Back to School Shouldn’t Mean Back Pain
August 28, 2008
Some simple tips can keep children from suffering from improper backpack usage.
Between exams, college applications and keeping up with their friends’ styles, school children carry a lot of weight on their shoulders.
But physiotherapist Alvin Straub says the bulk of backpacks can also be a weighty issue. Packing book bags with too much stuff is hard on the back muscles and posture. “Some kids pack their life in their backpack going back-and-forth to school,” says Straub, who works at the Physioclinic in Pictou. “The lighter, the better. And that takes planning. Otherwise, you could be looking at neck strains, sore shoulders and an asymmetry in the muscles.”
How much is too much in a backpack? Younger children should have no more than 10 pounds in their bags on the way out the door. Add about five pounds for older students, and maybe max that out to 20 pounds for your larger high school kids.
And while your children are lightening their load, keep telling them to sit up straight at the dinner table and in class.
“Your mother was always right,” says Straub of the age-old command. “You don’t need to sit rod straight, but shift around, keep a fairly neutral posture.”
Some tips that should keep your children on the up-and-up this school year:
Things to look for when purchasing a backpack
- Back padding to keep contents from digging into your back
- Padded shoulder straps to help balance weight
- A waist belt or hip strap to distribute the weight from some heavier loads to the pelvis and legs
- Multiple storage compartments to help balance weight evenly
- Reflective material for improved visibility
Wearing your backpack right
- Always use both shoulder straps and stand tall.
- Do not lean forward when walking. If you’re doing this, there’s too much weight in the pack.
- Clean out the backpack at least once a week.
- A full backpack should never weight more than 10-16 per cent of your total body weight.
Signs of an injury
- Pain when wearing the backpack
- Tingling or numbness in the arms or legs
- Red marks on the shoulders
Source: Life Mark Health Physiotherapy
Tips: Relief for Low Back Pain
August 28, 2008
1. Personal preference should ultimately determine what mattress is best. There is no single mattress style or type that works for all people with low back pain. Any mattress that helps someone sleep without pain and stiffness is the best mattress for that individual.
2. Understand and inquire about the physical components of the mattress. The coils or inner springs of a mattress provide the support. Different mattresses vary in their number and arrangement of coils. Padding on top of the mattress comes in many different thicknesses.
3. Find a mattress with back support. A good mattress should provide support for the natural curves and alignment of the spine. The right amount of back support also helps the patient avoid muscle soreness in the morning. While there is not much clinical data about mattresses, one study found that medium-firm mattresses usually provide more back pain relief than firm mattresses.
4. Achieve a balance between back support and comfort. Overall comfort while sleeping on the mattress is equally important as sufficient back support. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm can cause aches and pains on pressure points. A medium-firm mattress may be more comfortable because it allows the shoulder and hips to sink in slightly. Patients who want a firmer mattress for back support can get one with thicker padding for greater comfort.
5. Know when it’s time to get a new mattress. If an old mattress sags visibly in the middle or is no longer comfortable, it is probably time to purchase a new one..
6. Shop for the best value and quality of the mattress rather than for price. Mattresses with more coils and thicker padding tend to be higher quality and also more expensive; however, a higher price does not guarantee that the mattress is more comfortable or more supportive.
7. There has not been extensive medical research or controlled clinical trials on the topic of mattresses and low back pain. The individual must determine whether or not extra features on a mattress make it more comfortable or supportive.
8. Give the mattress a test-run before buying. When shopping at the store, shoppers should lay on the mattress for several minutes to decide if it is a good fit. If two people will be sleeping on the mattress, both should test it at the same time to make sure they have enough space and are both comfortable on the same style of mattress.
Source: Spinehealth.com
Dr. Gott: Disabling Back Pain Presents Dilemma
August 27, 2008
Dear Dr. Gott: I read your column about a person who seems to have the same progressive disorder of the spinal discs that I have. I have enclosed the doctor’s report of my MRI. I am a 74-year-old man. I currently take one Ultram tablet three times a day and one Lyrica tablet twice a day. I have also had two hip replacements in the past 20 years.
