Posts Tagged ‘Muscle Strain’
Dealing With Lower Back Pain
Four out of every five adult Americans will experience lower back Pain at one time in their lives. Sometimes it’s a mild strain or sprain that goes away after a couple of days. Other times, lower back Pain lasts for weeks or months.
Ironically, a simple muscle spasm can cause more Pain than a herniated disk. In fact, despite the fear of herniated disks, they are the cause of only four percent of back pain cases in the USA each year.
Looking at the causes of lower back Pain
1. Muscle strains from activities including heavy lifting, sports activities, whiplash from a car accident, or twisting.
2. Herniated disk (slipped dieck) resulting in the disk pressing a spinal nerve.
3. Spondylosis, also known as spinal osteoarthritis, is a degenerative disease often found in the elderly. Osteoarthritis results from the breakdown of cartilage in the facet bones of the spine. With no cartilage, stiffness and occurs.
4. Spinal stenosis which is the narrowing of an area of the spine. If a nerve is affected by the narrowing, then pain may occur. Spinal stenosis can ofthen be brought on when walking. Regardless of the symptom, the best plan is to avoid the activity that rings on the pain.
Treating lower back pain
1. Lower back muscle strains: Get ice on the back as soon as possible. Ice your lower back 5 – 6 times per day for 10 -1 5 minutes. Do this for the first 48 hours. If you are not feeling any better, go and see your physician, but usually for a strain, the pain will begin to subside albeit possibly slowly.
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen is often recommended by doctors. Call your advice nurse or go and visit your doctor to see what dosage should be taken.
2. Herniated discs: most people recover from herniated discs within a couple of months. At first your doctor will likely treat a herniated disc similarly to a muscle strain in that icing and anti-inflammatory drugs may be involved. In the unlikely event that this dies not solve it, surgery may be an alternative.
3. Osteoarthritis: although this is a degenerative condition, it sounds a lot worse than it is. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory medicine, muscle relaxants, together with exercises to help support the spine. In 75% of cases, this approach will succeed.
4. Spinal stenosis: initially treatment may focus on removing the source of the pain, be that walking, running, etc. Ultimately, surgery may be necessary, and the success rate is high resulting in an increase in mobility and activity level.
Frank Thornton
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/dealing-with-lower-back-pain-119605.html
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Myths and Truths About Back Pain
Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau
Back Pain is common, affecting about 60 to 80 percent of people in Western countries. Other than injury, if the Pain lasts only a day or two, it is most probably due to muscle strain. However, if the Pain is lasting and continual, it may be attributed to disk degeneration, resulting in the vertebrae crushing against one another.
One of the myths about back Pain is that it can be cured by back surgery.
The truth is that back surgery may not be the best option in treating back pain for various reasons:
Back surgery – removing a disk – is a very invasive procedure, often with various complications.
Back surgery does not stop or reduce the pain.
Research studies have shown that X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs on healthy individuals with no complaint of any back problems reveal that as many as 20 percent of them are in fact having protruding disks and other problematic abnormalities. These findings indicate that back pain may be more than just back problems requiring back surgery.
Without back surgery, damaged disks may often improve by themselves. Even tissue having herniated out from the interior of a disk may be resorbed on its own.
Back surgery may not be necessary in many cases, except where nerves may be further damaged. A recent review of eleven countries showed that surgery rates are determined not by how badly operations are needed, but by the availability of orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, with the United States being at the top of the list.
Another myth is that bed rest is good for back pain.
The truth is that bed rest may delay recuperation.
A research study in the United Kingdom showed that both groups of patients with and without bed rest improved their conditions – which is typical in any acute back pain. However, the patients who stayed active showed faster recovery than those who took bed rest. The reason is that staying active not only keeps the back flexible but also improves blood flow, which helps alleviate the pain.
Immobilization may not be good for your back.
Could it be a myth that back pain originates from the back muscle spasms and sprains?
The reality maybe that your back problems could be linked to artery blockage. As a matter of fact, according to research studies in Finland, many patients with chronic back pain also have artery problems. The truth is that clogged lumber arteries, often a result of smoking and stress, contribute to poor blood circulation – a major factor in chest pain and back pain.
