Symptoms and Treatment of Lumbar Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is caused by narrowing in the openings of the vertebrae that nerves pass through. When the narrowed area is in the lower back, it is called lumbar stenosis. The symptoms of lumbar stenosis are related to the compression of nerves that go to the hips, legs and feet.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of lumbar stenosis is pain in the legs. Sometimes people will have what’s called “neurogenic claudication” pain, which is heaviness, aching or cramping in your legs when you walk. Claudication pain gets worse if you walk and is relieved by sitting or lying down. It can be caused by impaired circulation to the legs (vascular claudication) or by lumbar stenosis. The claudication pain of lumbar stenosis is usually also relieved by bending over or stooping down.

People with lumbar stenosis can also have “radicular pain,” or pain that radiates down one or both legs, also called sciatica. Other sensory abnormalities caused by lumbar stenosis are tingling, heaviness or numbness in your toes, feet and legs. Motor abnormalities include weakness in one or both legs and difficulty walking.

Rarely, severe lumbar stenosis can cause “caudae equinae syndrome.” The spinal cord itself ends in the lower back and splits into several nerves. Those nerves continue down the spinal canal and exit in pairs between the vertebrae. Lumbar stenosis that compresses the caudae equinae can cause “saddle anesthesia,” or loss of feeling where you would sit on a saddle, bladder or fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction. It is considered a medical emergency because only a very large disc herniation or other serious problem can cause caudae equinae syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment modalities for lumbar stenosis can be divided into three categories: conservative, alternative and surgical.

Conservative treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers and pain medications. Physical therapy is often helpful in improving pain and mobility. If the pain continues, you could receive cortisone or anesthetic injections. Anesthetic injections, or nerve blocks, usually give you some relief from the pain. Cortisone injections seem to be less effective.

Chiropractic, massage and acupuncture are alternative treatments. They provide excellent pain relief for some people.

Surgery is usually a laminectomy, or removal of some of the bone around the spinal canal, to make a larger opening for the nerves. Sometimes a spinal fusion is done, too, to stabilize the vertebrae and keep them from slipping and compressing the nerves.

Many people, especially those who are older or who have other health risks, benefit from minimally invasive surgery for lumbar stenosis. The surgeon views the lumbar spine with a microscopic endoscope and uses microsurgical techniques to make specific repairs. Endoscopic surgery is less invasive and better tolerated than traditional surgery.

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About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and
Houston Web Site Design http://www.novatexsolutions.com

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This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Physical Therapy Exercises

By Milos Pesic

The procedures of physical therapy are diverse. Physical therapy combines a variety of methods and techniques. Yet all in all, the process would include lifestyle change, external stimulation, use of assisting devices, and of course – the therapeutic exercise.

Appointing yourself with physical therapy exercises gets you in the hub of physical wellness. Whether to decrease pain or increase movement and function, various physical therapy exercises tender different types of body training that will improve any patient’s physical condition.

As the heart of any physical therapy program, whether clinical or home care, physical therapy exercises shall keep you moving. Plus points with the physical therapy exercises has been earning scores since studies realized that keeping an overworked or injured muscle immobilized to ‘rest’ is a bad idea. In contrast, continuous physical therapy exercises shall assure a patient’s vital recovery. In most cases, failure to use the muscles surrounding an injury or illness can lead to permanent weakness – a big no-no for physical therapy.

Physical therapy exercises are intended to restore strength and endurance, increase range of movement, and also improve balance and coordination. And to increase these effectiveness, physical therapists also use the physical therapy exercises treatment along with external stimulations such as heat, coldness, ultrasound, electricity, infrared or UV light, traction, water, and massage. All are applied externally to a specific area, or internally, in order to relieve pain or reducing swelling.

Another factor to assure the success of the exercise methods is to do it right. As long as properly prescribed, physical therapy exercises are the most effective method for healing sports or accident injuries or restoring basic functions. Another key is to do enough exercises. Physical therapy exercises performed during office visits alone is inadequate. For quick recovery, physical therapists also teach patients how to exercise at home. Here are some examples of home physical therapy exercises:

Sitting Stretch:

Sit on the floor with a towel around one of your outstretched foot (or around the one bent knee). Pull the foot towards your body (or the knee upwards) to feel the stretch. Hold for some seconds. Do alternately, and repetitively and at particular number of times per day.

Standing Wall Push:

Position your body against/ facing a wall with one foot behind slightly lunging. Hold the heel down while gently pushing your hands towards the wall to feel the stretch. Hold for some seconds. Do alternately, and repetitively and at particular number of times per day.

