Chiropractic Care and Back Pain
Which is worse – neck pain or back pain?
I hear this question often in my San Diego chiropractic office. Of course the answer is easy – if you have back pain, back pain is definitely worse than neck pain. If you have neck pain, neck pain is definitely worse than back pain.
Another common question that I hear regarding low back pain is why sitting makes it hurt more than standing.
This is a good question, which can be answered through physics. I remember seeing a diagram in one of my office ergonomic books that exposed the different stress levels on the spinal disks with various body positions.
The diagram had drawings of a person standing, lying down, sitting and then sitting while hunched forward with very poor posture. The disk pressure differences with these different postures was given as follows:
Standing upright 100%
Lying down 24%
Sitting upright 140%
Sitting hunched 190%
The explanation of the much higher disk pressures while sitting is explained by examining the structural changes that occur when we change from a standing to a seated position.
Our spines are supposed to have curves when viewed from the side. The neck should have a nice sweeping forward curve, the mid-back should carry a backward curve and the low back should have a sweeping forward curve. When these curves are present, the weight of your body is carried evenly across several different structures of the spine. These curves help provide stability for your spine.
Once we assume a seated position, the natural forward curve in our low backs reverses which increases the pressure on the disks and either increases back pain or causes back pain. If we stay in that seated position but flex our bodies forward at the waist (think bad posture – slumping over your keyboard or desk) the pressure in the disks elevates causing more damage and more pain.
Limiting the time that you sit will help your back pain in most instances. This is advice that I hand out to my San Diego chiropractic patients everyday of the week. I hope that it helps you as well.
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
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Friday, February 19, 2010
Causes of Neck Pain and Back Pain
Causes of Neck Pain and Back Pain
My chiropractic office, similar to many other practices all over the US, offers relief from back pain or 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 back and neck pain could create other health problems that are more serious.
Some of the various conditions that cause back pain and neck pain can include everything from injury and infection to twisting or turning "the wrong way". 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. Joints and ligaments become increasingly inflamed and swollen with advancing age.
A herniated disc happens if nucleus pulposus, the substance inside the disc, comes out of a torn annulus fibrosis, the substance outside of the disc, compressing 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 bottom two spinal vertebrae experience ninety percent of all herniated disc injuries.
When the spinal canal becomes narrow, spinal stenosis can occur, making the spinal cord irritated and injured. There are many conditions that can cause spinal stenosis including infections, tumors, trauma, herniated disc, arthritis, ligament thickening, the growth of bone spurs, and general disc degeneration. As people age, some vertebral degeneration occurs, sometimes leading to spinal stenosis.
When something rubs or presses against a nerve creating irritation or inflammation, a pinched nerve, also known as radiculopathy, occurs. The causes of radiculopathy vary. 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. When the sciatic nerve is inflamed, pain shoots down the lower back through one side of the buttocks and continues down the back side of the leg.
Compressing the spine or nerve roots can cause significant pain and can be an indicator or symptom of a spinal tumor that originates 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 fluid can press against the spinal cord and cause bad neurological damage if it isn't identified and treated right away.
Facet joints are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct the movement of the spine; these joints are often areas that are affected by 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. Bone rubbing against bone can be very painful.
These are among the many causes for back pain and neck pain. Chiropractors often relieve uncomfortable back pain and neck pain, because the associated causes are usually mechanical in nature. 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
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
My chiropractic office, similar to many other practices all over the US, offers relief from back pain or 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 back and neck pain could create other health problems that are more serious.
Some of the various conditions that cause back pain and neck pain can include everything from injury and infection to twisting or turning "the wrong way". 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. Joints and ligaments become increasingly inflamed and swollen with advancing age.
A herniated disc happens if nucleus pulposus, the substance inside the disc, comes out of a torn annulus fibrosis, the substance outside of the disc, compressing 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 bottom two spinal vertebrae experience ninety percent of all herniated disc injuries.
When the spinal canal becomes narrow, spinal stenosis can occur, making the spinal cord irritated and injured. There are many conditions that can cause spinal stenosis including infections, tumors, trauma, herniated disc, arthritis, ligament thickening, the growth of bone spurs, and general disc degeneration. As people age, some vertebral degeneration occurs, sometimes leading to spinal stenosis.
When something rubs or presses against a nerve creating irritation or inflammation, a pinched nerve, also known as radiculopathy, occurs. The causes of radiculopathy vary. 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. When the sciatic nerve is inflamed, pain shoots down the lower back through one side of the buttocks and continues down the back side of the leg.
