Causes of Back and Neck Pain
My Chiropractic office is among the many all over the US that offers therapy for back pain and neck pain. More than just a solution for back and neck pain, chiropractic care may alleviate symptoms or improve many ailments.
Because back pain and neck pain can be early signs of a severe problem, you should see a medical professional quickly. Ignoring the discomfort in your neck and back might make for more complex medical problems.
There are a host of reasons people experience back pain and neck pain, including injuries, infections, accidents, and sometimes even turning or twisting. Muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae can undergo considerable trauma and resulting injury from auto and other types of accidents.
When back pain occurs as a tight feeling along the spine or muscle spasms, overuse or lack of use of the back muscles is the most likely culprit. As we grow older, inflammation and swelling often develop in our joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar areas.
When someone has a herniated disc, it is a result of the inner covering, the nuclear pulposus, emerging through a damaged area of the annulus fibrosis, which is the outer covering of the disc; this leads to compression of the nerve root. Because the cervical and lumbar areas of the spine have the greatest range of motion, the discs here have a greater exposure to injury and repeated stress. The lower two lumbar vertebrae is where ninety percent of disc herniations occur.
When the spinal canal becomes narrow, spinal stenosis can occur, making the spinal cord irritated and injured. Narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis, can result in damage or irritation of the spinal cord. As people age, some vertebral degeneration occurs, sometimes leading to spinal stenosis.
When something grinds or touches a nerve, causing irritation or the area to be inflamed, it is called radiculopathy, also known as a pinched nerve. Some causes of radiculopathy are bone spurs, herniated discs, fractures of the vertebrae, tumors, and a host of other diseases and conditions.
The specific type of radiculopathy that irritates the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica. The pain is felt along the big sciatic nerve, which goes from the lower back to the behind area and down the back of the leg.
A tumor that starts in the spine (primary tumor) or reaches the spine from a different part of the body (metastatic tumor) can press on the spine's nerve roots and be very painful.
Ailments of the vertebrae (vertebral osteomyelitis), disc problems, spinal meningitis, or cerebrospinal liquid can put pressure on the spinal cord and cause severe neurological deterioration, if there isn't a diagnosis or it isn't treated quickly.
Facet joints exist where two vertebra abut to direct or guide spinal movements and are likely candidates for arthritis. As the joints deteriorate, they get out of alignment, and the cartilage and fluid that should keep our joints "greased" may deteriorate as well. It can be extremely painful when the bone rubs against another bone.
These are among the many causes for back pain and neck pain. Due mainly to mechanical causes, which can be readily addressed by a chiropractor, most cases of back and neck pain may be helped this way. This is the point; do not ignore the warning signal that is head and back pain.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
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