“Back Pain Remedies: Water”

It’s no coincidence that our planet, every living thing and of course our own bodies are composed of about 76% water. We were created to thrive on water. Water makes the entire world work. It stands to reason therefore, that if we do not take in enough water there will be consequences.

Most people realize that inadequate hydration can cause illness like bladder and kidney trouble, headaches, fatigue, etc. But you may be surprised to learn that a significant number of people suffer from aches and pains, like back pain due to lack of water.

Without proper hydration, our body cannot perform complex biochemical processes that are required for normal health. Waste products are not flushed out adequately, which leads to build up of toxic chemicals. Muscles, lacking proper hydration tend to tighten up exerting pressure on the spine.

So if you have back pain, do your doctor or therapist a favor and help them help you. Drink more water.

But how much is enough?
Without going into complex calculations factoring body weight, age and activity level, try this test. I call it the T.T. or “Toilet Test.”

Toilet Test for proper hydration

When you urinate, simply observe the color:

• Very pale yellow to clear: Good hydration
• Medium yellow: Pretty good, drink a cup or two more each day
• Dark yellow: Getting dehydrated, drink several more cups
• Dark almost brown: You are dehydrated, drinks lots more water

Also note the odor:

• Well hydration results in very low urine odor because it is diluted.
• A strong odor indicates dehydration and concentrated waste products in the urine.

Are you thirsty?
If you feel thirsty, chances are you are already on the verge of dehydration! Being well hydrated throughout the day prevents thirst. Thirst is a signal tat we are seriously low on water. Don’t wait to be thirsty before drinking.

Drink coffee, tea, soda or alcohol?
These beverages are diuretics; they make you urinate more. So if you drink these, you need to replace the lost water by drinking additional water.

Try drinking enough water to keep your urine clear and low odor and your mouth is moist. If you do, you will probably find that your back hurts less.

“Cauda Equina Syndrome: When NOT to See Your Chiropractor”

Your Doctor of Chiropractic can help you with a myriad of health problems. Numerous studies have proven both the efficacy and safety of chiropractic treatment as a cure for lower back pain, neck pain, whiplash and many other issues.

This article however, explains a particular situation “When NOT to See Your Chiropractor.”

Cauda Equina Syndrome
There is a fairly rare, but very serious condition known as “Cauda Equina Syndrome.” Thankfully, very few readers will have direct experience with this condition. But it is nonetheless important to discuss because if you ever develop these symptoms or know someone who does, you’ll know the quick action to take to avoid serious complications.

Horse Anatomy
The last several nerve roots come off of the spinal cord as strands resembling a horse’s tail, thus the Latin term “Cauda Equina” (Horse’s Tail). Cauda Equina Syndrome refers to pressure of these nerve rootlets that branch off of the terminal end of the spinal cord.

Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome
These are the tell-tale signs you have Cauda Equina Syndrome. You can have one or all.

• Weakness of legs
• Atrophy (loss of muscles girth) of legs
• Numbness, pain or tingling into legs or feet
• Numbness and or anesthesia (total loss of sensation) around the anus
• Loss of bowel or bladder control

 

Cause of Cauda Equina Syndrome

There are several conditions that can cause Cauda Equina Syndrome:

• Large disc herniation in lumbar spine
• Spinal Stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis Grade III or greater
• Fracture/Dislocation of lumbar vertebrae
• Tumor

 

Complications

If not treated properly and in time, permanent irreversible paralysis could occur. Therefore, going to your chiropractor or general medical physician when you have these symptoms only further delays proper care.

 

What to Do if You Have These Symptoms
You should immediately report to an emergency room for an examination and MRI and/or CT scan. Once the cause of the syndrome is found, proper treatment may commence.

 

 

Cause of Lower Back Pain: Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis is a common cause of lower back pain and sciatica. It is most often found in older patients in their 60’s and older.

Stenosis means a restriction or blockage of a hole or opening. When doctors refer to “spinal stenosis” they are most often talking about stenosis or blockage of the central spinal canal. The central, canal is the large opening in the spinal bones that provides a bony “tube” that houses and protects the spinal cord.