When I get up in the morning, my left leg feels like someone has attached an electric wire to it. I also have a great deal of pain in my shoulders. The electrical feeling in my leg and the pain in my shoulders last until I take the Ultram, but then I still have some trouble standing or walking for too long. The Lyrica seems to help, because, by about 10 a.m., I am able to get up and move around somewhat better.
Because of all the pain, I tried a pain clinic, where I was prescribed gabapentin three times a day. I later stopped it because I felt very confused. I didn’t know who or where I was. Quality of life is important to me. They also tried giving me an epidural block, which did not work.
My primary-care physician told me that I will have to have surgery when my bowels become involved. I feel that I am getting too old to have surgery. Knowing what I have told you and your past dealings with similar patients, I would like to know what your opinion is. Should I live with the pain or take a chance with surgery?
Dear Reader: You have enclosed the results of your MRI, which shows severe degenerative disc disease in several areas of your spine. The report recommends surgical decompression should noninvasive treatments stop working. I believe that you have reached that stage.
Surgery is the final option for most conditions. Spinal surgery is especially worrisome. Despite its vast advances over the years and its relatively low incidence of serious side effects, most people are uncomfortable with it. All surgery has risks, but spinal surgery is perhaps the second most detrimental (following brain surgery), including permanent nerve damage, which may result in loss of feeling, paralysis and more. I suggest you speak with a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the spine.
Implant Can Help Disguise Back Pain, Doctors Say
August 27, 2008
New technology is giving an old treatment for back pain new life.
Spinal cord stimulation has been used for decades to help patients with chronic lower back pain, but the expensive devices had too many drawbacks, including the need to be replaced frequently and limited battery life.
Now the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new stimulator which lasts ten years and is rechargable.
Doctors at Suburban Hospital inserted the first of these devices in the D.C. area into 48-year-old Joyce Thomas, who has been plagued by lower back pain for more than three years.
“I worked at a convenience store; I was lifting up tote of grocery and went to turn to move it and the pain hit me really bad and I just couldn’t move at all,” recalled Thomas, who has undergone three back surgeries, including two spinal fusions, without significant pain relief.
Dr. John Dombrowski recommended the spinal cord stimulator, which masks pain with a tingling sensation.
“To me it’s just like a tingling feeling,” said Thomas, “like if your hand’s numb and went to sleep and tingling — that’s what feels like.”
During the procedure, two wires, called leads, were inserted around Thomas’ spinal cord. They connect to a small battery containing a computer placed in her lower back. Unlike earlier versions, the new model contains more computer programming options and can be recharged every three months.
“This battery and computer conducts electrical signals to the spinal cord - the signal drowns out the pain patient is experiencing,” said Dr. Dombrowski, an anesthesiologist.
During surgery, Thomas helped the doctors ensure she felt tingling in all areas where she normally experiences pain.
After the procedure, she’ll decide when to use the device with a remote control.
“You can turn it on, you can turn it off, you can change programs — just like you would do watching TV,” he said.
Thomas is optimistic the new device will make all the difference.
“I just want to get back on my feet and be able to do stuff and go back to work,” she said.
Doctors say the device may also be used for chronic arm and neck pain, heart disease, and cancer.
Exploring Drug-Free Options For Pain Relief
August 26, 2008
BY POORNIMA JAYARAMAN
If you have ever suffered from back pain, neck pain, stiffness, freezing and inflammation of various body parts and joints, you know the grind. Pop a pill, try some rest, ice, compression, elevation, pop another pill maybe and then grit your teeth and hope the pain goes away soon.
If the pain is serious and recurs all the time, you may find yourself visiting your doctor constantly.
According to The American Pain Society, an estimated 50 million Americans live with chronic pain caused by disease, disorder or accident. Of these, the most common types of pain include arthritis, lower back, bone/joint pain, muscle pain and fibromyalgia.
An additional 25 million people suffer acute pain resulting from surgery or accident. Yet experts acknowledge that pain is widely undertreated in the United States.
While mainstream medicine can help no doubt, drug-free options for pain relief are fast growing in popularity.