Tightening Legs Over a Ball:

With one knee bent over a ball, straighten the knee by trying to tighten the muscle on your upper thigh. Be sure to keep the bottom of your knee on the ball. Hold for some seconds. Do alternately, and repetitively and at particular number of times per day.

You should note that the repetitions and frequency of the exercises are increased progressively according to the exercise plan or as directed by your PT. Good luck!

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Physical Therapy web site. For more articles and resources on Physical Therapy related topics, Physical Therapy exercises and much more visit his site at:

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Bursitis Information and Treatment

By Juliet Cohen

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that works as a skiding surface to descrease friction between tissues of the body. Bursitis chance when a bursa becomes inflamed. When inflammation happens, movement or pressure is painful. Bursitis frequently affects the joints in your shoulders, elbows or hips. Elbows and knees are the most generally affected because they are inactived upon more than various parts of the body with bursae and they also get the most repetitive use. Bursitis is more common in adults, exceptionally in those over 40 years of age. Scoliosis can also be a effect of bursitis of the shoulders.

Shoulder bursitis is more usually due to overexploite of the shoulder joint and muscles. Predisposing contributed risk factors of bursitis include diabetes, alcoholism, steroid therapy, uremia, trauma, and skin disease. Symptoms of bursitis pain and diminish swelling. The bursae sacs may swell, frequently making motion difficult. The most generally affected joints are the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, knee, and foot. Medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen may be helpful to reduce inflammation. NSAIDs are used as anti-inflammatory agents and for pain relief.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen to diminish the swelling and pain. Ibuprofen is not advised to those with asthma. Atypical mycobacteria intermittingly may be successfully treated with moderate drainage and appropriate antibiotics. Corticosteroids are often used because they work quickly to decrease the inflammation and pain. Steroids are also one of the safest treatment methods and can be injected directly at the site of injury. Physical therapy is other treatment choice that is frequently used, especially for a frozen shoulder.

Bursitis can be prevented with a gradual buildup in activities, with restricted force and limited repetitions. Ice is a very effective anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agent. Applying ice to diminish swelling. Stretching before you exercise, strengthening your muscles and resting when you do repetitive tasks might help obviate bursitis. Surgical drainage and removal of the infected bursa sac (bursectomy) may also be essential some cases of bursitis. Proper strengthening technique can assist avoid bursitis by using your muscles in a unharmed, more effective manner. For example, patients with shoulder bursitis can learn methods to move the shoulder that will not cause inflammation.

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Prevent Osteoporosis During Menopause – The Easy Way

We know that our bodies require calcium and vitamin D in order to build and maintain powerful bones. According to his recent book entitled, “Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis,” by Dr. Alan Gaby, it takes more vitamins than we think to prevent brittle bones including Vitamins K and B; as well as minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine, silica and boron.

The idea is to provide enough combined supplementation for our bodies to make an abundance of healthy collagen which is the connective tissue used to create cartilage and bones. Collagen also ‘binds’ our cells together and as a result, someone with good collagen has healthy looking skin whereas another will have thin and wrinkled skin.

A healthy bone cut in half looks similar to a sponge. The body deposits calcium, phosphorus and other minerals onto all of those connective fibers and you get healthy bones! The holes give the bone its flexibility, and you won’t have healthy bones if you don’t have plenty of collagen on which to deposit the minerals.

Collagen is primarily a protein which is made from amino acids. Our bodies can create some of our requirements but we also need additional amounts from our foods and supplements including lysine and praline. Vitamin C is also required to create collagen.

Now we know how bones can be made stronger, but how is this process affected by menopause? The loss of estrogen due to menopause or possibly surgical removal of the ovaries can accelerate bone loss for a period of up to 8 years. It is well established that replacing that estrogen helps protect against the risk of osteoporosis.

More often, women’s bones become fragile as we age and it’s not uncommon to break bones in the wrist, spine and hip due to osteoporosis. Unfortunately, a fracture such as in the hip, can even shorten our life span so it is important to pay attention to our bone health.

What should be done to prevent osteoporosis from happening after menopause?