For thousands of years, the Chinese have been using acupuncture to treat back problems because they believe that when the “qi” (internal life force or energy) is blocked, there is stagnation in the blood (that is, artery blockage according to Western medicine), which causes pain and a host of health problems. Acupuncture is the application of needles to unblock the blood flow. This concept explains why artery blockage may be one of the causes of back pain, rather than the back muscles causing the problem.
If back pain is due to artery blockage, then to prevent it is to adopt a healthy lifestyle: a healthy-heart diet, which is low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium; a regular exercise regimen; and stress-control living.
It is also a myth that back pain has to be treated with painkillers, such as Aspirin.
The truth is that nutritional supplements can act as painkillers. For example, vitamin B6 not only increases your pain control but also prevents a relapse. The amino acid tryptophan (not available in the United States) increases the amount of serotonin in your brain, thereby enhancing your pain control. Ginger, a spice, helps block inflammation in joint pain.
Back pain is a complex physical condition, requiring both conventional and unconventional treatments.
Stephen Lau
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Get Rid From Back Pain
Back pain is in general a common problem that every one faces. It is a vulnerable problem that a person of any age experiences. Children, Adults, Pregnant woman, or a person of old age can also face the Back pain problem. There may be several factors behind your back pain problem as it is not restricted only to one particular reason. And so people needs to face loads of trouble during back pain to cure it. Your prime duty is to know the causes and take some preventive measures so that you need not feel the pain during backache.
There can be varied causes for back pain:
Lumbar Muscle Strain: Straining of muscles is the most common cause of low back pain. Chances are bright in this case that a patient may completely feel relieve from muscle strain.
Spondylolisthesis: In this case the adjacent vertebra becomes unbalanced and begins to ‘slip’ which causes back pain and if it still prolongs then back pain can turn to be a serious problem.
Osteoporosis: A patient needs to face this problem because of compression fracture of the vertebra. You may face orthopedic problem and much of uneasiness too. It also leads to feeble bones.
Ruptured Disc: It is also called as Herniated Disc which causes back pain. The treatment of herniated disc depends and differs on an individual’s condition and circumstances. It is incorrectly being called in general as “Slipped Disc”, affecting the spine, in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion to bulge out. herniated discs are found in ? of adults older than 20.
Spinal Stenosis: This is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerve. In the Aging Population, when the spinal canal becomes too stiff then it can result into back pain. A patient suffering under this situation may even feel minor trauma causing irritation and nerve root impingement which indirectly results into back ache.
There are many of causes of back ache that can put you into serious health trouble. For acute back pain the underlying cause is meniscoid occlusion. You may get startled to know that the lower back pain causes also differ as per the person’s age. Some of the common causes of back pain for adults under age 50 include spinal disc, herniation and degenerative disc disease or isthmic spondylolisthesis. And for adults over age 50 include osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and spinal stenosis, trauma, cancer, infection, fractures, and inflammatory disease.
Thus, to cure your back pain you need to practice exercises regularly. Collect information to know back pain causes and if the situation worsens then it is highly recommended to consult doctor for the betterment of your health.
Bella Mclaine
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/get-rid-from-back-pain-711776.html
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What Are The Causes Of Pain In Lower Right Back?
Back pain is a complaint doctors hear about frequently. People want information on backaches. They want doctors to treat pain in the back. Many want to know the Causes of pain in the lower right back.
Information about the Lower Right Back
It is important to understand the structure of the lower right back if we are to understand what Causes pain there.
Your back, with its spinal column of vertebrae, connecting ligaments, tendons, large muscles, and nerves, is designed to be incredibly strong and flexible. Yet things can go wrong with this awesome structure.
* Muscles can be strained
* Ligaments can be torn
* Joints can be injured
* Bones can be fractured
* Nerves can be irritated
* Discs can be herniated
* Stress can tighten back structure
The lower back seems especially susceptible to injury, since it bears the weight of the torso, and makes more movement than the upper back. Its constant work can cause parts to break down and wear out over the years.
