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The spine is the body's central highway, with the spinal canal as the main lane that handles all the traffic. There are entrances and exits, or spinal cavities, that allow the nerves to branch off the spinal cord and run throughout the body. A traffic jam develops during lane closures, accidents, or construction at an entrance or exit. Lateral recess stenosis causes the narrowing of the spine's lateral recess/Lee's entrance, which can compress nerves, impede nerve circulation, and cause painful symptoms. Lateral Recess Stenosis The spinal column provides a strong and flexible structure for the spinal cord. The nerves travel from the spinal cord through various openings and passageways to the rest of the body. One of the openings is known as the lateral recess. Stenosis means narrowing. When a lateral recess in a vertebra develops stenosis, the nerve in that area can get jammed/pinched with no room to move, causing varying symptoms and sensations. Symptoms Depending on where the stenosis is taking place (neck, middle or low back), common symptoms of lateral recess stenosis can include: - Back pain that can spread out to other areas.
- Cramping that can spread out to other sites.
- Radiating pain that worsens with movement and eases with rest.
- Numbness or weakness of the legs or arms.
- Electrical tingling sensations down the leg or arm.
Causes The National Institute of Health lists the major causes: Natural Wear and Tear - Natural aging with gradual degeneration remains the most common cause of stenosis.
Congenital - Born With Stenosis Disease Natural Aging Process Traumatic Injury - Automobile crashes and accidents
- Work Injuries
- Sports injuries
Treatment Lateral recess stenosis has no current cure, but there are options to treat stenosis symptoms. Chiropractic and Physical Therapy - A chiropractic physical therapy team can relieve symptoms, restore function, and strengthen the muscles.
- Muscle groups around the stenosis area are built up to take the pressure off of the area, alleviating symptoms.
Medications - A doctor or spine specialist may recommend or prescribe medication to ease symptoms. These include:
- Tylenol - acetaminophen.
- NSAIDS - Advil/ibuprofen or Aleve/naproxen.
- Muscle relaxers
Steroid Injections - According to a study, neurogenic claudication is the main reason for disability and loss of independence in the elderly.
- Neurogenic claudication describes pain and weakness in the buttocks and legs during physical activity that originates from the nerves, not the vessels.
- This can happen from inflammation and swelling around a compressed nerve.
- A steroid injection can decrease inflammation for several months.
Surgery If activity modification, NSAIDs, bracing, and physical therapy don't work or provide adequate relief, a doctor or specialist could recommend surgery. General Disclaimer * The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico* References American College of Rheumatology (n.d.) “Spinal Stenosis” https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Spinal-Stenosis Arthritis Foundation (n.d.) “Corticosteroids” https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/corticosteroids/corticosteroids Drug Design, Development and Therapy (2014) “Steroid for epidural injection in spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis” https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S78070 Lee, Seung Yeop, et al. “Lumbar Stenosis: A Recent Update by Review of Literature.” Asian spine journal vol. 9,5 (2015): 818-28. doi:10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.818 Liu, Kuan, et al. “Steroid for epidural injection in spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Drug design, development, and therapy vol. 9 707-16. Jan 30, 2015, doi:10.2147/DDDT.S78070 Medline Plus (n.d.) “Achondroplasia” https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/achondroplasia/ Microspine (n.d.) “Endoscopic Decompression” https://www.microspinemd.com/microspine-surgery/endoscopic-decompression/ National Institutes of Health (n.d.) “Spinal Stenosis” https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/spinal-stenosis Northwest Medical Center (2022) “Lateral Recess/Foraminal Stenosis” https://nw-mc.com/lateral-recessforaminal-stenosis/ NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery (n.d.) Lateral Recess Stenosis https://nspc.com/lateral-recess-stenosis/ Raja A, Hoang S, Patel P, et al. Spinal Stenosis. [Updated 2022 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441989/