Here is a sampling of what is available in Southern Illinois:
Holistic medicine
Followers of holistic medicine recognize the interconnectedness of the mind, body and spirit. They believe less medication equals less side effects and are interested in exploring what non-believers are apt to label “new-age nonsense.”
Linda Hostalek, a doctor of osteopathy and owner of Holistic Healing Arts in Herrin and Pomona has earned quite a reputation and following for her alternative techniques when it comes to treating pain.
Having battled fibromyalgia in medical school and survived cancer, she is a walking advertisement for what she believes in: Good things in, bad things out and finding a balance.
Hostalek explains that this entails eating good foods, supplementing your diet and doing things that make you happy; getting rid of the bad stuff by having a good detoxification, getting out of a toxic relationship, toxic job, anything that is not good for your mental well being and happiness; and finally trying to live life in balance.
Easier said than done, she is the first to admit.
Believing that all disease is multi-factorial, Hostalek employs a combination of cranial osteopathy, bio-energetic-electrical balancing, Reiki, nutrition, myofascial release, deep tissue work, Tachyon and Peruvian Shamanism to treat her patients.
“Cranial osteopathy is a gentle yet extremely effective approach to release stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head,” Hostalek says.
Trained to look at the structure of the body and uncover where disruptive patterns lie, cranial osteopaths like Hostalek believe an accumulation of stress and strain in the body disrupts the cranial rhythm, which in turn manifest as aches and pains in one place.
“The first place to start is figuring out what the problem is,” Hostalek says. “Once you diagnose what and where the problem lies, it is important to balance the fascia, which is the connective tissue in the body; see where the blockages lie and unblock the energy fields.”
According to Hostalek, every single cell that we have has an energy field and often we carry elements in our energy fields that can make us toxic.
“A combination of healthy lifestyle, vitamins and daily stretching helps to move the energy where the fascia live,” Hostalek says. “The more empowered you are energetically, the more you can help heal yourself.”
When asked how she deals with non-believers, Hostalek says people will believe whatever they want to believe. But she does admit it helps to have an open mind when you visit a practitioner that works with energy fields.
Chinese acupuncture
After an acupuncture session, a grateful patient once told Dr. Ying Li, “You keep me walking, working and saving money!”
A trained Chinese physician licensed and certified to practice oriental medicine and acupuncture in the United States, Li has a busy practice in Carbondale and Metropolis, with as many as 60 percent of her clients coming to her for pain relief.
“Chinese medical theory believes that a person’s state of health is always changing, subtly moving in one direction or another,” Li says.
Qi (pronounced “chee”) or life energy flows through numerous specific pathways called meridians, which connect to particular organs and glands, bringing nourishment to every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in the body.
When Qi is obstructed in one part of the body, the blockage affects the flow of life energy to other parts of the body resulting in illness, pain and disease.
In order to correct the imbalances, acupuncture, a 5,000-year-old Chinese technique, uses hair-thin needles to stimulate certain points along the channels, called the meridians. Treatments are cumulative
“In China, you have to be a medical doctor first, before you can become an acupuncturist,” Li says. “It is a medical skill and can effectively treat a variety of pain.”
Li says you should give acupuncture a shot, if you are exploring conservative options for pain relief. In many cases it has helped people avoid or postpone surgery.
In addition to using acupuncture, Li also employs cupping techniques, magnetic electric needles, moxa therapies and herbal patches for pain relief.
Chiropractic
Dr. Stephen Barrett, a chiropractor at Barrett Spinal Health and Wellness Center in Carbondale, strides into the room, a package of energy, intelligence and charm.
“Pain is a sign that something is wrong,” Barrett says. “If we take spinal pain, for example, I’m looking for any places in the spine where the nerves have been interfered with. Sometimes a subluxation could be the primary cause. Other times it could be poor posture that causes the muscles to become dysfunctional.”
Chiropractors like Barrett believe a (vertical) subluxation occurs when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves.
Because the nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of the body, a subluxation causes nerve interference wherever it occurs and this in turn prevents the affected organs from functioning normally.
