NECK & BACK PAIN
PAIN INFORMATION
NECK PAIN
Neck pain affects a significant number of individuals. Recent studies have found more than 10% of Americans suffer from neck pain at any given time.
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The reason is that the neck region contains many delicate, pain sensitive structures commonly exposed to abuse and abnormal stresses. Incomplete rehabilitation of past injuries, poor posture, prolonged sitting, and lack of periodic spinal alignments are some of the more common factors in the development of neck problems.
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Fortunately, most individuals suffering from neck problems will find chiropractic care extremely beneficial. Unlike prescription drugs, most chiropractic procedures address the cause of the majority of neck problems, not simply the symptoms. Best of all, chiropractic care is safe, natural, noninvasive and has no side effects.
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CAUSES OF NECK PAIN
There are many causes for neck pain. Some causes result from acute injuries which cannot be avoided, such as an automobile accident resulting in a whiplash-type injury. Other causes can be avoided and result from the use of "bad" or improper habits and techniques, such as poor posture and improper lifting. These "other causes" make up the majority of neck pain causes and can be effectively treated once the cause(s) is/are identified and the appropriate measures to avoid these "bad" and improper habits and techniques are implemented.
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SOME OF THE MORE COMMON CAUSES OF NECK PAIN INCLUDE:
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Incomplete Rehabilitation Of Past Injuries
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Lack Of Proper And Periodic Spinal Alignments
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Presence Of Cervical Spine Subluxations
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Whiplash-Type Injuries
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Improper Workstation Setup
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Poor Posture
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Prolonged Sitting
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Prolonged Use Of Non-Ergonomically Designed Equipment
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Excessive Repetitive Neck Motions
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Improper Telephone Techniques
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Excessive Mental Stress
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Physical Inactivity
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Poor Diet And Nutritional Practices
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TREATMENTS FOR NECK PAIN
Doctors of chiropractic have long known that the most successful treatments involve the identification and correction of the underlying causes of the condition. That's why chiropractic care has been so successful in the correction of back and neck conditions and the number one choice for back and neck care.
MID BACK PAIN
The fast-paced lifestyles of today have taken their toll on the backs of America. Currently, back pain is the number one cause of disability in those aged 19-45 and is the second leading cause of missed work days. Total annual costs for back pain in the US alone are estimated to be in excess of $60 billion.
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CAUSES MID BACK PAIN
Mid back pain is most commonly caused by irritation or injury to the muscles and ligaments of the thoracic spine. The high incidence of poor postural habits, lack of adequate exercise and muscle conditioning, as well as the ever more popular "seated" lifestyles of Americans are all major contributors.
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Chiropractors work hard to identify the exact problems of mid back pain so that only the safest and most effective treatments can be provided. Since the majority of mid back pain cases are caused by soft tissue problems or have a significant soft tissue component, hands on chiropractic treatments are extremely beneficial and have been shown to be superior to other forms of "back" care.
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COMMON EVENTS LEADING OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MID BACK PAIN INCLUDE:
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Incomplete Rehabilitation Of Past Injuries
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Lack Of Proper And Periodic Thoracic Spinal Alignments
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presence Of Thoracic Spine Subluxations
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Improper Lifting Techniques
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Auto Accidents
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Improper Workstation Setup
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Poor Posture
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Prolonged Sitting
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Prolonged Use Of Non-Ergonomically Designed Equipment
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Excessive Repetitive Torsal Motions
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Scoliosis (lateral deviation of the spine)
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Physical Inactivity
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Poor Diet And Nutritional Practices
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Smoking
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TREATMENTS FOR MID BACK PAIN
Chiropractic doctors have successfully treated mid back pain for over 100 years. Through the use of natural and safe procedures, chiropractors correct the underlying problems which cause and contribute to the majority of mid back pain cases.
The main treatment employed by the chiropractor is the chiropractic spinal adjustment. This noninvasive therapy consists of a gentle, manually or mechanically applied force into the segments of the spinal column. Spinal adjustments have been shown to decrease pain, increase spinal range of motion, decrease muscle spasm, reduce inflammation, optimize spinal biomechanics, and reduce the recurrence of old injuries.
