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Oh, My Aching Back!
Dr. Kirk Manson, Chiropractic Center for Rehabilitation and Relaxation
This statement, “Oh, my aching back!” is one heard
in many doctor’s offices around the country. Low
back pain is the second leading cause of visits to a
doctor, and the fifth leading cause for surgery. In
the United States, the total treatment cost and lost work time
is approximately 100 billion dollars a year.
Why? Well let’s see what the culprits are? Although there
are a number of causes of lower back pain, too numerous to
discuss in our limited space, the main problem we see in our
office are a misalignment of the joints in the back called a
subluxation. This causes problems with proper nerve function
and causes Myofascial pain which is a knot or tight band in the
muscle tissue generating its own unique pain pattern. Most
commonly, these two problems coexist with one another; each
re-enforcing the other.
The main question I am asked by patients is, “How did I
get this problem?” Usually it is a combination of the slips,
trips, and falls you had and thought you had healed up
from. However, often even then these problems will remain
unnoticed without something more to provoke the pain.
Do you awake with pain? If so, have you considered
one of the more overlooked culprits- that your bed could
be part of the problem? Most people see their bed as simply
the place they rest at night. Instead, think of your mattress
as your orthopedic supportive device which allows you to
awake feeling….rested! If you’re waking up with pain, it
doesn’t matter how much time you spend in the bed if it is not
supporting you. Also remember, the springs tend to wear out
after a few years; creating a new set of problems (which end up
hurting you instead of helping you).
And how about those shoes? Do they support your arches,
all three of them? How long have you had your favorite shoes?
In order to be your favorite, have you had time to develop a
relationship with them? But is it a dysfunctional one? What
is the wear on the heel of the shoe look like? Is it even or it
is worn on one side more than the other? How about those
high heels? By increasing the angle of flexion of the ankle
during walking, the stress along the joints of the ankle
and feet shifts forward. This increase in stress on the ankle
changes the gait and is transferred to the knees—leading to
an increase in osteoarthritis of the knees and destabilization
of the hip muscles. This re-enforces the subluxation previously
mentioned. The trigger points in the gluteals increase as the
body tries to stabilize your gait while your heels are moving
around somewhat randomly.
What about that purse or back pack you are carrying
around with you? Purses should have as little as possible in
them. I know you’ve read this before… but just think about it.
The more you carry on one shoulder slung to the side (with the
weight resting on those small shoulder straps which are pressing
into the muscles in the upper back and shoulder trigger points),
the more money you get to spend with doctors and therapists
for neck and back pain and unresolved headaches. People of all
ages are carrying back packs. The weight of backpacks should
be limited to no more than 10 percent of the carrier’s weight
according to the American Chiropractic Association. Studies
show a significant shift in a person’s balance forward with a
greater the percentage of weight someone is carrying.
These are examples of how chronic or recurrent pain is
often provoked by normal activities we take for granted. It
is frequently the case that 2 or 3 activities during our day
are enough to aggravate conditions such as lower back pain;
resulting in years of unnecessary pain.
For more information, please checkout our website: wwww.aaahhchirospa.com.
We accept most insurance plans including: Blue Cross
Blue Shield, Presbyterian, United Healthcare, Medicare and Auto Injury
Insurance.
www.aaahhchirospa
MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED
1804 Carlisle Blvd., NE Albuquerque, NM 87110
Truly Alive | A Living Naturally Magazine | September/October 2010 13