The Cause of Spinal Stenosis
The central canal may become reduced in size due to:

• Disc bulge or herniation
• Bone spur of vertebral body
• Bone spur from facet arthritis

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
No matter what the cause, the symptoms of central spinal stenosis are the same. The textbook example is back and/or leg pain that is aggravated by walking and is relieved by short periods of sitting, after which time the person can walk for a period of time before the pain increases again. Sufferers of spinal stenosis must take frequent breaks on a walk.

As the condition worsens the amount of time the patient is able to walk gets shorter and shorter. Eventually spinal stenosis sufferers stop going for walks, shopping, etc.

Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis
The history of pain while walking relieved by rest is a big clue. A physical exam is necessary to determine the extent of neurologic function.

Two things must be documented and monitored for treatment:

1. How long the patient can walk before he or she must sit
2. How far down the pain travels; buttocks, back of thighs, calves, etc

An MRI is the most conclusive test to accurately diagnose stenosis and to determine the severity and cause, i.e. bone spur versus disc herniation.

Spinal Stenosis Treatment depends on:

• The cause; disc vs. bone spur
• The severity

For more information on spinal stenosis and a possible treatment go to: http://www.spinediscrehab.com/drx9000.htm

Cause of Lower Back Pain: Facet Syndrome

Back Anatomy

The spine has 2 sets of joints: A large joint between the large weight bearing part of the spine which is held in place by the disc and a smaller pair of joints in the back of the spine that guide movement.

It’s the latter joints that this article will address.

The smaller paired joints in the spine are called “facet” (fuh-set) joints. These joints are designed to help guide movement within the spine.

Cause of Facet Syndrome
Facet syndrome is a cause of chronic back pain that results from prolonged stress on the facet joints. It is a form of osteoarthritis of a specific joint. Work injuries, accidents, subluxation, prolonged poor posture and disc disease all contribute to facet joint malfunction. Continued malfunction over time results in the breakdown of the cartilaginous facet joint linings. In time, the bones react by forming spurs in an attempt to fuse the joint shut.

Symptoms of Facet Syndrome
The hallmark of facet syndrome is a deep aching pain that is aggravated by sitting and leaning backwards or twisting at the waist. The pain is usually located within an inch or two of the midline of the spine. It may occur just on one side or it can be on both. Facet syndrome does not ordinarily cause radiating pain (sciatica).

Diagnosing Facet Syndrome
A thorough physical examination of the spine must be done. A simple maneuver where the patient’s back is extended over the doctor’s hand as a fulcrum (Kemp’s test) will usually cause reproduction of the pain. Oblique (angled) plain film x-rays will show characteristic signs of facet joint narrowing, irregularity and often spurs. A loss of disc height is often found at the same level. Advanced imaging like an MRI is not usually required.

For more detailed information and a video tutorial on facet syndrome follow this link.

Is Your Disc Bulge ‘Focal’ or ‘Diffuse’? and Why it Matters…

The spine is made of 26 interlocking bones held together and made flexible by “discs” between each spinal bone.

Disc Function:
The disc is a flexible, yet very strong structure that bears the brunt of our weight by absorbing shock. Discs allow movement between the vertebrae or spinal bones. The discs also act as spacers to allow enough room for sensitive and important nerves to pass from the spinal cord to the rest of the body so that your brain can control and communicate with distant organs and tissues.

Disc Anatomy
A disc has 2 parts:
1. Annulus–outer fibrous tissue
2. Nucleus–inner gel substance

Disc Damage
When a disc is injured by acute trauma or by long-standing physical stresses, the outer fibers are weakened and allow the disc to bulge outward. The annulus may bulge or protrude in a small discreet area called a “focal” disc bulge or it may bulge across a wide portion of the disc, which would be called a “diffuse” bulge.

Focal bulges by their smaller and more localized nature cause more discreet neurologic symptoms like pain. Because the bulge is small or focused to only one area, the nerves involved are fewer.

Diffuse bulges however, take up more space and can cause more varied symptoms. You could one sided or both sided pain, you could have pain that appears to be coming from a different level altogether because of pressure on the spinal cord itself and not just a discreet nerve.

Obviously if you are going to pick and choose your bulge, you’d opt for a focal one. Unfortunately back pain sufferers have no choice. The “take away” point here though is if you know what type you have, it will help you to understand what your likely recovery is.

It’s also crucial for your doctor to take this into account to determine what treatment methods to use to cure your lower back pain and sciatica.

