting in minor injuries, such as a disc bulge on the heavy, full herniation. The spine is often injured while lifting badly, if we combine spinal flexion and rotation, which causes a shear force on the disc fibers so that they break. At different times of our lives, we are vulnerable to various types of disc injuries from the late twenties and early youth, when our wheels are in their goal of gradual degeneration healthiest and wear, as we age.

nerve fibers are often damaged by surrounding structures such as the disc and bone. It is a very limited space in the vertebral discs Between foramina, where the nerve exits and any space occupied lesion may cause nerve root irritation and pain. Frequently herniating disc soar and touch the nerve causing pain. As we age, and of course our discs degenerate, this may lead to a decline in Spondylosis space on the disc, which in turn allows the spinal joints to directly leading to wear, the effects of nerve. At a lower lumbar nerve root is affected, we will usually pain in the rear part of the lower extremity and in our walk. Normally, if the L5 disc herniates it impinges on the nerve roots L5/S1 with pain in the lower extremities. If the injured nerve pain it can be changed as feeling numbness or pins and needles, muscle weakness or fatigue. In severe cases, a severe complication known as the cauda equina can develop, which causes pain in the lumbar spine, saddle anesthesia (numbness in the groin and genital area) and urinary incontinence. This requires an immediate surgical decompression as long as pressure on the nerves, the bladder can lead to permanent incontinence.

As we age, there is also a reduction in the spinal canal, which stenoses. These may include the spine and cause symptoms usually bilaterally in the lower extremities.

can bone pain in a variety of ways. It can either fracture pain from trauma or perhaps at the age pathological fracture by osteoporosis change. It can also be congenital malformation of the spine such as spina bifida or spondolisthesis, usually at the lumbar spine. Finally, and most pain in the bones of the spine can be metastatic growth or secondary tumors of the spine, but this is rarely a presenting symptom.

Lumbar spinal joints can also cause local pain and pain in the lower extremities. Joint pain caused when the joints are forced together in about stretching or old age, if the disc, it rules. Since the apophyseal joints between the vertebrae are pain-sensitive pain and discomfort occurs when they are forced together. This is one of the main causes of arthritic pain in the elderly.

So that's the bad news, which is a good?

Now osteopathy can provide most of the above conditions. On your first visit to an osteopath it is a detailed medical history about your low back pain and general medical history. This will contribute to a diagnosis and the possibility of a serious illness. In a small number of cases, an osteopath can help you to another specialist if necessary for further examination.

After the initial assessment of an osteopath is usually your attitude to determine all the areas that may be the cause for the low back strain. They are also a highly developed sense of touch as scanning to assess tissue health. The next step is to test a patient's range of active movement to see if there are any restrictions.

When a diagnosis was made, the treatment begins. This is usually a variety of hands on massage techniques, and mobilization of spinal manipulation and, if indicated. The treatment is usually not painful, but there may be some discomfort during and after the tissue to be mobilized. Osteopathic treatment will focus on improving the blood supply to tissues to help them heal and also the release of the surrounding structures, which prevent effective functioning.

After the treatment of lumbar spinal column osteopath will usually give advice on exercise and ergonomics. I usually my patients the following advice after treatment: -

1). If there is pain and discomfort after treatment, no worries, because this is normal. In some cases, anti-inflammatory pain killing drugs or beneficial.

2). If there is pain, icing is beneficial in the first 48 hours after treatment or injury. After this time, I usually recommend contrast Baden (5 minute warm, cool 5 minutes, 5 minutes hot, cool 5 minutes, 5 minutes too hot) to the affected areas to improve fluid drainage.

3). Stay mobile and not to go home and lie down or sit for long periods.

4). Gentle exercise, such as flat and bring the knees up to his chest and gently rocking can mobilize the spine.

In the long term, I will look at my patients overall health by encouraging them to exercise more. Through our abdominal muscles and improving the stability of some core back pain can be relieved. I would also spend much time with them to discuss ergonomics, how they relate to the environment whether at work or at home, and how can they achieve their pain-free. Regular treatments can be beneficial under certain circumstances.

Finally, check out the low back pain from osteopathy check with a qualified doctor, as it is safe, easy and efficient.

 

Alex currently practices in downtown Vancouver BC and further details regarding treatment offered can be found on his website http://www.downtownosteopathy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Evans

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