The lower right back has soft tissues that can be involved in pain. Those large, complex muscle groups that support your spine and help you move can be strained by improper lifting or posture. In fact, muscle strain is the most common cause of lower back pain. Twisting or pulling one of the following muscles can produce pain in the lower right back.
* Extensor muscles: These paired muscles in the lower back and gluteus help support your spine. If the one on the lower right back is injured, it will be painful.
* Flexor muscles: Attached to the spine’s front, these muscles help you flex, bend forward, and lift things. Again, injury to the right flexor muscle can cause lower right back pain.
* Oblique muscles: This muscle group is attached to the sides of the spine. The oblique muscles help your spine rotate, and give you good posture.
In addition to simple muscle strain, injury to ligaments, joints, and bones can also cause muscle pain. If one of these structures is injured or inflamed, back muscles can go into spasm, drastically limiting your movement and cause pain in the lower right back.
Stress is a common cause of pain in the lower right back. Stress will make your back muscles tighten. This happens to every muscle in the body, as we move into a “fight or flight” response. Muscles that are tightened lack the energy they need to support the spine. If the stress is frequent, and measures are not taken immediately to relieve it, lower right back pain can easily develop.
Information on Chronic Lower Right Back Pain
If lower right back pain lasts more than two weeks, you are likely to stop using the aching muscles in order to protect yourself from that pain. With disuse, the muscles can waste (atrophy) and weaken. This will increase the pain, since your muscles are less able to support your spine. If you increase your protection, and continue to avoid using the muscles, the cycle will continue, with the pain worsening at each turn. Chronic lower right back pain will result. This is why doctors urge patients with lower right back pain to exercise daily.
Information about Lower Right Back Pain Symptoms
You need to understand the symptoms of your pain as well. It is difficult to treat pain without knowing clearly what and where the symptoms are. You will want to gain a sense of exactly where your lower right back hurts. Is the pain focused in one small area, or does it spread throughout the lower right back? Is it confined to the lower right back or does it radiate into other parts of the body? Here are two major kinds of pain in the lower right back.
Lower Right Back Pain Symptom #1
Is yours a deep, aching, dull, or burning pain? Does it travel down your leg? If so, your lower right back pain may be chronic back pain.
Lower Right Back Pain Symptom #2
Perhaps yours is a very sharp pain, deep in the lower right back. This symptom may be the result of a back injury.
Information on Relieving Lower Right Back Pain
My personal physician assures me that the best relief for lower right back pain is usually exercise. Gentle exercises, performed daily with warm-up and cool-down, will strengthen the core muscles around the lower back area, relieving the pain and making them less susceptible to future injury.
CAUTION: Pain in the lower right back may also be caused by kidney stones or other non-muscular problems. Be sure to ask your health care provider for advice on any back pain.
Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/what-are-the-Causes-of-pain-in-lower-right-back-117782.html
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Back Pain Solutions Without Surgery
Acute Back Pain may begin suddenly and usually lasts around 3 months. Chronic Back pain sometimes lasts throughout life.
The most common back pain is low back pain (LBP). It is is often described as sudden, sharp, persistent, or dull pain felt below the waist. LBP is very common and affects the majority of people at some point during their life. Up to 70%–85% of all people have back pain at some time in their lives. LBP is the most common cause of a limitation of activity in people younger than 45 years of age. It is the second most frequent reason for visits to a physician, and the third most common indication for surgery. It is the fifth-ranking cause of hospital admissions and is one of the leading causes of disability.
Low back pain is most commonly caused by muscle strain associated with heavy physical work, lifting or forceful movement, bending or twisting, awkward positions, or standing in one position too long. Any of these movements can exacerbate a prior or existing back disorder. Other conditions that can cause low back pain include spinal stenosis, arthritis (osteoarthritis), spinal infection (osteomyelitis), spinal tumors (benign and malignant), spondylolisthesis, and vertebral fractures (e.g. burst fracture).
