Back Pain: Do You Have to Live with It?
Back pain is a common ailment that affects
80-85% of people some time in their lives.
The severity can range from mere nuisance
to major disability. There are a number
of potential causes of back pain including
poor lifting technique, overuse, and
trauma.
In most cases, back pain can be dealt with
effectively, if the right approach is taken.
However, there are a wide variety of factors
that can contribute to back pain. To
successfully treat back pain, these factors
must be identified and treated as they affect
each individual.
At the Rhode Island Spine Center, we establish
a treatment strategy that is personalized to
each patient. We treat all patients as
individuals with specific needs and treatment
goals. We are committed to providing the
highest quality non-surgical care for back
pain, in a warm caring environment.
What Are the Factors That Contribute to Most Back Pain?
We believe that cases of back pain can be
attributed to what is called dysfunction.
This simply means that the joints, muscles,
and nervous system are not performing their
job at optimum efficiency.
Joint Dysfunction
Joint dysfunction occurs when one of the
joints in the spine or limbs loses its normal
resiliency and shock absorption capacity.
When a joint develops joint dysfunction, its
normal range of movement is affected and the
joint can become painful. In addition,
because the joint contains receptors, the
dysfunction can cause abnormal signals to be
sent to the central nervous system that can
cause the muscles related to that joint to
either become tense or, conversely, to
become limp.
Muscle Dysfunction
Some muscles respond to joint dysfunction
by becoming tense and overactive,
while others respond by becoming limp and
underactive. In either case, one thing
that can happen in these muscles is the
development of trigger points, areas
of congestion within the muscle where toxins
accumulate. These toxins can irritate the
nerve endings within the muscle and produce
pain.
Because the joints and muscles contain a
great number of nerve receptors, joint and
muscle dysfunction can cause abnormal
neurological signals to be sent into the
central nervous system. This can then cause
disruption of the ability of the nervous
system to properly regulate muscles in
other parts of the body, leading to the
development of instability.
Instability
Instability occurs when the muscles whose
job it is to support the spine and protect
the discs and joints fail to function
properly. These muscles must work
cooperatively and harmoniously to guard
against strain to the back. But injury,
disuse or joint and muscle dysfunction can
cause these muscles to stop working at
optimum, rendering the spine susceptible
to injury.
Disc Derangement
Sometimes these joint and muscle
dysfunctions and faulty movement patterns
put strain on the
discs
that are positioned between the vertebrae
and small tears in the disc can develop.
These small tears can allow the gel that
is held in the middle of the disc to seep
out into these tears and irritate the
nerve endings in the outer portion of
the disc. This is known as disc
derangement. Occasionally, but
uncommonly, this gel can seep all the way
out and press on one of the nerve roots
that exit the spinal cord in front of
the disc. This is known as disc
herniation. When this happens, pain
in the back as well as in the leg can
develop, along with neurological symptoms
such as numbness, tingling and muscle
weakness.
How Does the Doctor Detect the Cause of My Back Pain?
At the Rhode Island Spine Center, the staff
Chiropractic Physicians are trained in the
differential diagnosis of back pain. This
includes the identification of significant
joint and muscle dysfunction, faulty movement
patterns and disc derangement or herniation
discussed previously, as well as the more
uncommon but potentially serious disorders
that can produce back pain.
History Taking
The process starts with history taking.
By obtaining the required detailed
information, the doctor is able to rule
out more serious problems and direct the
examination to the areas and processes
that are most likely causing the
pain.
Physical Examination
This is followed by the physical
examination, which involves motion palpation,
muscle examination, and assessment of
mobility and stability as well as
neurological examination and general
physical tests.
Advanced Testing
Occasionally, it is necessary to obtain
advanced testing such as x-ray,
CT scan,
MRI, blood
tests, or other physical tests to further
investigate the problem.
In most cases, after history taking, examination, and
further testing are complete, a diagnosis can be
established. If the problem is determined to be one
that is treatable at the Rhode Island Spine Center,
and your case is accepted, a treatment strategy is
formulated and recommended to you. This strategy will
be discussed with you prior to the institution of any
treatment.
What Will the Treatment Consist of?
The staff Chiropractic Physicians and Physical
Therapists work as a team to provide the best
care for you. The treatment will be directed at
those primary factors that were detected during
the examination. The most common treatments
are:
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal Manipulation consists of gently moving
the involved joint into the direction in which
it is restricted and may involve the
application of a short, quick movement in that
direction. In many cases, no quick movement is
used, but rather, a slow mobilizing movement is
used. "Cracking" type manipulation is often
useful but, in most cases, non-"cracking"
techniques are just as effective. If you are
nervous about "cracking" techniques, please
speak to your treating chiropractic
physician.
Muscle Relaxation / Stimulation
Muscle Relaxation or Stimulation Procedures
consist of gentle stretches to the involved
muscle that has excessive tension, or repeated
contractions of the muscle that is weak.
Gentle finger pressure techniques may be
applied to trigger points
to relieve the pain associated with
these points.
Stabilization / Sensorimotor Exercises
Stabilization or Sensorimotor Exercises are
designed to train your nervous system to
improve stability so that your back is
maximally protected during routine
activities.
Workplace and Lifestyle Advice
Workplace and Lifestyle Advice is designed
to address factors in your work, home or
recreational activities that perpetuate the
dysfunctions that lead to back pain.
The treatment strategy will be specific to your
problem and may include one or more of these
approaches, and may involve others as well. This
may include referral to another health professional,
such as an orthopedic specialist, if it is deemed
appropriate.
Back Pain:
At the Rhode Island Spine Center, we establish
a treatment strategy that is personalized to
each patient. We treat all patients as
individuals with specific needs and treatment
goals. We are committed to providing the
highest quality non-surgical care for back
pain, in a warm caring environment.
At the Rhode Island Spine Center, the staff
Chiropractic Physicians are trained in the
differential diagnosis of back pain. This
includes the identification of significant
joint and muscle dysfunction, faulty movement
patterns and disc derangement or herniation
discussed previously, as well as the more
uncommon but potentially serious disorders
that can produce back pain.