Several conditions and factors can cause chronic pain. Usually, these are conditions that accompany normal aging, which affect bones and joints. The top three are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Other common causes are nerve damage and injuries that fail to heal properly. Spinal Cord and the Nerves of the Corresponding Organs Individuals with fibromyalgia experience unexplained pain in almost every part of their bodies. Doctors and scientists are still trying to figure out what causes fibromyalgia. Currently, scientists think a part of the condition comes from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. They believe the imbalances play a critical role. Fibromyalgia can create: - Tender areas
- Muscle pain
- Headaches
- Long-term back pain
- Long-term neck pain
Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis causes severe sporadic or non-stop aches and pain in the knees, hips, spine, and feet. Associated symptoms include joint stiffness, swelling, and limited joint mobility. Individuals with osteoarthritis could have some pain throughout their lives. According to the CDC, around fifteen million adults with arthritis have severe pain in their joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis causes continual aching that affects multiple joints. The hands, wrists, and knees are the most affected joints. Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can present alternate symptoms, like joint stiffness, swelling, and fever. Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and the spinal cord. What happens is the immune system targets and damages the protective covering of the nerves themselves. The brain can't properly and effectively communicate with the body. Multiple sclerosis causes pain in the legs, feet, arms, and hands. Associated symptoms include burning, prickling, or stabbing pain just about every day. Sciatica Sciatica can cause mild to sharp, electrical burning pain that travels from the lower back through the buttocks to the back of the leg and even into the foot. Chronic sciatica lasts for three months or more. The condition is more common in adults age 40 and older. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain and numbness in the: - Hand
- Wrist
- Forearm
- Thumb
- Index finger
- Middle finger
- Ring finger
Common causes include: Injury Trauma Around half of the cases involving chronic pain are linked to physical trauma and injury. Individuals hospitalized after a serious injury often report chronic pain symptoms within the first year. Scientists are still unsure of how injuries lead to chronic pain. They believe several factors increase the risk. These include: - Pre-injury depression
- Anxiety
- Alcohol use
- Family history of chronic pain
Individuals that have sustained multiple injuries are at higher risk for chronic pain. Spinal Injuries One of the most common causes of chronic back pain. The lower back is the area likely to be affected. Certain types of chronic pain can have more than one cause. For example, general back pain could be caused by a single factor or a combination of factors like: - Poor posture
- Improper lifting of heavy objects
- Improper carrying of heavy objects
- Being overweight places added strain on the back and knees
- Abnormal curvature of the spine
- Wearing high heels too often
- Sleeping on a worn-out mattress
- Degenerative disc changes
Combat Injuries More than half of combat-related injuries are the result of explosions, from landmines, and shrapnel. Nearly all injured soldiers have to deal with some type of pain and many have a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury can cause chronic headaches. Delayed treatment and repeated injuries in injured soldiers make up for most chronic pain cases. Sports Injuries Sports injuries and chronic pain is nothing new. Studies found that 1 in 2 football players deal with chronic pain in their retirement. This along with sleep problems and mild-severe depression. Both can contribute to chronic pain. Athletes are continuously exposed to high-risk injury situations. Having the pressure of performing optimally and winning can take a toll on an athlete's health. Weight Obesity does not directly cause chronic pain, but it does raise the risk. Around 40% of individuals that are obese also experience mild to severe chronic pain. Plus, individuals that are severely overweight are more likely to develop a condition that can cause chronic pain like diabetes, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. The source of chronic pain can be very complex. It can start with an injury or illness and develop slowly without the individual realizing it until it has become a full-blown chronic condition. This fact alone makes recommending a single course of treatment risky and is why health care providers recommend a number of different types of treatment options. Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