Compressing the spine or nerve roots can cause significant pain and can be an indicator or symptom of a spinal tumor that originates 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 fluid can press against the spinal cord and cause bad neurological damage if it isn't identified and treated right away.
Facet joints are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct the movement of the spine; these joints are often areas that are affected by 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. Bone rubbing against bone can be very painful.
These are among the many causes for back pain and neck pain. Chiropractors often relieve uncomfortable back pain and neck pain, because the associated causes are usually mechanical in nature. 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
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Chiropractic Explained
Chiropractic care for beginners
My Chiropractic clinic in San Diego primarily serves those who have had experience with chiropractic treatment over the course of their lives. Many of them come for treatment not because they have a particular ache or pain but because they simply like the way they feel after a treatment. I don’t want to imply that chiropractic care is addicting like smoking is, but after you have experienced the improved range of motion, increased athletic performance and decreased muscle tension that results from chiropractic care, many simply want that feeling to be the norm. Other patients come specifically for treatment of neck pain, back pain, headaches, etc.
One thing that most of these patients have in common is that they usually know someone who could benefit from chiropractic care but that person is hesitant. They are hesitant to come for treatment either because they don’t “believe” in chiropractors or because they are afraid.
Those who don’t believe in chiropractic care are easy to convince of the benefits of chiropractic treatment. Many of these people hold on to the untruths spread by the American Medical Association (AMA) regarding chiropractors. Between the 1960s and the mid 1980s, the AMA spent nearly $100,000,000 on an anti-chiropractic campaign. While most of the information that the AMA dispersed regarding my profession was false and based on the poor behavior of just a few doctors, some people continue to hold on to those false ideas.
That being said, chiropractic treatment has a direct and immediate beneficial effect on the joints of the spine. This benefit is a combination of increased joint motion, relaxed muscles and decreased tension and is hard to overlook even by the most pessimistic skeptic.
Those who are fearful of chiropractic care are more difficult to convince of the benefits of treatment. They are afraid that they might get paralyzed or have some other life changing occurrence as a result of care. In reality, chiropractic care is very safe. The only “side effect” that we have personally seen regarding chiropractic care is that the patients feel better.
The safety of your doctor’s office can be determined by the cost of their malpractice insurance. Chiropractors insurance rates for the same level of coverage is less than 1/10 of most MDs. What that means to patients is that despite the fact that some people don’t like the thought of having their joints “cracked”, a chiropractor’s office is a very safe place to receive treatment.
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
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
My Chiropractic clinic in San Diego primarily serves those who have had experience with chiropractic treatment over the course of their lives. Many of them come for treatment not because they have a particular ache or pain but because they simply like the way they feel after a treatment. I don’t want to imply that chiropractic care is addicting like smoking is, but after you have experienced the improved range of motion, increased athletic performance and decreased muscle tension that results from chiropractic care, many simply want that feeling to be the norm. Other patients come specifically for treatment of neck pain, back pain, headaches, etc.
One thing that most of these patients have in common is that they usually know someone who could benefit from chiropractic care but that person is hesitant. They are hesitant to come for treatment either because they don’t “believe” in chiropractors or because they are afraid.
Those who don’t believe in chiropractic care are easy to convince of the benefits of chiropractic treatment. Many of these people hold on to the untruths spread by the American Medical Association (AMA) regarding chiropractors. Between the 1960s and the mid 1980s, the AMA spent nearly $100,000,000 on an anti-chiropractic campaign. While most of the information that the AMA dispersed regarding my profession was false and based on the poor behavior of just a few doctors, some people continue to hold on to those false ideas.
That being said, chiropractic treatment has a direct and immediate beneficial effect on the joints of the spine. This benefit is a combination of increased joint motion, relaxed muscles and decreased tension and is hard to overlook even by the most pessimistic skeptic.
Those who are fearful of chiropractic care are more difficult to convince of the benefits of treatment. They are afraid that they might get paralyzed or have some other life changing occurrence as a result of care. In reality, chiropractic care is very safe. The only “side effect” that we have personally seen regarding chiropractic care is that the patients feel better.
The safety of your doctor’s office can be determined by the cost of their malpractice insurance. Chiropractors insurance rates for the same level of coverage is less than 1/10 of most MDs. What that means to patients is that despite the fact that some people don’t like the thought of having their joints “cracked”, a chiropractor’s office is a very safe place to receive treatment.
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
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
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