Low back pain is either acute or chronic. Acute LBP may begin suddenly with intense pain usually lasting fewer than three months. Chronic pain is persistent long-term pain, sometimes lasting throughout life. Even chronic pain may present episodes of acute pain. Other symptoms include localized pain in a specific area of the low back, general aching, and/or pain that radiates into the low back, general aching, and/or pain that radiates into the low back, buttocks and leg(s). Sometimes pain is accompanied by neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Neurological symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include bowel or bladder dysfunction, groin or leg weakness or numbness, severe symptoms that do not subside after a few days, or pain prohibiting everyday activities.
Pain felt in the low back is not always indicative of a spinal problem. A thorough physical and neurological assessment may reveal the cause of the low back pain. The physical examination begins with the patient’s current condition and medical history. Examination of a patient with low back pain involves examining the patient’s range of spinal motion while standing straight, bending forward, and to the side. Asymmetry, posture, and leg length is noted. Methodical palpation of the spine can reveal muscle spasm, possible bony displacement, and tender points. Abdominal palpation is performed to determine if the cause of low back pain is possibly organ related (e.g. pancreas). The neurological assessment evaluates weakness, absence of reflexes, tingling, burning, pain, diminished function, and other signs that may indicate nerve involvement.
If infection, malignancy, fracture, or other risk factors are suspected, routine lab tests may be ordered. These tests may include complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), and urinalysis. In some cases electrodiagnostic studies such as electromyography (EMG) or nerve condition velocity (NCV) are performed to confirm a diagnosis or localize the site of nerve injury. Plain radiographs (x-rays), CT Scan, and/or MRI studies are performed when fracture or neurological dysfunction is suspected. A MRI represents the gold standard in imaging today. A MRI renders high-resolution images of spinal tissues such as the spinal cord and intervertebral discs. X-rays are still the imaging methods of choice to study the bony elements in the low back. The results of the physical and neurological examinations combines with test results are carefully evaluated to confirm a diagnosis.
Most patients with low back pain are treated Without surgery. A conventional treatment plan may include bed rest for a day or two combines with medication to reduce inflammation and pain. Medications recommended by the physician are based on the patient’s medical condition, age, other drugs the patient currently takes, and safety. The first choice for pain relief is often nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs should be taken with food to prevent stomach upset and stomach bleeding. Muscle relaxants may provide relief from muscle spasm but are actually benign sedatives, which often cause drowsiness. Narcotic pain relievers are prescribed for use during the acute phase and often for chronic pain management in appropriate patients.
Other modalities to treat low back pain might include physical therapy (PT), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) trial, ultrasound therapy, acupuncture and massage therapy. A managed PT program can help build muscle strength and flexibility, improve mobility, coordination, stability and balance, and promote relaxation. Patients who participate in a structured physical therapy program often progress to wellness more rapidly than those who do not. This includes low back maintenance through a home exercise program developed for the patient by the physical therapist.
Although the number of spinal surgeries done every year is on the rise, it is rarely required to treat low back pain. Surgery may be considered if the patient is experiencing bowel or bladder dysfunction, increased nerve impairment, progressive weakness, incapacitating pain, or spinal instability. The surgical procedure depends on the diagnosis or the cause of low back pain. To prevent low back pain, first and foremost, follow the treatment plan outlined by the physician. To enhance recovery from an episode of low back pain, or to help prevent future exacerbation, try to maintain good posture, be consistent in a home exercise program, and eat sensibly to maintain proper body weight.
About Walton Rehabilitation Health System:
Walton Rehabilitation Health Systems (WRHS) is a leading not-for-profit comprehensive, multi-specialty, dedicated provider of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Our mission is to be an advocate for wellness by providing a continuum of services to treat the whole person. WRHS, whose reputation extends throughout the south, is a trusted partner with just the right expertise and treatments to help people with disabling injuries and illnesses return to work and to a fulfilling life. By pursuing its mission, WRHS has grown to include Walton Pain and Headache Centers, Walton Community Services, Walton Options for Independent Living, Walton Foundation for Independence, and Walton Technologies. We are located at: 1355 Independence Drive, Augusta, GA 30901-1037. For more information visit www.wrh.org or call 866-4-WALTON.
Hemant Yagnick, M.D.
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/back-pain-solutions-without-surgery-139659.html
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