“Injuries, accidents, trauma, bad posture, can all contribute to a subluxation,” Barrett says. “And chiropractic is strictly about the detection and correction of subluxations.”
To correct this, chiropractors “adjust” the spine by applying pressure to the bone and “unlocking” it from its improper position. The theory is that the bone will then be free to align itself correctly and irritation to the nerves will also be reduced / eliminated.
You come to a point in your life when you realize you don’t want to take pharmaceutical drugs for the rest of your life,” Barrett says. “You want to get rid of the problem and what’s causing it, instead of covering up the symptoms. And that’s why more and more people are choosing chiropractic care as a first option, not a last resort.”
Psych-K
For three years now, Yolanda Comiskey has worked in Carbondale as a Psych-K (psychological kinesiology) facilitator and offers private sessions and workshops to those wanting to reprogram their conscious and unconscious habits.
Skeptic or not, you tend to let your guard down a bit when faced with her positive energy and open, approachable demeanor. She seems perfectly believable when she says she comes from a family of healers.
“Psych-K is all about belief,” Comiskey says. “These beliefs, usually subconscious, are often the result of lifelong ‘programming,’ and represent a powerful influence on human behavior. When you change your beliefs you can change the outcome.”
Psych-K then is a powerful tool which helps you identify and transform beliefs that ’sabotage’ you into beliefs that ’support’ you, in any area of your life. It helps you gently rewrite the software of your sub-conscious mind and change your life.
Establishing communication with the subconscious mind through the muscle system, Comiskey uses energy work to address a variety of issues, including pain.
She says pain can be a limitation in the mind which is reflected in the body. For example, a client with neck pain realized her body was speaking volumes when faced with the simple question, “Who is it that is causing pain in the neck?”
Many of her clients use Psych-K as an adjunct to regular medical care. “The mind is a powerful thing,” Comsikey says. “If you listen closely, your body may be trying to tell you something. And Psych-K can help you get to the root of it.”
Herbs and supplements
Vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry today when it comes to maintaining good health and alleviating pain.
Cheryl Couch is owner of The Natural Choice, a health food and vitamin store in Carterville. “Right now cherry juice is a popular natural choice to alleviate pain from arthritis, joint aches and body pain,” she says.
Stocking a special kind of cherry juice concentrate made from Montmorency tart cherries of Michigan, Couch says the cherries have anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to being a rich source of antioxidants.
Other popular products include Curamin, an all-natural dietary supplement made from curcumin, which is a derivative of turmeric; MSM, a natural source of sulphur, that helps relieve pain; and Flexcin, a joint-health supplement containing a patented anti-inflammatory ingredient, Cetyl Myristoleate.
Note to readers
It’s important to talk to your doctor about any alternative and complementary options you may be exploring, including ingesting herbal supplements and vitamins as these may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes that understanding a treatment’s risks, potential benefits, and scientific evidence is critical to your health and safety.
Experts advise patients not to stop pain medications without consulting their doctor, noting that further analysis of the data is needed and acceptable health risks must be evaluated individually.
Quick glossary
- Bio-energetic electrical balancing: Supporters of bioenergetics believe the body “records” negative emotional reactions and stores them in the form of muscle tension, stiffness, poor posture, and low energy levels. To release these trapped emotions and return the body and mind to a balanced, healthy, peaceful state, patients must first release muscle tension and correct physical imbalances, using a combination of psychotherapy, gentle body movements, massage, deep breathing, and exercises that help patients “release” their emotional memories.
- Tachyon: A non-invasive treatment utilizing specialized Tachyonized™ tools and techniques designed to re-connect an individual to the “Energetic Continuum.”
- Cupping : An ancient Chinese practice in which a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup.
- Moxa therapy: An oriental medicine therapy utilizing moxa, or mugwort herb to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi.
Eli Lilly’s Depression Drug May Cut Chronic Low Back Pain
August 26, 2008
Washington D.C. (AHN) - Eli Lilly and Co.’s Cymbalta depression treatment significantly reduced back pain in comparison with a placebo, new studies suggest. The drug is prescribed to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic nerve pain, and fibromyalgia.
