Pain

Back Muscles and Low Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

Soft tissues around the spine also play a key role in low back pain. There is a large and complex group of muscles that work together to support the spine, help hold the body upright and allow the trunk of the body to move, twist and bend in many directions.

Bicycling and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How biking can cause back pain

Little conditioning is provided to the back muscles by bicycling
Back posture on the bicycle can strain the lower back (a result of the lumbar spine flexing or pulling up) or the upper back (a result of the neck arching back)
Rough terrain increases jarring and compression to the spine, which can cause back pain
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Body building, weight lifting and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How weight lifting and body building cause back pain

Extending or flexing the back muscles against resistance (the weight) can result in stress fractures (such as spondylolysis), muscle strain and ligament injury during weight lifting and body building
Exercises performed during weight lifting and body building such as clean-and-jerk, dead-lift, snatch, and squat can be particularly stressful
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Golf and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How golf causes low back pain

The full golf swing (backswing and follow-through) rotates the spine with a lot of force and little control
Lumbar spine muscles strain to help provide force for the golf swing
Disc and facet joint loading increases to help provide force for the golf swing
Bending over to pick up the golf bag and carrying it can strain muscles
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Golf and low back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Playing golf can cause low back pain

Golf—one of America’s all-time favorite sports—is becoming more popular than ever. The increased popularity of golf may be due to demographics, with baby boomers having more time and disposable income, and may be due to the fact that technology is producing golf equipment that makes the game easier. Whatever the reason, golf is certainly enjoying a surge of popularity.

Lumbar and Cervical Radiculopathy

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

Radiculopathy – arm pain and leg pain (sciatica)

From top to bottom down the entire length of the spine, at each spinal level nerves exit through holes in the bone of the spine (foramen) on the right side and left side of the spinal column. These nerves are called nerve roots, or radicular nerves. They branch out at each level of the spine and innervate different parts of our body.

Normal spinal anatomy

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Before discussing the confusing aspects of terminology used to describe back problems, it is important to first review the overall terminology used to describe the normal anatomy of the spine.

Osteomyelitis Diagnosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

A diagnosis of spinal infection is difficult to make early on in the course of the disease. If osteomyelitis is suspected, both diagnostic studies and laboratory studies will be conducted to make an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes, a surgical procedure may also be necessary to obtain a culture of the bacteria.

Osteomyelitis Symptoms

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Symptoms of back pain due to a spinal infection often develop insidiously and over a long period of time.

In addition to back pain, symptoms may include constitutional symptoms such as:

Fever, chills, or shakes
Unplanned weight loss
Nighttime pain that is worse than daytime pain
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Osteomyelitis Treatments

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Treatment for osteomyelitis is usually conservative and based primarily on use of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Occasionally, surgery may be necessary to alleviate pressure on the nerves, clean out infected material, and/or stabilize the spine.

Conservative treatments

Treatment for spinal infections usually includes a combination of intravenous antibiotic therapy, bracing and rest.

Osteomyelitis, a spinal infection

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Vertebral osteomyelitis refers to an infection of the vertebral body in the spine. It is a fairly rare cause of back pain, especially in young healthy adults.

Generally, the infection is spread to the vertebral body by a vascular route. The veins in the lower spine (Batson’s plexus) drain the pelvis and provide for a direct route of entry for the bacteria to get into the spine. For this reason, there is a preponderance of infections in the spine that occur after a urologic procedure (e.g. cystoscopy).

Pain from a synovial cyst in the lumbar spine

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

A synovial cyst is a relatively uncommon cause of spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine (lower back). It is a benign condition, and the symptoms and level of pain or discomfort may remain stable for many years.

Playing golf with low back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

For the millions of people who have chronic, long-standing low back pain, golf can still be an enjoyable sport. However, a regular routine of stretching and low-impact exercise is critical to maintain the ability to play golf.

Preventing low back pain from golf

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

As with so many health conditions, a little effort to prevent back injury and low back pain goes a long way. Four key areas of prevention for the sport of golf include: warm-up, swing, bio-mechanics, and carrying the golf bag.

Running and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How running causes back pain

Back muscles work to keep the body upright and in good posture during the duration of the run
Joints and discs are jarred and compressed by the force of the body leaving the ground and landing on every stride when running or jogging

Preventing back pain and sports injuries from running

Wear top-quality cushioned running shoes
Run on softer surfaces (grass or padded track)
Do more frequent but shorter runs as opposed to marathon running
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Sacral region

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

The sacral region (sacrum) is at the bottom of the spine and lies between the fifth lumbar segment (L5) and the coccyx (tailbone). The sacrum is a triangular-shaped bone and consists of five segments (S1 – S5) that are fused together.

