The first thing you should do, if you are experiencing recurring pain, is to get it checked out professionally. If you have nothing seriously wrong, and the problem is mechanical (i.e. bones muscles and joints) a visit to the chiropractor will probably sort it out.

However, many people find that the pain may recur in the future. Why? There can be many reasons. Here are some of them:

1.       Repetitive stress at work.
2.       Poor posture.
3.       The tissues become weakened and prone to re-injury.
4.       Stress or anxiety cause ongoing muscle tension.
5.       Loss of tissue resilience due to ageing.

A combination of these and other factors often lead to tissue damage. It may take a course of treatment and rehabilitation exercises to heal, but it can be difficult to remove all the causes of the problem. For example. You may be putting a lot of stress on your shoulder because of your job as a builder. Or you may be sitting for hours on end over the computer. You cannot just quit your job so the strain on your body is going to continue.

I teach my patients exercises and tricks to help avoid the worst excesses of posture, but with the best will in the world… this might not be enough; For some people, the painful symptoms will return and there is nothing they can do about it.

Well, actually there is; You can reframe pain.

As I have said, if the pain is severe and ongoing, you need to see a professional. Let’s assume you have done this. You have had some treatment the pain has gone away. But now you feel it starting to come back. This can be frustrating and upsetting especially if you thought you had got on top of it.

Firstly, you need to stop the negative thoughts, let go of the frustration and upset, and think about what you can do. You must do this because negative thinking will make the pain feel worse. Remember the pain is not as bad as it was originally; it is just starting to return, don’t catastrophize; it is not going to be as bad as it was before because you are going to take control.

See the pain as a reminder to take special care of yourself. It is like the oil indicator light in your car; There is no need to panic if the light comes on; It comes on long before your engine has run out of oil. You have plenty of time to top it up.

By the time you have been through a course of treatment you will have learnt the main causes of your pain. So you know what to do. Have you been working too hard, are you under a lot of stress, have you been sitting round in poor posture? It is simple, change what you have been doing and the pain will go away. The original injury will not return.

This is the reframe then: Originally pain was your enemy; it ruled your life and it was unbearable. Now the pain is your friend. It is your warning light. You can say “thankyou” to your body for giving you this warning before injury comes. Do what you need to take the strain from your body, and the pain will go away.

Most people are prone to headaches  in different parts of the head and neck, with pain ranging from mild to severe.

The majority of headaches are not serious, although they can be annoying and extremely painful. Managing the pain with medication can be helpful if the problem doesn’t persist, and, in the long term, changes in lifestyle may offer a solution.

The most common types of headache are tension and migraine, which account for 90{b67a0f01f7b147b7e978da5adbadca47e09d0d78364efaa0732b6ae8d4f320dc} of all headaches, and although doctors do not consider them to be life threatening,  they can significantly affect a persons quality of life if left untreated.

The remaining, other types, include cluster and secondary headaches which are caused by some underlying disease process.

Chiropractors and some doctors have recognised another category – the cervicogenic headache which is caused by restriction in the spinal joints of the neck. It is considered by some professionals to be a type of tension headache and may contribute to migraine and tension headaches.

More Articles on Headache:

Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self-Help Tips

Discs are small, rubber-like, soft pads found in between the vertebrae that form the spinal column. These discs help keep the flexibility of the spine and serve as the spine’s shock absorbers. They can “burst” due to their softness and flexibility. When this happens to a disc it is called a prolapsed disc. The discs in the lower back (lumbar spine) and the neck (cervical spine) are made up of an inner jelly-like material called the nucleus. The nucleus is encircled by a thick cartilage called the annulus.

Causes of a Prolapsed Disc

A prolapsed disc is often described as a “slipped disc” a “herniated disc” or a “ruptured disc”. Spinal injury may cause a disc prolapse, but the most common cause is wear and tear, or disc degeneration. Disc degeneration starts as small cracks in the annulus or outer rings of the disc. Later, the gel-like nucleus pushes through the annulus, and puts pressure on the nerves, causing weakness, pain, and numbness in the legs.

Other Risk Factors

Discs have a high water content while we are young but as we grow older, the water content lessens, affecting their flexibility. This causes them to shrink while bringing the vertebrae closer together. Smoking, sudden careless lifting, pressure, and repetitive strenuous activities may contribute to disc prolapse. Obesity is another risk factor as the excess body weight adds strain to the spine.

Signs and Symptoms of Disc Prolapse

Neck

When the nerves in the neck are compressed people often experience shooting pain in the neck and the trapezius muscles. This can radiate down the arm and may also cause headaches. Other symptoms include weakness and/or tingling in the arms and burning sensations.

Lower Back

The most common symptom of a slipped disc in the lower back is sciatica. This is often experienced pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness tin the back of the legs. Any stress on the spinal nerves can cause sciatica.

It does not automatically mean that you have a ruptured disc just because your have back pain or sciatica. It is always better to see a chiropractor, especially if an injury or fall has caused your symptoms. Patients often seek help for a prolapsed disc at our chiropractic clinics in Chester and North Wales. There are chiropractic adjustments designed specifically for prolapsed discs.