The pharmaceutical company carried out a study on 236 adults with chronic low back pain who weren’t depressed. They took Cymbalta or a placebo drug daily for 13 weeks. The study found that 31 per cent of patients receiving the treatment experienced a 50 percent reduction in pain, compared with 19 percent of individuals who were in the placebo group.
Researchers said that a 60-120 milligram dose of Cymbalta produced the desired effects, a 60 -120 milligram. However, a large number of patients from the medicine group discontinued use due to adverse events, the most common of which were nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, diarrhea, excessive sweating, dizziness and constipation.
Indianapolis-based Lilly filed an application in May with the Food and Drug Administration to allow Cymbalta to be prescribed for managing chronic pain. Both studies were funded by the company.
The study was presented in Madrid at the 12th Congress of the European Federation of the Neurological Sciences.
Alexander Technique: The Great Curer of Back Pain
August 25, 2008
A new study has proved the technique works best for relieving tension, reports Maria Fitzpatrick
If you’re slouching over your newspaper, this should make you sit up straight: finally, we’ve found a cure for chronic back pain - and it doesn’t involve painkillers, surgery or uncomfortable manipulation.
Rather, the answer lies in a simple, yet powerful, therapy that’s more than 100 years old.
Research published last week in the British Medical Journal revealed that the Alexander Technique - which works on releasing muscle tension to improve posture, alignment and movement - is significantly more effective at reducing chronic or recurrent back pain than typical GP-prescribed treatment.
Trials on 463 patients found that those who were prescribed 24 lessons in the Alexander Technique (along with exercise) experienced only three days of back pain in a month, compared with 11 days in patients who received six lessons, 14 days in the group who had regular massage, and 21 days in those given standard GP care (painkillers, often coupled with exercise).
The practice was originally devised in the 1890s and introduced in Britain in 1904 by Frederick Matthias Alexander, an Australian actor. Alexander had problems with a hoarse voice, which he attributed to nervous tension in his body before performing.
He believed that we “translate everything, whether physical, mental or spiritual, into muscular tension” and that the resulting poor posture compresses the neck and spine.
The technique he developed is, according to expert Joe Searby, “a set of simple, practical mental and physical skills, tailored to the individual”, and it has garnered a large following worldwide, with Sting, Madonna and Sir Paul McCartney all reportedly believers. But until now, there was limited clinical evidence of its benefits.
However, this new large-scale study, funded by the Medical Research Council and the NHS, could bring relief to the millions of people - estimated at half the UK population - who suffer regularly from back pain. Fifteen per cent of those develop chronic problems, at a cost of ?5 billion to the economy each year.
The technique aims to heighten awareness of the body, equipping patients to use it more efficiently, releasing tension, preventing injury and correcting existing musco-skeletal problems. It also can lead to improved circulation, pain relief, reduced anxiety and improved sleep.
“You’re using conscious thought to free tension from the body and ‘retrain’ the musculature of your spine, neck and head,” explains Searby, who runs a private practice in Oxfordshire, as well as working at the Constructive Teaching Centre in Holland Park.
But it’s not an instant cure, rather a long-term adjustment. “We’re used to expecting a ‘quick fix’ for pain,” he adds. “But this technique is like learning the piano. People often feel some positive effects after one lesson - but keeping it up is crucial.”
A 10-MINUTE TASTE OF THE TECHNIQUE
Joe Searby asked me to stand in front of my chair facing straight ahead, shoulders soft, and to think of my spine as a long spring. He explained that my head, weighing 10-11lb, was pushing down on that spring, compressing it.
Two-thirds of the head’s weight is distributed in front of the ears, meaning that, naturally, it should move slightly forwards. But when the muscles of the neck are tense, they contract, drawing the head backwards and down, and pulling extra weight on to the spine.
Searby used his hands to straighten the small of my back and my shoulders, before putting his hands on either side of my neck. He asked me to become conscious of how it felt. I was aware of tension in my shoulders; my neck felt heavy and warm.
