Spine Health & Spinal Hygiene

A pinched nerve in the hip can cause numbness, tingliness, weakness, and pain. A pinched/compressed nerve creates pressure that can result from a bone structural issue like hip misalignment or the nerve getting overly stretched, stuck, twisted, or kinked. The pressure obstructs the neural pathways and decreases neural activity. This causes pain. If discomfort or pain is present, chiropractic, physical rehabilitation, rest, exercise, and ice and heat can release and reset the nerve and help prevent re-injury.

Pinched Nerve In The Hip

A pinched or compressed nerve results from pressure being applied to the nerve. A pinched nerve in the hip often causes pain in the groin region, radiating down the inner thigh to the knee. The pain can feel like a dull ache or a sharp, burning pain. Individuals also report tightness, numbness, or a tingling sensation in the buttocks. The most common causes include:

• Unhealthy posture.
• Sitting for too long without moving around.
• Misaligned bone or cartilage.
• Muscle strain.
• Pregnancy.
• Obesity.
• Inflamed tissue.
• Herniated disc.
• Arthritis.
• Bone spurs.

Chiropractic

Different causes require different treatment approaches. For example, an obese individual could require chiropractic adjustments, specific exercises/stretches, and diet adjustments to address the whole body. The recommended treatment plans can vary but usually include:

• Physical therapeutic massage.
• Manipulative therapies of the joints and muscles.
• Mobilization of the joints. 
• Soft tissue treatments.
• Spinal decompression.
• Exercise.

Walking and activity can worsen the pain when the hip presents with pain. This can cause the rest of the body to compensate by shifting the weight to the healthy side, which can cause even more pain in the back or legs or cause another injury. Regular chiropractic hip adjustments will improve posture, maintaining muscle and skeleton alignment that will prevent pinching nerves in the hip.

Chiropractic Hip Treatment

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own 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

Ahuja, Vanita, et al. “Chronic hip pain in adults: Current knowledge and future prospective.” Journal of anaesthesiology, clinical pharmacology vol. 36,4 (2020): 450-457. doi:10.4103/joacp.JOACP_170_19

Christmas, Colleen, et al. “How common is hip pain among older adults? Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.” The Journal of family practice vol. 51,4 (2002): 345-8.

“Free Communications: Case Reports: Hip.” Journal of Athletic Training vol. 38,2 Suppl (2003): S.73–S.74.

Losing weight can be one of the hardest things to do. It is also one of the best things anyone can do to get rid of back pain and optimize overall health. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight impacts the whole body, especially the spine. It is prevalent for individuals who are overweight to experience back pain. This comes from the added weight that the feet, legs, pelvis, and spine have to support. For many, once the weight comes off, the back pain reduces significantly and/or disappears completely. For those embarking on a weight loss journey,  our:

• Chiropractic team
• Physical therapists
• Health coach
• Nutritionist
• Can provide resources to plan, encourage, and assist in reaching health goals.

Overweight, Obesity and Back Pain

Spine pain is one of the top reasons individuals see a doctor. The need to lose weight is based on body mass index/BMI. BMI can be an indicator that an individual's weight might not be in a healthy range. BMI ranges:

• Normal weight - Body Mass Index of less than 25
• Overweight - Body Mass Index of 25 to 30
• Obese - Body Mass Index of 31 to 35
• Extremely obese - Body Mass Index of 36 or higher

If unsure about how to get an accurate BMI measurement, talk to our team about InBody Testing.

Added Weight Places Pressure On the Spine

Added bodyweight places added strain on the low back. Studies have linked obesity with degenerative disc problems. Combined with the physical impact the added weight has on the spine and overall health, it can also affect spine surgery outcomes. Studies have shown that some overweight/obese individuals have an increased risk for surgery-related complications like:

• Infection
• Issues recovering from anesthesia
• Overall recovery struggles

The good news is that individuals do not have to lose a significant amount of weight to see and feel the benefits. Losing 15% of excess weight will improve chronic back pain.