The human nervous system is made up of two parts: the central nervous system, which includes the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, which includes the connection nerves running from the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the human body, including the hands and the feet. Many patients with neuropathy may experience a variety of painful symptoms due to nerve damage or injury. But, with the proper treatment approach, neuropathy can be effectively treated and even reversed. Diagnosis of neuropathy is fundamental towards proper treatment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, can help patients with neuropathy. Neuropathy is a medical term used to describe a collection of general diseases or malfunctions which affect the nerves. The causes of neuropathy, or nerve damage, can vary greatly among each individual and these may be caused by a number of different diseases, injuries, infections, and even vitamin deficiency states. However, neuropathy can most commonly affect the nerves that control the motor and sensory nerves. Because the human body is composed of many different kinds of nerves which perform different functions, nerve damage is classified into several types. Neuropathy can also be classified according to the location of the nerves being affected and according to the disease-causing it. For instance, neuropathy caused by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, depending on which nerves are affected will depend on the symptoms that will manifest as a result. Below we will discuss several specific types of neuropathies clinically treated by chiropractors, physical therapists and physical medicine doctors alike, as well as briefly describing their causes and their symptoms. Peripheral neuropathy, which is often simply referred to as “neuropathy,” is a state that happens when your nerves become damaged or injured, oftentimes simply disrupted. It’s estimated that neuropathy affects roughly 2.4 percent of the general populace and approximately 8 percent of people older than age 55. However, this quote doesn’t include people affected by neuropathy caused by physical trauma to the nerves. Types Neuropathy can affect any of the three types of peripheral nerves: - Sensory nerves, which transmit messages from the sensory organs, eyes, nose to the brain
- Motor nerves, which track the conscious movement of the muscles
- Autonomic nerves, which regulate the involuntary functions of the body
Sometimes, neuropathy will only impact one nerve. This is medically referred to as mononeuropathy and instances of it include: - Ulnar neuropathy, which affects the elbow
- Radial neuropathy, which affects the arms
- Peroneal neuropathy, which affects the knees
- Femoral neuropathy, which affects the thighs
- Cervical neuropathy, which affects the neck
Sometimes, two or more isolated nerves in separate regions of the body can become damaged, injured or disrupted, resulting in mono neuritis multiplex neuropathy. Most often, however, multiple peripheral nerves malfunction at the same time, a condition called polyneuropathy. According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or the NINDS, there are over 100 kinds of peripheral neuropathies. Causes Neuropathies are often inherited from birth or they develop later in life. The most frequent inherited neuropathy is the neurological disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects 1 in 2,500 people in the USA. Although healthcare professionals are sometimes not able to pinpoint the exact reason for an acquired neuropathy, medically referred to as idiopathic neuropathy, there are many known causes for them, including systemic diseases, physical trauma, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. A systemic disease is one which affects the whole body. The most frequent systemic cause behind peripheral neuropathy is diabetes, which can lead to chronically high blood glucose levels that harm nerves. Other systemic issues can cause neuropathy, including: - Kidney disorders, which permit high levels of nerve-damaging toxic chemicals to flow in the blood
- Toxins from exposure to heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, mercury, and thallium
- Certain drugs and/or medications, including anti-cancer medications, anticonvulsants, antivirals, and antibiotics
- Chemical imbalances because of liver ailments
- Hormonal diseases, including hyperthyroidism, which disturbs metabolic processes, potentially inducing cells and body parts to exert pressure on the nerves
- Deficiencies in vitamins, such as E, B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), B12, and niacin, that can be vital for healthy nerves
- Alcohol abuse, which induces vitamin deficiencies and might also directly harm nerves
- Cancers and tumors that exert damaging pressure on nerve fibers and pathways
- Chronic inflammation, which can damage protective tissues around nerves, which makes them more vulnerable to compression or vulnerable to getting inflamed and swollen
- Blood diseases and blood vessel damage, which may damage or injure nerve tissue by decreasing the available oxygen supply