He told me to “order” my neck muscles not to do anything (this is different from relaxing: relaxing makes you naturally droop). As I told them not to tense, my neck felt even heavier.
Searby was guiding my posture so that I didn’t sag; he then asked me to “send a message” to my head to project its weight forwards and upwards, as if releasing it away from my body and tell my neck muscles to lose their stiffness and “elongate”.
He said my neck should be starting to feel more elastic and my shoulders to soften, and that this might feel uncomfortable because I was beginning to release long-held tension.
He asked me to imagine my body as a concertina: folding up easily, bending at the knees and at the hips. With one gentle movement from him, I was sitting in my chair. I have never been so graceful in my life. MF
You can find courses and exercises of Alexander Technique below:
Book:
DVDs:
Audio:
Buy NOW and relief your back pain right away!
Anatomy of the Spine
August 25, 2008
Table of Contents
Introduction
Your spine is one of the most important parts of your body. It gives your body structure and support. Without it you could not stand up or keep yourself upright. It allows you to move about freely and to bend with flexibility. The spine is also designed to protect your spinal cord. The spinal cord is a column of nerves that connects your brain to the rest of your body, allowing you to control your movements. Without a spinal cord you could not move any part of your body, and your organs could not function. Keeping your spine healthy is vital if you want to live an active life. Learn about the spine including:
What exactly is the spine?
The spine is made up of 24 bones, called vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles connect these bones together to form the spinal column. The spinal column gives the body form and function. The spinal column holds and protects the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that sends signals to other parts of the body. The many muscles that connect to the spine help support the upright posture of the spine and move the spine.
The spinal column has three main sections-the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, and the lumbar spine. The first seven vertebrae form the cervical spine. The mid back, called the thoracic spine, consists of 12 vertebrae. The lower portion of the spine, called the lumbar spine, is usually made up of five vertebrae. However some people have a sixth lumbar vertebra.
The normal spine has an “S”-like curve when looking at it from the side. This allows for an even distribution of weight. The “S” curve helps a healthy spine withstand all kinds of stress. The cervical spine curves slightly inward, the thoracic slightly outward, and the lumbar slightly inward. Even though the lower portion of your spine holds most of the body’s weight, each segment relies upon the strength of the others to function properly.
Cervical Spine (Neck)
The cervical spine is made up of the first seven vertebrae in the spine. It starts just below the skull and ends just above the thoracic spine. The cervical spine has a lordotic curve, a backward “C”-shape-just like the lumbar spine. The cervical spine is much more mobile than both of the other spinal regions. Think about all the directions and angles you can turn your neck.
Unlike the rest of the spine, there are special openings in each vertebra in the cervical spine for arteries (blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart). The arteries that run through these openings bring blood to the brain.
Two vertebrae in the cervical spine, the atlas and the axis, differ from the other vertebrae because they are designed specifically for rotation. These two vertebrae are the reason your neck can move in so many directions.
The atlas is the first cervical vertebra-the one that sits between the skull and the rest of the spine. The atlas does not have a vertebral body, but it does have a thick forward (anterior) arch and a thin back (posterior) arch with two prominent sideways masses.
The atlas sits on top of the second cervical vertebra, the axis. The axis has a bony knob called the odontoid process, which sticks up through the hole in the atlas. Special ligaments between the atlas and the axis allow for a great deal of rotation. It is this special arrangement that allows the head to turn from side to side as far as it can.
The cervical spine is very flexible, but it is also very much at risk for injury from strong, sudden movements, such as whiplash-type injuries. This high risk of harm is due to the limited muscle support that exists in the cervical area, and the fact that this part of the spine has to support the weight of the head-an average of 15 pounds. This is a lot of weight for a small, thin set of bones and soft tissues to bear. Sudden, strong head movements can cause damage.
Thoracic Spine (Mid Back)
The thoracic spine is made up of the middle 12 vertebrae. These vertebrae connect to your ribs and form part of the back wall of the thorax (the ribcage area between the neck and the diaphragm). The thoracic spine’s curve is kyphotic, a “C”-shaped curve with the opening of the “C” in the front. This part of the spine has very narrow, thin intervertebral discs. Rib connections and smaller discs in the thoracic spine limit the amount of spinal movement in the mid back compared to the lumbar or cervical parts of the spine. There is also less space inside the spinal canal.