If you experience bowel or bladder incontinence with severe neck or low back pain, you should seek urgent medical help.

Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment

To confirm the diagnosis of a disc herniation, chiropractors start by asking for your full medical history. It is important to tell him or her if you are having pain in the neck, back, arm or leg. You should also tell your chiropractor if you have had a recent injury.

Your chiropractor will perform a physical examination to find out which nerve roots have been affected and to determine the severity of the prolapse. He/she will test your reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation as well as checking for any signs of muscle wasting. Your chiropractor will also check your posture and palpate your spinal joints for areas of restriction.

We may order an x-ray as it can show evidence of changes in the spine and discs. We may also order other imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, and/or electromyography if the symptoms persist.

How Do you Treat a Prolapsed Disc?

Your chiropractor will decide how to treat you based on your lifestyle and symptoms. Chiropractic is a safe, non-surgical option. If we do not improve your symptoms we may consider referring your for surgical treatment.

Surgical Options

Surgery may be an option if you are experiencing a significant loss of function and pain. There are two main surgical options depending on the position and size of the disc prolapse; laminectomy and microdiscectomy, also called spinal decompression therapy.

Non-surgical Options

The following are some of the non-surgical treatment options that can help improve slipped disc symptoms. In most cases, non-surgical treatment is the first option, which is effective in not less than 90{b67a0f01f7b147b7e978da5adbadca47e09d0d78364efaa0732b6ae8d4f320dc} of patients.

• Muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), or analgesics can help to relieve the symptoms. For severe cases drugs such as amitriptyline are recommended.

• You should apply cold compresses several times a day, for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. After the spasms have settled we recommend that you use heat.

• Chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors perform low-force chiropractic adjustments especially designed for herniated discs. They also use a form of non-surgical spinal decompression therapy or traction.  Chiropractic treatment is one of the most effective and safest treatments for herniated discs.

If you want to fins out more about treatment options at our chiropractic clinics please call our clinic in Chester or North Wales.

Causes and Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache

A cervicogenic headache comes from the shoulder, neck, and the spine, and the pain is often felt in the head and the neck

Pulled or strained muscles and ligaments in the neck, disc bulges and disc prolapse can result in a cervicogenic headache. In addition conditions such as degenerative disc disease and cervical facet joint arthritis can cause one.

A Cervicogenic headache is typically associated with sharp or aching pains around the neck area and with local tenderness. Movement of the head and neck aggravates the symptoms but rest and heat improve them. Generally, patients experience this type of headache more often than migraine or cluster headache.

Treatment

Although applying heat over the affected area can help, and it can also be treated by carefully manipulating the upper neck. Choosing Chiropractic care as a treatment for can be enormously beneficial to patients. The treatment includes stretching and spinal manipulation.

Headache Introduction
Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self-Help Tips

Pronation is a natural movement of the feet where they roll inward as we walk or run. It plays an important role in movement because it absorbs shock as the heels hit the ground when we take a step. Feet can, however, overpronate. This is when the feet roll inward farther than normal. An overpronator does not efficiently absorb shock when the heels hit the ground, and this brings pain to different parts of the body, including the neck and back. People with flat feet or low-arched feet often overpronate or hyperpronate.

Because of this, it is difficult for the feet and ankles to stabilize the body and this causes various injuries, especially for runners. Overpronated feet can cause Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, shin splints, knee or hip discomfort, and as mentioned, neck and back pain. When the feet roll inward excessively, it is the front of the feet that do all the work. This causes an abnormal gait and puts stress on the other areas of the body.

The Solution

Wear the Correct Shoes

Buying the right shoes is one of the best solutions to prevent problems caused by overpronated feet. The best shoes for people with overpronated feet are high-stability or motion control shoes. The midsoles should be firm. In addition the shoes ought to have good control features such as the ability to minimize excessive pronation. It is not recommended to wear highly cushioned or curved shoes as they do not offer the same support.

Custom Orthotics

Getting custom orthotics is also an option to prevent neck and back problems. Orthotics, also known as shoe inserts or orthoses, serve as a support in order to keep the gait stable and to correct foot posture. Orthotics can help decrease excessive pronation of the feet, which will gradually minimise neck and back pain. There are orthotics that can be bought over the counter but seeing a foot specialist is recommended as they can detect the problem and prescribe the correct orthotic appropriate for the patient.

See a Specialist

Podiatrists, orthopaedic consultants, or sports medicine doctors can help determine the real cause of pain, whether it is caused by overpronation or not. They will recommend the appropriate type of shoes and prescribe orthotics.

Seeing a chiropractor is also suggested. A chiropractic doctor can help relieve pain by using mobilization techniques to the feet in order to release the areas that cause the restricted motion. At the Back Doctor Chiropractic Clinic in Chester, we do not just prescribe orthotics; we first determine what kind of orthotics will benefit the patient. We offer manipulation techniques alongside a good exercise program which is vitally important when treating the problem.