Back Pain Relief

Ft. Lauderdale Chiropractor, Dr. Maryam Jafarieh

Common Causes of Low Back Pain

There are several common causes of low back pain such as irritation to the nerves, decreased disc space, or irritation to the spinal joints.

Low back pain can arise from traumatic injury or activities of daily living. Low back pain in the vast majority of patients do not result from infections or tumors.

By far the most common reasons for low back pain are injuries related to the disc, nerves or joints.

Most back injuries result from major trauma or minor trauma. Trauma such as sports injuries, auto related injuries or a slip and fall.

Often we see patients who have back pain and have not experienced an immediate injury but during the consultation we find an old injury in the past that can become irritated with activity or over time.

If the back pain is injury related, frequently the disc is involved. An increased pressure in the disc causes the disc to either herniate or bulge which further irritates the nerves in the surrounding tissues.

The symptoms of a disc injury involve low back pain and/or numbness and/or pain down the leg.

Back pain from the joints arise from the joints in the back of the spine which join and allow for movement. Bad posture or injuries affect how the joints move with one another which alter the joint movement and cause back pain.

Nerve irritation can be caused from an injured disc or spinal joint. If the joints of the spine are altered or restricted in mobility, they can cause an irritation of the spinal nerves causing pain in the lower back.

The common symptom of back pain from a spinal joint is local back and muscle pain.

Frequently back pain involves two or more areas. The disc can involve the nerve and the joints causing pain from all areas. The muscles respond to irritation and can spasm from each of the areas.

How we differentiate which is causing the back pain is from the examination, x-rays, or MRI. The results of the examination and symptoms would determine which testing procedures would be appropriate. Not all patients require x-rays or MRI’s.

We routinely see disc, joint and nerve irritation which cause low back pain. If the back pain is from an infection or tumor we would refer the patient to the proper specialist and we work with many in the Ft. Lauderdale area. But that is rare.

 

How to Relieve Low Back Pain

If your low back pain is from disc disease, spinal joint irritation, nerve pressure or muscle spasms we would be able to help. One of the solutions we offer is spinal joint mobilization and manipulation of the spinal joints. We also use various therapies depending on which stage of healing the patient is in. The body heals in three phases: the inflammation phase, the repair phase, and the remodel phase.

If you are having spinal back pain from a disc bulge or herniation, spinal joint manipulation helps to relive the pressure on the disc relieving the nerve pressure.

If you are having joint irritation due to trauma it can alter how the joints move causing low back pain. The objective would be to restore the spinal joint movement through chiropractic treatment. When we free up the joints to their normal movement it helps relieve joint irritation and inflammation. By restoring the joints to their normal movement we can not only relive low back pain but help increase your mobility.

If there is spinal nerve irrigation it is usually from abnormal movement of the bones in the lower back. The spinal nerves exits between these bones and if they are not freely moving they cause nerve pressure and pain. When we apply spinal movement or the chiropractic adjustment we can help to restore the movement of the bones in the lower back relieving back pain.

In the inflammation phase of healing we would use ice, passive motion therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation to decrease inflammation and pain.

After the inflammation phase is the repair phase in which the healing tissue, called collagen, is laid down. During the repair phase we would use therapies to help aid normal healing. Therapies such as neuromuscular stretching and trigger point therapy combined with chiropractic spinal joint mobilization. Neuromuscular therapy is used to increase low back joint motion. Trigger point therapy would help to eliminate irritations in the tissue due to injury or inflammation. The goal during the repair phase is to increase the collagen fibers elasticity and mobility.

The last phase of healing is the remodel phase. The objective of this phase of healing is to increase the strength of the injured area. During the remodel phase of healing we would use active resistance exercise and apply weight to the injured area while moving it through the normal range of motion.

The therapy used depends on the phase of healing and the objective of that phase. If each phase of healing is treated properly we can decrease low back pain, increase the mobility and range of motion, and increase strengthen. By doing so we can decrease the likelihood of re-injury.

 

Why Back Pain when Coughing or Sneezing

Back pain during coughing or sneezing is related to the fact that there is increased pressure in the spinal canal. If you already have a disc bulge or herniation in the spinal canal coughing or sneezing will increase spinal canal pressure. This is why you can have back or leg pain when coughing or sneezing.

Ways to Relieve Back Pain During Sleep

Ways to relieve back pain while sleeping is first to lay on your side and place a pillow between your legs while on your side, or lay on your back, bend your knees and place a pillow under your knees.

How to Know if Back Pain is from Disc

If your back pain is more local it is probably spinal joint related. If you have pain, tingling or numbness down the leg it can be more disc related. An examination would determine if a disc is involved with symptoms such as muscle weakness or loss of sensation in the lower back or legs.

Electrical Muscle Therapy to Relieve Back Pain

Electrical muscle stimulation therapy is a form of therapy which transmits a mild form of current through the tissue to decrease pain and inflammation. Electrical muscle stimulation therapy is used for conditions such as whiplash injuries and back or neck pain.

Neuromuscular Stretching Relieves Back Pain

Neuromuscular stretching is used to activate the nerves in certain groups of muscles that allow other groups of muscles to release the muscles spasm or tension.

Trigger Point Therapy to Relieve Back Pain

Trigger point therapy are areas of spasm which cause pain and stiffness in the muscles. Direct pressure into trigger points break the nerve reflex causing muscles spasms. The direct pressure also helps to remove irritants in the blood reducing muscle pain.

Ice Therapy Relieves Low Back Pain

Ice therapy is used to decrease inflammation by constricting the damaged or irritated vessels. Ice therapy also is used to decease pain by decreasing or blocking the nerve impulse producing pain. By deceasing pain and inflammation ice therapy helps to decease muscle related spasms.

 

Special Message from Dr. Jafarieh if you are Suffering from Back Pain

If you are suffering and in pain we’d like to help you. I’m Dr. Maryam Jafarieh chiropractic physician in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.

Lets us help stop your pain, restore your function, and get you back to enjoying a pain free life.

We have many treatment options to stop your pain including:

• Chiropractic spinal manipulation,
• Electrical muscle stimulation,
• Ice therapy,
• Trigger point therapy,

Our spinal rehabilitation includes:

• Posture pump therapy,
• Neuromuscular stretching,
• Balance board,
• Neuromuscular re-education,
• Elliptical and stationary bike therapy and
• Free weights.

Give us a call right now.

Let us help you get back to your activities pain free. We believe we can help relieve your pain if you just give us a chance.

I’d like to make you this promise, if we cannot diagnose or help your problem you can count on us to refer you to the proper specialist and we work with many in the Ft. Lauderdale area.

Either way we are here to help you so go ahead and pick up the phone and give us a call right now at (954) 229-1995.

We look forward to helping you today!