Spinal anatomy

Why does my back hurt?


•Low back pain is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost days at work. •It is also one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor's office or a hospital's emergency department. •It is the second most common neurologic complain in the United States, second only to headache


Major conditions of the Low Back:•Sprain/Strain Muscle/Ligaments•Bulging or Herniated Discs•Degenerative Disc Disease

• Bone Spurs• Arthritis• Posture

•Subluxation


Sprain or Strain of spinal ligaments and muscles

•When the load or force exceeds the muscles' ability to cope, the force is shared with the ligaments. When a ligament is stressed beyond its strength, it can tear



•Swelling causes pain, tenderness, and stiffness; swelling serves to protect the injured back by restricting movement



• Pain around the low back and upper buttocks

• Low back/neck muscle spasm • Pain associated with

activities, and generally relieved with rest


Sprain or Strain of spinal ligaments and muscles –OK NOW WHAT?

• Step 1: RestThe first step in the treatment of a lumbar muscle strain is to rest the back. This will allow the inflammation to subside and control the symptoms of muscle spasm. *24-48 hours

*If no improvement after 48 hours consult your physician.



• Step 2: Ice/HeatAcute injuries work best with ice applications whereas chronic injuries respond to heat. Intermittent applications 10-15 minutes, 30 minutes rest pattern.



• Step 3: Exercise/Conditioning

• Proper conditioning is important to both avoid this type of problem and recover from this injury. By stretching and strengthening the back muscles, you will help control the inflammation and better condition the lumbar back muscles.



Tough outer fibers of the spinal disc weaken and stretch allowing the “jelly center” of the disc to “bulge” outward. Bulging Disc

Herniated Disc

Disc center pushes through outer fibers and disc contents are removed from center. Surgery required .

Prolapsed Disc

Further stretching of spinal disc often pushing on delicate spinal nerves causing pain .

Disc Bulge or Herniation “Slipped Disc”



Disc Bulge–OK NOW WHAT?

•Exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root

•Ice/heat therapy for pain relief

•*Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief

•If after 48 hours no change in symptoms consult your physician

*Use sparingly


Disc Bulge–OK NOW WHAT?

•Visit your chiropractor

•“63% of patients studied revealed a reduced size or completely resorbed disc herniation [as per MRI studies].”

“80% of the patients studied had a good clinical outcome [pain was eliminated] for herniated discs in the neck and low back”.

“63% of patients studied revealed a reduced size or completely resorbeddisc herniation [as per MRI studies].”

Source: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Nov-Dec1996


Degenerative Disc Disease

Over time, the spinal discs begin to lose water and protein, making the cartilage that forms their structure weaker and more brittle. This weakness leads to a gradual process known as degenerative disc disease.


Spinal Arthritis

Arthritis of the spine is a term used to describe a wide range of conditions that cause pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiff joints. More than 50 million Americans are affected by some form of this spine condition, and some experts speculate that by 2020 this number will increase to 60%. As of now, more than 90% of Americans over 55 are affected by it.


Spinal Arthritis


Typical Upper Cross Syndrome

Poor posture can increase the effects of arthritis and degeneration.


Typical Lower Cross Syndrome


Neck and Back Bone Spurs

Often referred to as osteophytes, bone spurs form due to a protective mechanism of the body. These bony growths are not spurs in the sense that they are pointed, but rather they are simply bony growths on the normal bone structure. When these growths protrude into the spinal canal or onto a nearby nerve root, they can cause pain and many more symptoms.


Contributing Factors

Genetics – if a parent or grandparent had the condition, you are more likely to develop it yourself.Traumatic spine injury – if you hurt your back as a kid playing football or participating in some other activity, degeneration may be accelerated in early middle age.Obesity – additional body weight places more strain on the anatomical components of the spine.


Contributing Factors

Cigarette smoking – chemicals in smoke inhibit the body’s ability to distribute oxygen, which can hasten disc deterioration.Diabetes – circulatory issues in diabetes patients also inhibits oxygen distribution.



Subluxation

Vertebra which has lost its normal position and/or motion in relation to neighboring vertebrae.

This accelerates the wear and tear on the surrounding spinal muscles, ligaments, discs, joint and other spinal tissues.


Subluxations

•Potential to impair proper nerve functioning. •Once nerve functioning is compromised, communication within the body becomes less effective jeopardizing the overall health and wellness of the individual.


Low Back Innervation

L1-Large Intestine, UterusL2-Appendix, Abdomen, Upper legL3-Sex Organs, Abdomen, Bladder, Knees, Prostate, Large intestineL4-Prostate, Muscles of low back, Sciatic NerveL5-Lower legs, Ankles, Feet, Prostate


Subluxations

•Pain, palpatory tenderness, inflammation, decreased spinal mobility, and muscle spasm and hypertonicity will eventually follow


Subluxations•Most injuries have some component of vertebral subluxation. Get checked out by your Chiropractor today!

Visit your Chiropractor!!!

Health & Medicine

Spinal anatomy