Posts Tagged ‘back pain’
May 25th, 2009 | 
Author: One of the most frequently misunderstood conditions among patients is arthritis..When some people hear this word they contemplate a future with crippled and twisted joints. However, many conditions from benign to severe are listed under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will restrict this discourse to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
The most common form of arthritis has many names: osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and spondylosis if it is in the spine. Basically, the condition is due to the wearing out of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. Degenerative changes in the joint happens when joint cartilage is damaged and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are more commonly called bone spurs. These spurs can produce painful irritation to other tissues around the joint, in this way complicating the already painful condition.
Degenerative joints as a rule occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and fingers. Everyone may experience DJD at one point in their lives, though previous trauma, ones occupation, activities, weight, diet, and heredity influence the degree of the condition and its onset.
The symptoms of DJD always involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved, for instance, neck pain. As the condition advances there can be loss of mobility, notably when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are involved. As a last resort joints can be surgically replaced with synthetic devices. This should be done only in severe cases where the joint is measurably worn and movement is unattainable without severe pain.
Prevention is invariably the best option, beginning at an early age.
* One should always guarantee that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are correctly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
* Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs require extended periods of standing or walking.
* Weight loss through proper diet will help to reduce stress on weight-bearing body joints.
* Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and produce knee pain.
* The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants provided by fruits and vegetables are crucial for healthy joints and a healthy body.
Recently there have been some studies that reveal that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and may actually help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over a long-term period and does not work in all conditions.
Chiropractic adjustments assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly trained when it comes to arthritic pain relief. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is required to stabilize the joint and relieve pain. A chiropractor may suggest exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities to help maintain arthritic joints.
Gout
Gouty arthritis is generated by increased levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Most people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are generally brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that need to be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Those with this condition cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, thus the buildup in the bloodstream and the resultant joint problems. The foods most connected with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is systemic in nature and thought to be produced by immune system dysfunction. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, though other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness made more painful by movement is usually associated with the disease. Frequently people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through specific blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic treatments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be beneficial. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
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Scoliosis an Introduction
A normal spine looks straight, without much deviation from side-to-side, when the body is seen from behind. But, if the spine is viewed to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the person might have an affliction called scoliosis.The condition shouldn’t be confused with poor posture, even though it often gives the appearance that the patient is leaning to one side. Scoliosis is a complicated deformity that is defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often causing a symptomatic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their fastened ribs posterior hence causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, greater than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be impeded. Frequently later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this intensity of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.
Anatomy
The spine displays four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are apparent from a side view of the trunk. In the lower spine there is a healthy “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes regularly accompany diversions from normal on a side view. Some round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be corrected with postural exercises. A small portion of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This kind of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more problematic to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.
Even a nonprofessional can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis merely by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in briefs, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be higher than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more prominent than the other.
- There may be more area between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang relaxed at the side.
- One hip may appear to be more elevated or more conspicuous than the other.
- The head is not aligned with the pelvis.
- One side of the back appears more raised than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the the spine is horizontal.
Once scoliosis is identified, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
The most common kind of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and although there are many different roots and many types, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for about 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories. Idiopathic Scoliosis commonly runs in families and may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” implies, this kind of scoliosis commonly occurs when children are finishing their last major growth spurt. It is smart to have this age group viewed by a professional on a regular basis because young people are disinclined to permit their body to be seen by parents or other adults.
If a scoliotic curve is observed in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for advancement by periodic examination and sometimes standing X-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to decide if a brace or other therapy is needed. In a small number of people, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of individuals.
Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is observed, or when new cases of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are found. There are quite a few types of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effective in preventing curve progression in a very large percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents. However, braces generally won’t make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from progressing.
Scoliosis has no simple resolution. Nearly all cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. The standard medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace, whereas severe conditions in some cases are treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.
Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among the complementary treatments used in addition to bracing. It seems like the most effective results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this abnormality.
There are chiropractors, that have years of experience managing scoliosis conditions.