Learn what can be done to repair damaged discs and relieve the pain without surgery here:http://www.spinediscrehab.com/

Cause of Lower Back Pain: Bulging Disc Herniation

Intervertebral discs are “spacers” between the spinal bones. They provide room for the joints to move allowing flexbility of the spine. They also provide room for the nerves to exit from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.   

Discs are usually filled with water and are quite flexible, almost rubbery. Due to lifting injuries, repeated physical stress, automobile accidents, etc the outer disc fibers (annulus) become damaged allowing water to escape from the disc. In time, the disc become more and more dehydrated and beghins to weaken. Just like a car or bicycle tire that’s sidewall is weak, a bulge forms. The bulge may put pressure within the canal that nerves pass through causing not only back pian, but also butt, thigh, leg or foot pain (sciatica).

The disc bulge may worsen and the outer fibers may actually tear open and allow inner disc material (nucleus) to protrude outward (herniation) into the nerves or spinal cord. In most instances, a herniation like this will cause back pain and sciatica, but also serious physical signs such as loss of muscle strength in the legs, shrinking of leg muscles (atrophy) and/or loss of reflexes. See video tutorial of disc herniation here: http://www.CureForLowerBackPain.com

Diagnosis of disc bulge and herniation are by careful phsyical examination and confirmed conclusively on MRI scan. Plain x-rays will NOT show disc bulges or herniation. A seemingly normal x-ray may show up as a severe herniation on MRI.

Cause of Lower Back Pain: Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease refers to the breakdown and malfunction of one or more intervertebral discs. “Discs” are the spacers and shock absorbers between the spinal bones.

Discs are naturally about 75% water. With physical exertion, gravity, injuries and chronic postural stress the discs begin to lose their water content and become dehydrated. When this occurs the disc begins to shrink or contract. Rather than their usual “rubbery” consistency, they become dried out and leathery.

Under pressure of your body and gravity, the discs begin to thin. This allows the vertebrae (spinal bones) to crowd eachother causing pain in lower back. As the condition deteriorates, more pressure is built up around the spinal nerves passing between the spinal bones, which can cause back and leg pain otherwise known as sciatica. In time, the nerves become more irritated and begin to become damaged resulting in not only sciatica, but more seriously, muscle and reflex weakness.

See a flash video of degenerative disc disease here: http://www.secretdiscsolution.com/flash/HERN.swf

Diagnosing degenerative disc disease is straight forward. A thorough history, physical examination and plain film x-rays will detect this common cause of lower back pain.

Morning back pain and stiffness that improves after a hot shower or period of walking and/or stretching is a characteristic symptom of degenerative disc disease. Physical examination will usually show painful and reduced back mobility with tenderness over the affected joints. X-rays will show the characteristic signs of thinning disc space(s), and lipping or spurring on the vertebral bodies.

Degenerative disc disease is a slowly progressive condition that deteriorates over time. It begins as dehydration and then eventually leads to nerve damage.

Cause of Lower Back Pain: Strain

The second most common cause of lower back pain is strain. A strain is technically an over stretching or over stressing of a muscle.

Back pain due to strains occur due to either:

• Chronic postural stress
• Trauma or over exertion

Lower Back Pain from Postural Strain
This is an ever-increasing problem in the US. AS our economy switches from a manufacturing and agricultural based economy and move more and more of our work force into information, technology and service industries, lower backs are suffering.

Sitting for prolonged periods of time puts a tremendous load on the lower spine. Gravitational forces are not allowed to dissipate through the back and into the legs as in standing, which creates muscle tension and increased disc pressure.

Postural strain can also come from other common daily activities such as housework, sitting in the classroom, and non-desk occupations that demand awkward body positioning like dentistry, hair cutting, cashiering, etc.

Low Back Pain from Traumatic Strain
These are the more obvious strains. Recreational sports, work injuries, automobile collisions, etc all over stretch the muscles of the lower back resulting in pain.

The pain caused by postural back strain is usually characterized as an ache within the muscles of the lower back. Traumatic strains may be described as an ache, but become sharp, stabbing or cramping on movement. Back strains commonly occur along side subluxations because the strain results in increased muscle tension, which locks up the spinal joints.

Diagnosing back pain from strain is straight forward as there is usually a history of recent trauma or postural stress. A physical examination by a competent doctor of chiropractic along with standard lumbar x-rays to rule out underlying problems like disc disease, arthritis, anatomic short leg, and others is your best bet to uncover the cause and severity of the back strain.