First of all, eat the foods that are calcium-rich (about 1,000 mg per day) and can enhance bone growth including: sardines, salmon, seafood, and green leafy vegetables such as swiss chard, beet tops, kale, mustard greens, collards, spinach, dandelion greens, watercress, parsley, chicory, turnip greens, broccoli leaves, almonds, asparagus, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, cabbage, carob, figs, filberts, oats, prunes, sesame seeds, tofu and other soy products. Vitamin D-rich foods include fish oils such as found in salmon, mackerel, sardines), eggs (including the yolks), sweet potatoes, tuna, vegetable oils and cod liver oil. Getting 15-20 minutes of sunlight exposure daily can also boost production of vitamin D.

Exercise is crucial; in particular, you need weight-bearing exercise such as walking, Tai chi, dancing and weight training to reduce the chances of brittle bones at least two times a week. Include 15 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity two to three times a week. Avoid high-impact activities and include stretching exercises.

Finally, use high-quality supplements prescribed by your doctor or health-care provider, and oh yeah, don’t forget to have fun.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

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About the Author: Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant and freelance writer. She can be reached at creativecommunications@cox.net

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Why You Should Choose A Chiropractor For Back Pain Relief

by: Patrick Porter

When you are in pain, finding relief is the most pressing thought in your mind. Masking the pain with painkillers or dangerous surgery often leads to unfavorable results, and risks your future chances for living a pain-free life. That’s why finding a caring, professional chiropractor should be your first choice.

A qualified chiropractor can quickly provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan, or can point you in the direction of a medical professional who can help you.

During your initial consultation, the professional chiropractor will gather your health history. After an initial exam he or she will be able to tell you what chiropractic services can do for you.

As an example, one patient began to have pain in his shoulder related to an old football injury for which he had previously had surgery. He decided to try a chiropractor before taking any radical measures. “My doctor wanted me to have additional surgery to correct the problem. Luckily, I went to a chiropractor first. My once a month visits eliminate my pain almost completely. I am even able to enjoy playing golf with no soreness.”

Why Your Family Doctor Can’t Relieve Your Back Pain

Family physicians are trained to know a little about a lot of things. Your body is an amazing biomechanical machine. Chiropractors specialize in relieving back pain by working with the mechanics of the human machine. Medical doctors are trained to work with the biology. They are adept at prescribing drugs that alter or react with human biology. Unfortunately, these chemical painkillers often come with a price: potential addiction, immune suppression, lethargy, and constipation, to name a few. Not only that, the body continues to be damaged by misalignment of the spine.

Doesn’t it make good common sense to seek out a back pain specialist when you have back pain? Wouldn’t you prefer to try a natural remedy before turning to drugs or putting your body through the trauma of surgery?

Don’t worry, your chiropractor will know if he or she can’t treat you and will refer you to an appropriate specialist.

The Benefits of Regular Chiropractic Care

Short-term and regular chiropractic care has a number of benefits including spinal and extremity pain relief. With monthly visits you can increase mobility, experience better range of motion, decrease stiffness in your back and eliminate muscular spasms. Another patient found no solution for her migraine headaches outside of her Chiropractor’s care.

Other popular uses for Chiropractor care are arthritic joint pain relief, increased joint health, increased performance and energy, increased sense of wellbeing and relaxation, increased balance and coordination, reduced degeneration and risk of injury, enhanced tissue healing and decreased tissue inflammation.

About The Author

Dr. Patrick Porter is an award-winning author, and professional speaker. From a PhD in Psychology, and 24 years of operational research in the dynamics of change, to his 18 years of experience as CEO of the world’s largest self help network, for more information go to: http://www.newreality.com

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What is a Herniated Disc, how is it different from a Bulging Disc, and What You Can Do About It?

by: Jesse Cannone

So what in the world is a Herniated Disc??? Well, rather than confuse you more, I am going to give you my simple, easy to understand definition… a herniated disc is simply a protrusion, or sticking out of the disc. Think of a disc as a balloon being held in place between your hands… if you push your hands together unevenly the balloon will bulge out on the opposite side. This is what happens to the disc between the vertebrae.

A Bulging Disc is the same thing as a herniated disc… just a different name.

Herniated discs are probably one of the most common diagnosis’s for Back Pain out there and is often used when a doctor can’t find an explanation for the person’s pain… similar to a doctor explaining away various aches and pains as arthritis.

The problem is, many people who are diagnosed with a herniated disc don’t have pain because of it… and, for years, research has shown that in many cases, people live with herniated discs yet never have any back pain or symptoms. The point is, if you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated or bulging disc, it may not be what’s really causing your back pain!

Even if you’ve had x-rays and MRI’s done that show a herniated disc, chances are still very good that it’s not the problem… so read on to learn more and find out what’s causing your back pain…

So what causes a disc to herniate?