Lumbar Spine (Low Back)
The lowest part of the spine is called the lumbar spine. This area usually has five vertebrae. However, sometimes people are born with a sixth vertebra in the lumbar region. The base of your spine (called the sacrum) is a group of specialized vertebrae that connects the spine to the pelvis. When one of the bones forms as a vertebra rather than part of the sacrum, it is called a transitional (or sixth) vertebra. This occurrence is not dangerous and does not appear to have any serious side effects.
The lumbar spine’s shape has a lordotic curve-shaped like a backward “C”. If you think of the spine as having an “S”-like shape, the lumbar region would be the bottom of the “S”. The vertebrae in the lumbar spine area are the largest of the entire spine. The lumbar spinal canal is also larger than in the cervical or thoracic parts of the spine. The size of the lumbar spine allows for more space for nerves to move about.
Low back pain is a very common complaint for a simple reason. Since the lumbar spine is connected to your pelvis, this is where most of your weight bearing and body movement takes place. Typically this is where people tend to place too much pressure, such as when lifting up a heavy box, twisting to move a heavy load, or carrying a heavy object. These activities can cause repetitive injuries that can lead to damage to the parts of the lumbar spine.
Important Structures of the Spine
- Vertebrae
- Intervertebral Discs
- Facet Joints
- Neural Foraminae
- Spinal Cord
- Nerve Roots
- Paraspinal Muscles
- Spinal Segments
Your spine is made up of 24 small bones, called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect and support the spinal cord. They also bear the majority of the weight put upon your spine. Vertebrae, like all bones, have an outer shell, called cortical bone, which is hard and strong. The inside is made of a soft, spongy type of bone, called cancellous bone.
The vertebral body is the large, round portion of bone. Each vertebra is attached to a bony ring. When the vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other, the rings create a hollow tube for the spinal cord to pass through. Each vertebra is held to the others by groups of ligaments. Ligaments connect bones to bones; tendons connect muscles to bones. There are also tendons that fasten muscles to the vertebrae.
The bony ring attached to the vertebral body consists of several parts. The laminae extend from the body to cover the spinal canal, which is the hole in the center of the vertebra. The spinous process is the bony portion opposite the body of the vertebra. You feel this part if you run your hand down a person’s back. There are two transverse processes (little bony bumps), where the back muscles attach to the vertebrae. The pedicle is a bony projection that connects the laminae to the vertebral body.
Between each vertebra is a soft, gel-like cushion, called an intervertebral disc. These flat, round “cushions” act like shock absorbers by helping absorb pressure. The discs prevent the bones from rubbing against each other.
Each disc has a strong outer ring of fibers called the annulus, and a soft, jelly-like center called the nucleus pulposus. The annulus is the strongest area of the disc. It helps keep the disc’s center intact. The annulus is actually a strong ligament that connects each vertebra together.
The mushy nucleus of the disc serves as the main shock absorber. The nucleus is made up of tissue that is very moist because it has high water content. The water content is what helps the disc act like a shock absorber-somewhat like a waterbed mattress.
The spinal column has real joints (just like the knee, elbow, etc.) called facet joints. The facet joints link the vertebrae together and give them the flexibility to move against each other. The facets are the “bony knobs” that meet between each vertebra. There are two facet joints between each pair of vertebrae, one on each side. They extend and overlap each other to form a joint between the neighboring vertebra facet joint. The facet joints give the spine its flexibility.
The facet joints are synovial joints, structures that allow movement between two bones. The ends of the bones that make up a synovial joint are covered with articular cartilage, a slick spongy material that allows the bones to glide against one another without much friction. Synovial fluid inside the joint keeps the joint surfaces lubricated, like oil lubricates the parts of a machine. This fluid is contained inside the joint by the joint capsule, a watertight sac of soft tissue and ligaments that fully surrounds and encloses the joint.