Components of the Sacral Region

The first three vertebrae in the sacral region have transverse processes which come together to form wide lateral wings called alae. These alae articulate with the blades of the pelvis (ilium).
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Skiing and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How skiing causes back pain

While skiing, back muscles are used to keep the body in the proper form and to carry heavy equipment
Falling while skiing can jar, twist or otherwise stress the spine

Preventing back pain and sports injuries from skiing

Begin exercising to prepare for skiing at least six weeks before getting on the ski slopes
Always take one warm-up run down the easiest hill each time you begin skiing
Ski on slopes that fit within your ability level
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Spinal Abnormalities Rarely Cause Back Problems

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Spine surgeons and radiologists (who both may read and interpret MRI scans) sometimes differ in their method of labeling a particular spinal segment. This creates confusion—among both patients and insurance companies—triggering the question: “Where is the problem?”

Spinal Anatomy and Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

Spinal anatomy is a remarkable combination of strong bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, large muscles and highly sensitive nerves. It is designed to be incredibly strong, protecting the highly sensitive nerve roots, yet highly flexible, providing for mobility on many different planes. Most of us take this juxtaposition of strength, structure and flexibility for granted in our everyday lives—until something goes wrong.

Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerve Roots

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

The spinal cord comes off the base of the brain, runs throughout the cervical and thoracic spine, and ends at the lower part of the thoracic spine. Therefore, spinal cord injury or damage may accompany trauma or diseases of the cervical spine or thoracic spine.

Spinal Discs

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

The vertebral disc in the spine is an interesting and unique structure. Its primary purpose is to act as a shock absorber between adjacent vertebrae. Spinal discs also act as ligaments that hold the vertebrae of the spine together and as cartilaginous joints that allow for slight mobility in the spine. There are a total of twenty-three vertebral discs in the spinal column.

Sport Injuries, Back Injuries, and Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Types of sports injuries causing back pain

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and sports are one approach many people choose to get their exercise. For people with back pain, sports can still be a viable option if they pay attention to their back. For others, knowing the type of strain sports place on the back may help prevent a back injury. This article gives specific information about sports injuries and back pain from bicycling, weight lifting, running, swimming, skiing, golf and tennis.

Swimming and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How swimming causes back pain

Lower back can remain hyper-extended during front strokes (the crawl or breaststroke) while swimming
Upper spine (neck) may be jerked backward repetitively during front strokes while taking breaths when swimming

Preventing back pain from swimming

Use proper form for front strokes while swimming; keep body level in the water (hold lower abdominal muscles up and in) and keep the head straight rather than lifted
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Synovial Cyst in the Lower Back: Symptoms and Diagnosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

A synovial cyst is most commonly found in patients who are older than 65 years old. This type of cyst is benign (non-malignant) and the symptoms may remain stable and not progress for long periods of time.

Tennis and back pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

How tennis causes back pain

Front- and back-hand shots require a large amount of trunk rotation and twisting in the spine when playing tennis
The tennis serve hyper-extends the lower back and can compress lumbar discs
Back muscles must support continual sudden forward and lateral movements and start-and-stop motions during a game of tennis
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Treating low back pain and back injury from golf

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Most acute low back injuries that occur during a game of golf will get better over a couple of days to weeks. The most common injuries from golf include:

Muscle strains: typically occurs with rough or forceful golf swings or a sudden shift during the downswing
Muscle and tendon attachment: generally occurs due to excessive use, accidents or swing abnormalities while playing golf
Disc injuries: can occur from swinging abnormalities (note that this is usually due to a pre-existing disc lesion that is aggravated by golf)
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Treatment Options for Synovial Cysts

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

There are three main treatment choices for synovial cysts in the lumbar spine:

Observation and activity modifications
Injections
Surgery

Observation and activity modification

If the synovial cyst is not creating a lot of dysfunction or pain in the patient’s daily life, no medical treatments may be necessary. Since the pain is usually caused by certain positions, changing positions is a reasonable way to deal with the pain as long as a patient can still function adequately.

Understanding Back Problems

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Defining back problems

The way in which spinal anatomy and the location of the back problem is typically described causes confusion for patients, and even for health care professionals who deal with back problems on a regular basis. Patients with back problems are all too often confused about what is pinching where, and how the back problem relates to their symptoms.

At Spine-health.com, we frequently get questions such as:

Vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:15 -0800

Collectively, the vertebral bodies comprise the boney building blocks of the spine. They are stacked on top of each other with a disc in between each one. All of the vertebral bodies act as a support column to hold up the spine. This column supports about half of the weight of the body, with the other half supported by the muscles.

Each area of the spine has some differences in the form and function of vertebral bodies and how they are attached to adjacent structures.