Well, many people want you to believe it’s old age, excess weight, stress, poor genetics, or how you lift a heavy object…

while these are all potential factors, the biggest factor or cause is uneven pressure placed on the disc. Yes, you read that right… uneven pressure on discs is the biggest cause of herniated discs.

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Remember we talked earlier about the uneven pressure? Well, months and years of this uneven pressure causes discs to breakdown.

Do you have any idea what causes this uneven pressure?

It’s something so simple that it amazes me how many people, including the experts (orthopedic specialists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc) fail to recognize it.

So what is it??? Muscle Imbalances.

You see, muscle imbalances pull your bones and joints, especially the pelvis and spine, out of place and this places excess and uneven wear and tear on the body.

This is where Chiropractors come in…

The whole concept of chiropractic care is to manually move the bones and joints back into the proper position.

Makes sense right? WRONG! Why? Because the same muscles that pulled those bones and joints out of place to begin with, will do so again, usually within days.

The ONLY way to address muscle imbalances is to first identify them, then work on correcting them with the right combination of corrective exercises and stretches… and any treatment that fails to include this formula, is doomed to fail!

To learn more about muscle imbalances, be sure to read my article titled “Aches, Pains, and Injuries” here: http://www.losethebackpain.com/achesandpainsarticle.html

So when does a Herniated Disc actually cause pain?

Typically, a herniated disc will cause pain when it is putting pressure on a nerve or nerves and this pain is usually felt down the backside of the leg. However, occasionally individuals experience pain in the disc itself or the area around it.

How do you know then what’s causing your back pain?

Whether your pain is in the disc or shooting down your leg, I am willing to bet that it has something to do with muscle imbalances.

In my opinion, it always makes sense to start at the beginning… so the first thing to do is identify what muscles imbalances you have and then begin work on correcting them.

DON’T try things like ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone shots and then feel disappointed that they didn’t work… how can they??? Remember, they don’t address the root cause of the problem!

I am not saying that these types of treatments don’t have a place, it’s just that they will not give you the long-term relief you are looking for. For example, ultrasound may be helpful in conjunction with a corrective exercise and stretching program but it’s not likely to do much on it’s own.

The real key is to not only treat the symptoms, but address the cause of the problem also. You can learn more about how to identify and correct your muscles imbalances in our video, Lose the Back Pain.

In it, we take you thru a series of self-assessments in which you’ll identify which specific muscle imbalances you have. We then show you step-by-step what to do to correct them in our Corrective Action Plans… all you have to do is follow the instructions and in weeks, maybe days, your back will be feeling great again. Order your copy online at http://www.losethebackpain.com or call 1-888-343-FITT (3488)

About The Author

Article by Jesse Cannone of http://www.losethebackpain.com Jesse is a certified personal fitness trainer and post-rehab specialist and he has helped hundreds of individuals to eliminate their back pain. Visit his site now and be sure to sign up for his free email course on eliminating back pain.
support@losethebackpain.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Sciatica And Back Pain – 7 Simple Things You Can Do To Stop It

by: Chris Galloway

The Good News

The good news is that by doing the right back exercises in the right way, you have a great chance of stopping your sciatica and Back Pain and keeping your back healthy and strong.

Even if your back already hurts, or is strained, there is a good chance that you can make it better.

(Note: If you’re sick, or your back really hurts and you think you’ve injured yourself, make sure you see a health practitioner first.)

The Not-So-Good News

If you don’t exercise reasonably regularly, especially as you age, the muscles supporting and surrounding your back will eventually get weak and stiff.

Then these muscles won’t be able to work well enough when you most need them to – when you put a strain on your back.

This means it’s much more likely that your will injure your back when you do place a strain – even a small strain – on it.

Your back can get injured from an action as simple as reaching for something on your desk, or from a more obvious strain such as lifting something heavy, especially if your posture is bad as you do it.

Why Back Problems Tend to Hang Around

Your back is a complicated mechanical system with many moving parts. This is why the condition of the surrounding muscles is so important in supporting it and holding everything in alignment.

Studies have shown the muscles that provide support to your back behave differently to other muscles.

The key difference is that they are slower to automatically “switch back on” (i.e. return to their previous level of function) after an injury or a strain.

Unless they are triggered by exercise, they can take a long time to return to their previous level of function.

Worst case without the right exercise, they may never return to full function and so your back doesn’t get the support it needs.

When these supporting muscles are working properly, they respond to signals from your brain by clenching or bracing fractionally before a strain impacts your back.