The spinal cord branches off into 31 pairs of nerve roots, which exit the spine through small openings on each side of the vertebra called neural foraminae. The two nerve roots in each pair go in opposite directions when traveling through the foraminae. One goes out the left foramina; the other goes out through the right foramina. The nerve root allows nerve signals to travel to and from your brain to the rest of your body.
The spinal cord is a column of millions of nerve fibers that carries messages from your brain to the rest of your body. It extends from the brain to the area between the end of your first lumbar vertebra and top of your second lumbar vertebra. Each vertebra has a hole in the center, so when they stack on top of each other they form a hollow tube (spinal canal) that holds and protects the entire spinal cord and its nerve roots.
The spinal cord only goes down to the second lumbar vertebra. Below this level, the spinal canal contains a group of nerve fibers, called the caude equina. This group of nerves goes to the pelvis and lower limbs.
A protective membrane, called the dura mater covers the spinal cord. The dura mater forms a watertight sac around the spinal cord and the spinal nerves. Inside this sac, the spinal cord is surrounded by spinal fluid.
The nerve fibers in your spinal cord branch off to form pairs of nerve roots that travel through the small openings between your vertebrae. The nerves in each area of the spinal cord connect to specific parts of your body. This is why damage to the spinal cord can cause paralysis in certain areas and not others. It depends on which spinal nerves are affected. The nerves of the cervical spine go to the upper chest and arms. The nerves of the thoracic spine go to the chest and abdomen. The nerves of the lumbar spine reach to the legs, pelvis, bowel, and bladder. These nerves coordinate and control all the body’s organs and parts, and allow you to control your muscles.
The nerves carry electrical signals back to the brain that allow you to feel sensations. If your body is being hurt in some way, your nerves signal the brain. Damage to the nerves themselves can cause pain, tingling, or numbness in the area where the nerve travels. Without nerve signals, your body would not be able to function.
The muscles next to the spine are called the paraspinal muscles. They support the spine and provide the motor for movement of the spine. Joints allow flexibility, and muscles allow mobility. There are many small muscles in the back. Each controls some part of the total movement between the vertebrae and the rest of the skeleton. These muscles can be directly injured, such as when you have a pulled muscle or muscle strain. They can also cause problems indirectly, such as when they are in spasm after injury to other parts of the spine.
A muscle spasm is experienced when your muscle tightens up and will not relax. Spasms usually occur as a reflex (meaning that you cannot control the contraction). When any part of the spine is injured-including a disc, ligament, bone, or muscle-the muscles automatically go into spasm to reduce the motion around the area. This mechanism is designed to protect the injured area.
Muscles that are in spasm produce too much lactic acid, a waste product from the chemical reaction inside muscle cells. When muscles contract, the small blood vessels traveling through the muscles are pinched off (like a tube pinched between your thumb and finger), which causes a build up of lactic acid. If the muscle cells cannot relax and too much lactic acid builds up, it causes a painful burning sensation. The muscle relaxes as the blood vessels open up, and the lactic acid is eventually washed away by fresh blood flowing into the muscle.
Doctors sometimes look at a spinal segment to understand and explain how the whole spine works. A spinal segment is made up of two vertebrae attached together by ligaments, with a soft disc separating them. The facet joints fit between the two vertebrae, allowing for movement, and the neural foraminae between the vertebrae allow space for the nerve roots to travel freely from the spinal cord to the body. The spinal segment allows physicians to examine the repeating parts of the spinal column to understand what can go wrong with the various parts of the spine.
-
Recent Posts
- Spinal trap — best cures for back pain
- Scoliosis and Its Common Impacts
- Arthritis of Spine Targets Young Men
- Watchung Chiropractor Works to Ease the Pain
- Pain Isn’t Just a Symptom of Arthritis
- You Don’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Free Of Back Pain
- How to Keep Healthy Back
- O’Fallon chiropractor talks about his business and move
- VCU Researchers Seek Relief for Back Pain
- What To Expect From Chronic Back Pain Medications
-
Advertisement