Exercise

Successful weight loss is the ability to maintain the loss. It needs to be something that can be committed to and brought into an individual's lifestyle. Trying to go hard with an extreme diet or intense exercise program is not recommended. This is like not having any long-distance running knowledge along with training but entering a 12345K race. An individual will collapse after a few blocks. And sustained weight loss is just that, a long-distance journey that requires:

• Getting educated about what is going on with the body
• Understanding how foods affect/impact the body
• Understanding the body's unique needs to lose weight
• Developing a personal health goal plan
• Following through

Lifestyle factors contribute to healthy body weight. Being able to embed healthy habits into one's life is the objective. Although it can sound easy to do, it can be a challenging process. With professional help, individuals can:

• Maintain a nutritious and balanced diet
• Have an active lifestyle
• Maintain healthy sleep habits
• Keep stress under control

Discussing a weight loss plan is very important. A professional health coach, nutritionist, and chiropractor will develop the right program that considers an individual's specific health status.

Overall Health

Achieving a healthy weight will reduce to relieve back pain completely and significantly improve quality of life. Weight management is challenging, but once the benefits are seen and felt, it becomes second nature.

Body Composition

Healthy Kidneys 

The kidneys pump more than 400 gallons of recycled blood through the body every day. These organs work nonstop to filter blood and remove waste. If the kidneys become impaired, the body can become overloaded with waste. Unhealthy lifestyle choices can harm/damage the kidneys. Kidney disease progresses slowly over the years. Individuals can lose 90 percent of kidney function before symptoms become serious. Chronic kidney disease is not reversible. However, with lifestyle adjustments, an individual can lower their risk of developing kidney-related diseases.

Proper Hydration

Drink plenty of water to clear sodium, urea, and toxins from the body and prevents kidney stones. Try to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Every individual's body water levels are different. A body composition test can determine what is normal for the individual.

Maintain healthy diet 

Poor diet contributes to visceral fat gain. This has been linked to chronic kidney disease. Reduce visceral fat by eating a healthy diet of vegetables, fruit, and lean protein. Cut down on salty, processed foods. Body composition testing can help form an individualized diet plan to reduce visceral fat.

 Supplements, antibiotics, and OTC medications

Overuse of common over-the-counter medications and supplements can cause kidney damage and disease. Consult with a doctor before taking medications and supplements if there is kidney function impairment.

Maintain fitness and physical activity

Cardio and strength training exercises are recommended. High blood sugar levels stress the kidneys. Building adequate muscle mass will help control blood sugar. A body composition test can make sure there are adequate amounts of muscle mass.

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 your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care 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 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 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

Liuke M, Solovieva S, Lamminen A, Luoma K, et al. Disc degeneration of the lumbar spine in relation to overweight. Int J Obes (Lond). 2005;29(8):903-908.

Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Flegal KM. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: the United States, 2011–2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Health Statistics.https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db219.htm. Page last updated: October 28, 2015. Accessed July 10, 2017

Samartzis D, Karppinen J, Chan D, Luk KD, et al. The association of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging with body mass index in overweight and obese adults: A population-based study. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2012;64(5):1488-1496.

A good attitude about weight loss will go a long way in helping you to achieve success. Whether your weight problem has resulted from eating the wrong foods, lack of routine physical exercise, using food to resist anxiety, age, or genetics —you can help defeat that by setting reasonable goals and expectations that are realistic.

The initial step to take would be to discuss your set for weight loss and general health by means of your physician. Your physician can assist you to make informed choices about treatments that contain weight loss plans and exercise suitable to your needs.

• Therapies include dietary, behavioral, drug, and for some patients, surgical alteration of the digestive system to reduce the quantity of food consumed. A safe and realistic weight reduction plan may result in success.
• Evaluating your body weight is more involved than stepping on the scale. This info is assessed to find out your risks due to extra weight (eg, high blood pressure).

NUTRITION MEANS TO FEED YOUR BODY

In the event you haven’t detected, the ‘D’ word (Diet) hasn’t been used in this post as it relates to weight reduction. Granted, caloric reduction will be required by a weight loss program. Yet, for many overweight or obese folks, a weight loss program means exercising, handling anxiety, and making lifestyle changes, which might comprise relearning how to eat.

It’s vitally crucial that you feed your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy and live. No one food contains all the essential nutrients —it takes combining a wide variety of foods to help meet your body’s needs. If you have been heavy or obese for a long time, your body may really be starving for necessary nutrients!


NUTRIENTS THEIR FOOD SOURCES & ACTIVITIES IN THE HUMAN BODY

*Fats are essential in taking the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. There are just three types of fats:

• Saturated Fat will raise blood cholesterol levels. These fats are found mostly in meat and diary products.
• Polyunsaturated Fat tends to lower blood cholesterol levels. It’s mainly found in plant sources such as safflower, sunflower, soybean, corn, and cottonseed.
• Monounsaturated Fat tends to lower the bad cholesterol or LDL (low density cholesterol). Examples include canola oil, olive oil, peanut oil, and avocados.