Signs and Symptoms of Neuropathy Depending on the reason and unique to each patient, signs, and symptoms of neuropathy can include: - Pain
- Tingling
- Burning/prickling sensations
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Muscle weakness
- Temporary or permanent numbness;
- Paralysis
- Dysfunction in glands or organs
- Impairment in urination and
- Sexual function
Such signs and symptoms are dependent on whether autonomic, sensory, or motor nerves, as well as a combination of them, are ultimately affected. Autonomic nerve damage can influence physiological functions like blood pressure or create gastrointestinal problems and issues. Damage or dysfunction in the sensory nerves may impact sensations and sense of equilibrium or balance, while harm to motor nerves may affect movement and reflexes. When both sensory and motor nerves are involved, the condition is known as sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Complications Peripheral neuropathy may result in several complications, as a result of disease or its symptoms. Numbness from the ailment can allow you to be less vulnerable to temperatures and pain, making you more likely to suffer from burns and serious wounds. The lack of sensations in the feet, for instance, can make you more prone to developing infections from minor traumatic accidents, particularly for diabetics, who heal more slowly than other people, including foot ulcers and gangrene. Furthermore, muscle atrophy may cause you to develop particular physical disfigurements, such as pes cavus, a condition marked by an abnormally high foot arch, and claw-like deformities in the feet and palms. We are blessed to present to you El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic. Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Treatment, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Stress Management, and Complex Injuries. As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we passionately are focused on treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities. We want you to live a life filled with more energy, positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life. We're Here To Help You Get Back To Your Normal Life! Health Grades: http://www.healthgrades.com/review/3SDJ4 Facebook Clinical Page: https://www.facebook.com/dralexjimene... Facebook Sports Page: https://www.facebook.com/pushasrx/ Facebook Injuries Page: https://www.facebook.com/elpasochirop... Facebook Neuropathy Page: https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoNeurop... Yelp: El Paso Rehabilitation Center: http://goo.gl/pwY2n2 Yelp: El Paso Clinical Center: Treatment: https://goo.gl/r2QPuZ Clinical Testimonies: https://www.dralexjimenez.com/categor...
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Women experiencing low back pain will find there are a variety of possible causes. Lower back pain can stem from the reproductive system or the spine itself. Finding the possible cause of low back pain can be difficult to diagnose. As well as, pinpointing the pain can be a very challenging task. Women wonder how it's possible to mistake menstrual cramps for back pain and then it happens to them. There are certain conditions that make the low back and core region a central location of continual pain. And unfortunately, women could be more susceptible. Most individuals will experience low back pain at some point during their life. However, there is a slight prevalence and is more common in females than males across all ages. Low back pain in women increases with age. A research comparison studying middle-aged individuals reported an increase of low back pain in females versus males post-menopause. Some possible low back pain causes include. Menopause and Hormone Issues Chronic lower back pain is one of the most reported musculoskeletal issues women face during menopause. About sixty-seventy percent of perimenopausal women present symptoms associated with estrogen deficiency. And over half in perimenopause report chronic musculoskeletal pain. Many of these studies show increasing menopausal symptoms and the correlation to chronic low back pain symptoms. Menstruation and Uterine Dysfunction Dysmenorrhea is a uterine dysfunction that involves frequent and severe cramping during menstruation, which often leads to low back pain. The condition is classified as primary or secondary. Both types include low back pain as a common symptom. Primary dysmenorrhea starts when a woman begins menstruation and continues throughout their life. Intense contractions can cause continual and severe menstrual cramping. Secondary dysmenorrhea usually starts later and is caused by another condition like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition that can contribute to back pain in women. Tissue that behaves like endometrial tissue begins to grow outside of the uterus, in the pelvic cavity or other areas. The new tissue responds to the body's hormonal changes and can cause swelling, pain, spotting, and bleeding. Endometriosis growths bleed monthly as well. Without a place for the blood to go, the excess irritates and inflames the surrounding tissue. The condition can cause heavy periods, chronic pain, and scar tissue build-up. Symptoms can present at any menstrual cycle stage. Pelvic pain that runs down the legs is common. Some women have also reported throbbing, shooting pain that can be mild to severe. Symptoms include: - Abdominal pain