This means your back is supported as the strain arrives and so the chance of (further) injury or strain is reduced.

When this mechanism is not working properly and the muscles don’t trigger, your back is left unsupported and thus you are more likely to re-injure or strain your back.

This is why back problems can be so difficult to get rid of once you start having them and why you can suffer from recurring back problems.

This is also the reason regular exercise is so important – it helps to keep your supporting muscles active and able to do their job.

7 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Your Back

1. Stand upright and pay attention to posture – don’t slouch.

2. Sit upright at your desk with your lower back slightly curved. Don’t slump in your chair or hunch over your keyboard. Set your workstation up correctly – screen at eye level.

3. Change your position frequently. Get up and walk around every 20-30 minutes even if it’s only for 30 seconds.

4. Eat healthily and manage your weight. Extra weight, especially around your waist, strains your back. A simple diet with a good selection of fresh foods is one of the keys to overall health.

5. Do specific back strengthening exercises. (Find out about the Better Back System).

6. Also exercise to strengthen your stomach and ‘core’ muscles which help support your back.

7. Push rather than pull heavy objects. If you’re lifting something heavy, use your leg muscles and hold it close to your body. Don’t bend over and strain your back.

We recommend the Better Back System which you can try this at home to see if it works for you without any risk. It uses a set of special exercises that you can do at home in about 5 minutes a day with a 97% chance of success and without having to trek to the gym, or fill your cupboard full of equipment.

There’s no mystery really! When you take action on a few key things, you’re on the road to a better back, ending your back pain and sciatica and ensuring good health.

About The Author

Chris Galloway

The author’s back has put up with fifty years of football and falling off bikes, among other things. Read his tried and tested exercises for a healthy back without pain and without medication at http://www.sciaticacenter.com.

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Back Pain Essentials- What Do You Need To Do Now!

by: Dr Graeme Teague

When you first suffer Back Pain, are you one of those people who wait to see how things go? Are you someone who lives in hope that your back pain will miraculously disappear overnight? Don’t worry you are in good company as the majority of back pain sufferers do the same.

It is a common thing to do, because most back pain will settle by itself within a few weeks. But what if it doesn’t?

Are there things you can do to make sure it disappears within a few days or even possibly within a few hours? After all who wants to wait and hope that your back pain will disappear after a few weeks anyway?

So what can you do?

One of the simplest things is to use ice. Yes plain cold ice. If you use ice in the first 48 hours most back pain will ease and disappear within that time, and sometimes within the day.

Now please remember, if you have had a fall or major injury, use ice – but use it on the way to see your doctor or hospital. It is still essential to be checked over, if you have had an injury that has led to back pain.

But let’s assume it is a minor injury, you have spent too much time in the garden, lifted one too many pieces of wood, work too hard or something similar…

As soon as your back pain occurs, put ice on it. Ice works as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Most back pain initially loves ice. It will help it heal and remove pain quicker than anything else.

What you need to do is this…

Put ice on the area of pain; leave it on for ten minutes only. Then place heat on the area, again for ten minutes only. Then repeat this process and finally finish with ice for another ten minutes.

After 48 hours then finish with heat, as heat improves the blood supply and eases muscle tension. Most times you will not need to do this as your pain would have disappeared.

If you apply the ice/heat treatment every few hours, then within the day the majority of back pain will disappear. Even if it is a minor back pain issue, still use ice. It is people like you and me, who wait a few hours or days to “see how things go” who end up having pain for weeks.

Early intervention is the best approach for all back pain. Using ice is one simple technique you can use that can limit the time you spend in back pain.

This does not mean the process ends there. What you now need to do is learn ways to prevent your back pain occurring. Most back pain occurs not from large falls or injuries. It arrives after doing normal common everyday activities. Activities you have done a hundred times before. Yet today your back pain arrives.

For this to happen it means tension and stress on your muscles and joints has increased over days, weeks or months. Today is the day an overload occurs and back pain happens. Sure ice will ease your back pain now, but you need to learn simple and highly effective ways to remove and prevent back pain… permanently.

About The Author

Dr Graeme Teague is an expert in the structural field, and has been in practice since 1991. His newly launched web site The Back Pain Advisor – http://www.back-pain-advisor.com – strives to give you valuable and expert advice, tips and information on your back pain isues.

Receive a free e-book on back pain when you subscribe to our newsletter, just click here – http://www.back-pain-advisor.com/back-pain-adviser.html

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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