LOW BACK PAIN
If you're suffering from lower back pain you're not alone. More than 80% of North Americans will at some time in their life suffer from the disabling confines of lower back pain.
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According to experts, lower back pain is the number one disability culprit in workers' compensation claims and accounts for more than $50 billion annually in the US through medical care and lost production. In addition, the latest research shows most lower back problems which cause low back pain do not fully resolve without extensive treatment and proper rehabilitation, contrary to previous beliefs.
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The chiropractic doctor is unique in the health care field in that much of the training in chiropractic colleges is specifically aimed at identifying and successfully treating and managing lower back conditions. General medical practitioners generally lack adequate training in this area and have not learned the skills necessary to most effectively identify and treat most back conditions.
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CAUSES MID BACK PAIN
Many tissues can generate low back pain. Unfortunately, research shows that the exact tissues causing low back pain cannot be specifically identified in up to 80% of individuals. In other words, we cannot single out the tissue(s) responsible for the pain. These patients are said to suffer from "nonspecific low back pain"; the specific cause of the pain cannot be determined.
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Although the specific tissues causing low back pain are difficult to identify, chiropractic doctors have found a number of factors consistently present in low back pain patients. These factors include vertebral subluxations, faulty spinal biomechanics, deconditioned spinal musculature and the practice of poor postural habits and techniques. By addressing these factors - the actual causes of the tissue injury - chiropractic doctors are able to obtain extraordinary results in low back pain sufferers.
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COMMON EVENTS LEADING OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN INCLUDE:
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Incomplete Rehabilitation Of Past Injuries
-
Lack Of Proper And Periodic Thoracic Spinal Alignments
-
presence Of Thoracic Spine Subluxations
-
Improper Lifting Techniques
-
Auto Accidents
-
Improper Workstation Setup
-
Poor Posture
-
Prolonged Sitting
-
Prolonged Use Of Non-Ergonomically Designed Equipment
-
Excessive Repetitive Torsal Motions
-
Scoliosis (lateral deviation of the spine)
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Physical Inactivity
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Poor Diet And Nutritional Practices
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Smoking
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TREATMENTS FOR LOW BACK PAIN
Doctors of chiropractic are the health care leaders in the treatment of low back pain as well as other spinal conditions. Treatments are gentle, safe, natural, noninvasive and highly effective. Also, the treatments are designed to correct the root cause of your problem and not simply cover up the symptoms you experience. In fact, a Canadian government commissioned study on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of chiropractic management of low back pain concluded,
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"Chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain. Chiropractic management is greatly superior to medical management in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction."
HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY NECK & BACK
Short-term and regular chiropractic care have a number of benefits including:
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Spinal and Extremity Pain Relief
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Headache Relief
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Increased Mobility and Range Of Motion
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Decreased Stiffness and Muscular Spasms
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Arthritic Joint Pain Relief
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Increased Joint Health
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Increased Performance and Energy
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Increased Sense Of Well Being And Relaxation
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Increased Balance and Coordination
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Reduced Degeneration and Risk Of Injury
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Enhanced Tissue Healing
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Decreased Tissue Inflammation
CAUSES SCIATICA?
Sciatica is actually a sign that you have an underlying problem putting pressure on a nerve in your lower back. The most common cause of this nerve compression is a bulging or herniated lumbar disc. Piriformis syndrome is another common cause of sciatica. The piriformis is a muscle that lies directly over the sciatic nerve. If this muscle becomes tight or if you have a spasm in this muscle, it puts pressure directly on the sciatic nerve. Occasionally, sciatic pain in men is caused by sitting on a wallet.
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HOW DO I KNOW IF I SCIATICA?
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.
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HOW IS SCIATICA TREATED?
The vast majority of the time, sciatic pain can be relieved through a combination of stretches, deep tissue massage of the piriformis muscle and chiropractic care. Occasionally, in cases where chronic spasm of the low back or piriformis muscles is causing the sciatic pain, it may be necessary to do a procedure called a trigger point injection, where a medical pain specialist injects a small amount of anesthetic directly into a spasmed muscle to break the spasm cycle. However, this is typically not necessary.
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