- Low back pain
- Pain when walking or standing
- Pain during ovulation
- Pain when urinating
- Urinary urgency
- Pelvic inflammation
- Constipation
- Pain during intercourse
- Bowel movement pain
- Rectal pain that radiates
- Pain caused by scar tissue build-up within the bladder, fallopian tubes, bowels, and ovaries
- Chronic fatigue
Endometriosis can be diagnosed by a doctor during an initial pelvic exam. Further imaging tests to assist in the identification could be requested. Spinal Issues The reproductive organs can sometimes contribute to back pain. However, women can also be susceptible to degenerative conditions that affect the spine's structure. Low back pain is common with an average patient experiencing one to two episodes a year. Low back pain can start in early adulthood and become a chronic problem that can be triggered by various events or activities. Most back pain issues are resolved within six weeks. This is known as acute low back pain. When the pain doesn't stop for more than 12 weeks it is considered chronic lower back pain. Postmenopausal Compression Fractures Around twenty-five percent of women will go through a vertebral compression fracture of the middle or lower spine. The risks increase with age, with around a 40 percent chance at 80 years of age. Small cracks in the vertebrae can cause severe disability and limit function. Osteoporosis is the most common cause of vertebral compression fracture/s. Postmenopausal women are at an increase of developing osteoporosis. This comes from hormonal changes that decrease bone mineral density, leaving the bones open to fracture. Spondylolisthesis This is when one vertebral body, or the thick oval bone segment in front of the vertebra, slips against an adjacent body. The result is pain or mechanical symptoms. The pain can spread throughout the spine to the hip, buttocks, into the legs, and possibly the foot. The condition can be congenital, from an unknown cause, or acquired. There is some research on childbirth and hysterectomies putting women at risk for spondylolisthesis. It is common in the lumbar spine/lower back, but can also present in the cervical spine/neck region. The thoracic/middle spine is extremely rare except in trauma cases. The thoracic spine is the longest region of the spine. It is between the cervical and lumbar regions. One cause of the increased pain is longer times spent sitting in chairs that are not ergonomic. A second is being confined to smaller workspaces. The key is to get up and move around or use a sit-stand desk to alternate sitting and standing. Irregular and localized low back pain is typical for low back spondylolisthesis. The pain usually worsens when the area/region is flexed or directly touched. Piriformis Syndrome Back pain sometimes isn’t back pain, but piriformis syndrome. The piriformis muscle is a small muscle that extends from the lower spine to the top of the femur. It can involuntarily contract and compress or irritate the sciatic nerve. The muscle helps rotate and turn the leg and foot outward. Symptoms are consistent with sciatica. It typically presents with buttock pain that shoots, aches, or throbs along the leg’s backside, thigh, calf, and foot. Tingling along the nerve along with numbness is common. Causes include: - Buttock injury
- Hip injury
- Weight training specifically the gluteal/buttock, hips, and hamstrings
- Sitting for a long time - Examples include truck drivers, desk job workers, etc.
- Damage to the piriformis muscle
- Sciatic nerve wraps around the piriformis muscle
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Sacroiliac joint dysfunction involves inflammation of the joints, located at the connection of the pelvis and lower spine. It can present as low back or buttock pain that radiates down the leg/s. The pain worsens when climbing stairs or standing for an extended amount of time. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can be tough to diagnose, as it is often mistaken for other low back pain causes. SI joint dysfunction causes: - Pregnancy - the increased weight and altered movement/s can cause additional stress and wear.
- Joint infection - in rare cases, the joints can be subject to infection.
- Arthritis - the joints can develop arthritis from normal wear and tear.
- Traumatic Injury - the joints can be injured from a forceful impact from a fall or auto accident.