Chiropractic treatment of mild back strains is short, about 1-2 weeks. More severe strains or chronic postural strain can take longer to unravel. Upwards of 8 weeks may be required to quell the pain and stabilize the spine.

Cause of Lower Back Pain: Subluxation

There are many causes of lower back pain. Most cases of lower back pain are caused by mechanical malfunction or structural defects from injury or chronic physical stress.

The most common and widespread cause of mechanical lower back pain is subluxation. Subluxation is a term that refers to two adjacent spinal bones (vertebrae) that are malfunctioning. They may be misaligned with each other or the usual freedom of movement has been lost.

This may occur as a result of an injury, but often times stems from our daily activities of bending, lifting, stooping, etc. Chronic postural strain from our work or daily activities may also cause subluxation to result in lower back pain.

Once the joints have lost their normal motion and/or alignment that triggers other processes to kick in.

Nerve endings within the joints send signals to the brain that joint malfunction has occurred, which results in the brain telling the surrounding muscles to tighten up. This is a protective measure to “splint” the joint and prevent further damage. The problem with this is that it causes further loss of motion and yes, you guessed it, even more reciprocal muscle spasm.

The next event to occur is nerve facilitation or irritation. The nerve roots that exit between the two spinal bones become irritated. At first, this causes abnormally high amounts of nerve impulses to be sent outward to wherever that particular nerve goes. The nerve irritation will cause hyper-function of that end organ. For example, the middle back nerves supply the stomach. If you are subluxated in the mid back or thoracic spine, the nerve facilitation will cause increased acid production which could result in an upset stomach or heartburn and often diarrhea.

After a period of time the nerves become “burned out” from facilitation and they begin to lessen their activity. This results in the end organ slowing down its activity. As in the example above, this would eventually result in not enough stomach acid being produced causing maldigestion and the associated problems of bloating, gas and constipation.

If a subluxation has been around long enough, damage or deterioration of the soft tissues begins. In particular, the discs begin to lose become dehydrated, shrink and crack. Long standing dehydration leads to disc bulges and/or herniation. This is noticeable on x-ray as a loss of disc height and on MRI as disc dessication (dehydration), bulging or herniation.

The final process is bone remodeling. Due to chronic malfunction and loss of normal disc function the body begins laying down extra bone to try to bridge the gap of the joints and fuse the spine in order to protect it. This is visible on x-ray as bone spurring and lipping.

Subluxation is the most common causes of lower back pain and ahs a wide variety of signs and symptoms. In order to repair or correct subluxation, your doctor must first know how to locate subluxations, measure them and then lay out a strategic plan to eliminate them.

For more information on back pain caused by subluxations and how to accurately diagnose it, follow this link:

http://www.spinediscrehab.com/locate_cause_of_back_pain.html

What Actually Causes Lower Back Pain And How You Can Solve It

Back pain afflicts 80-90% of adults

Did you know studies show that 80-90% of all Americans will suffer from back pain at some time in their life? Some will have pain that comes and goes. Others will experience pain that stays and becomes chronic. Many times, back pain that comes and goes gradually becomes chronic if it is not treated properly.

 

So, What Causes Back Pain?

 

The most common causes of lower back pain are:
o Misalignment (subluxation) of spinal bones
o Strains and sprains
o Degenerative disc disease and arthritis
o Bulging or herniated disc
o Facet syndrome
o Spinal Stenosis

As you can see from the list above, most back pain is mechanical in nature. This means, in most cases, it is caused by your spine not moving or working properly or from some structural defect that occurs. Back pain can also be caused from diseases and tumors, but this is the minority of cases.

How Do You Treat Back Pain?

Treatment for lower back pain varies depending on the cause. Obviously, the cure for a simple strain would be totally different than a sever disc herniation. Unfortunately, many physicians use a “one size fits all” approach to back pain. This is one of the reasons why back pain sufferers go from one back pain treatment to the next searching for the one true cure for lower back pain.

If you are suffering from lower back pain and are sick and tired of being in pain and missing out on life, then read on for more details on the cause of back pain and what can be done about it.

For a Free Report entitled, “The Consumer’s Guide to Severe Back, Disc & Sciatica Pain” follow this link: http://www.spinediscrehab.com/back_pain_guide.htm