Most cases do not end up requiring medication or surgery. It is when the pain lasts more than six weeks that there could be something more taking place like neurologic symptoms or other conditions, spinal or otherwise. Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
To get the best treatment for upper or mid-back back pain, you should understand what may be causing it. A doctor or chiropractor can help you figure out what is contributing to your back pain, then determine the root cause, and set up a treatment outline. Here are some of the more common causes. Improper posture Poor posture is one of the leading causes of upper back pain because so many people spend their workdays sitting at some station for most if not the entire day. Sitting with a: - Rounded back
- Shoulders hunched forward
Just these two positional behaviors can put massive stress on the back muscles. Getting into bad habits and not sitting properly, and sitting for so many hours a day is a sure way to bring out some form of body pain. Not lifting objects properly When picking something up, you should use proper lifting body mechanics to protect the spine. Not using proper lifting form can definitely cause injury/s. Overloaded backpack/purse Anyone who uses backpacks and big purses is at risk for upper back injury and consistent pain. Over-loading backpacks and purses can be dangerous to the spine and shoulders. Also not wearing the backpack correctly, for example just using one strap causes imbalance, which leads to soreness, and that leads to injury. Trauma Accident Auto accidents, slips, and falls can cause all kinds of injuries including upper back pain. Fracturing a vertebra or a spinal bone is possible. When this happens part of the vertebrae presses on a spinal nerve and can cause pain. Osteoporosis This condition affects the bones, and an individual might not know they have osteoporosis until some type of fracture like a vertebral compression fracture. It weakens the bones, which can affect how the body supports its weight. This opens the door for fractures. Weakened vertebrae won't support the body's weight correctly, so the muscles, ligaments, and tendons have to work harder. That leads to: - Sprains
- Strains
- Muscle fatigue
- Various injuries
Kyphosis The spine is supposed to curve outwards in the upper back; the curve is called kyphosis or a kyphotic curve. With problematic kyphosis, the spine begins to curve outward in an exaggerated fashion that can lead to back pain. Scoliosis Scoliosis causes an unusual curve or curves in the spine. It makes the spine look like the letter "S" or "C" when seen from the back. Non-Spine Conditions Upper back pain can develop from other medical conditions that are not related to the spine. For example: - Acid reflux
- Cardiac conditions like angina
- Ulcer
These conditions can cause individuals to move or contort into awkward positions, and swelling of muscle tissues that radiate into the upper mid-back. Upper Back Structure The upper back is the more stable area of the spine compared to the neck and lower back. It does not move as much because part of its main job is to protect the organs in the chest. This works in conjunction with the ribs, that is attached to the mid-back. Because it doesn't move as much, joint and disc problems are not as common. But that does not mean that you can't get a herniated disc. It's also less common to have degenerative problems in the upper mid-back. We want you to live a life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life. I have made a life of taking care of every one of my patients. I assure you, I will only accept the best for you. Mike Melgoza is a very active person who is always engaging in physical activity, as a result, he occasionally suffers from debilitating back pain symptoms. Mr. Melgoza was struggling to sleep properly due to his symptoms of back pain before receiving chiropractic care with Dr. Jimenez. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the doctor or miss work and it is also a leading cause of disability globally. The majority of people have back pain at least once throughout their lifetimes. Luckily, you can take steps to prevent or relieve back pain.
No one can pinpoint exactly what causes migraines and headaches or why some people are more prone to experiencing them than others, but what we do know is that there are many factors which could potentially trigger them.
Abnormalities in the region of the brain, known as the hypothalamus, are the cause of cluster headaches. What makes these headaches different than other types of headache is that they manifest like clockwork. Episodes generally occur in the same time of day and they typically follow the seasons of the year, making these very predictable. These headaches are mostly attributed to changes in the brain rather than changes in the environment or from how people handle stress. In spite of the fact that the exact cause of migraines and headaches is unknown, avoiding the triggers mentioned above is certainly one of the best ways to try to prevent headaches and migraines. By avoiding the above mentioned triggers and understanding the causes, you are in a position to help reduce the amount of headaches or migraines you experience in the future.
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Lateral recess stenosis causes the narrowing of the spine, which can compress nerves, impede nerve circulation, and cause painful symptoms. For answers to any questions, you may have, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900 or 915-412-6677