Although this amount is exceeded by most Americans, dietary ingestion of fat shouldn’t exceed 30% per day.

Remove the skin from poultry, trim visible fat from meat, an easy method to cut back fat consumption is to choose lean cuts of meat, choose water-packed tuna, and pick dairy products made from skim or low-fat milk.

Scoliosis causes the spinal curvature to go sideways and can cause various symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is scoliosis hip pain. This happens because the spine's curvature can pull the hips out of alignment, causing one side to be raised higher than the other. A result of this is one hip begins to take on more weight. This overloads the hip causing strain, soreness, aches, and pain, especially after standing or walking.

Scoliosis Hip Pain

Idiopathic scoliosis typically occurs in children, but often there are no pain symptoms. This type of scoliosis can go on unnoticed and undiagnosed for years even until adulthood. When the spine stops growing, even a small scoliosis curve can cause hip pain. The hip pain varies but generally presents with:

• Sharp pain.
• Throbbing pain.
• Pain that increases with activity like walking, running, standing for a long time.
• Stiffness with combined pain after sitting or lying down for a long time.
• Sciatica.
• Numbness.
• Tingling.
• Tight hip flexors.

The amount of pain depends on:

• The misalignment severity.
• The type of scoliosis - degenerative or idiopathic.
• Bodyweight. Individuals that are obese are more likely to have severe hip pain because of the added weight.
• Activity level. Physical activity can cause the pain to worsen.
• Lifestyle.
• It varies from person to person.

The Higher Hip

When scoliosis has progressed enough, the curvature and uneven hips are pretty apparent. However, only around 10% of scoliosis cases get this far. If the curvature is minimal, which is usually the case, trying to determine which hip is higher usually requires medical assistance.

• The hip that presents with pain is generally the one taking on more weight.
• This causes the muscles to fatigue faster and places added stress on that hip joint.
• A way to tell which hip is higher stand on bare feet in front of a mirror holding a piece of yarn, or string with both hands.
• Place the heel of each hand on the corresponding hip bone.
• The string will be tilted if the hips are uneven or will be straight if they are not.

Adult Scoliosis 

Hip pain caused by scoliosis is most common in adults. However, it is not the only cause of hip pain. Unless diagnosed with scoliosis as a child, individuals may be suffering from de novo scoliosis or degenerative scoliosis.

De Novo/Degenerative Scoliosis

As the body ages, the spinal discs between the vertebrae begin to wear down. The worn-down discs can cause the spine to develop a sideways curve, that can pull the hips out of alignment. Studies are showing that this type of scoliosis is widespread. Loss of bone density can be a contributor to scoliosis in older adults. Bone density loss from menopause means women are more susceptible than men. Past the age of 70, both men and women lose on average, the same amount of bone density. There are effective integrative, natural treatment therapies that incorporate:

• Exercises
• Nutrition
• Posture correction
• Chiropractic
• Physical therapy

Scoliosis Hip Exercises

For uneven hips, there are exercises to help relieve pain and strengthen weak muscles.

Hip Stretch

• Lie on the back with both legs straight out.
• Lift the right leg
• Using the hands pull the knee toward you, keeping the foot pointed up.
• Pull the knee to your chest as far as you can without causing discomfort or pain.
• Hold for 5 to 8 seconds.
• Release.
• Switch to the other leg.
• Repeat 4 to 6 times on each leg.

Wide Leg Stretch

• Sit on the floor with the legs as wide as they can go.
• With the right hand, reach toward the left foot, touching if possible.
• Return to the original position.
• With the left hand, reach toward the right foot.
• Repeat 6 to 8 times.

Chiropractic

If misaligned and uneven hips are causing pain, chiropractic care for scoliosis is recommended. Spine and hip realignments help relieve pain, stretch the muscles, and corrects posture. One study showed that multi-approach chiropractic for adult scoliosis was found to be beneficial even two years after treatment was finished. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help with recommending nutrition and lifestyle tips. Instead of just treating symptoms, our team helps manage the cause.

Body Composition

Body Analysis for Disease Prevention

Early identification of disease is imperative for developing the proper treatment plan. Testing can help improve long-term health outcomes. Testing is made easy with the data being easily implemented into patient management software. A comprehensive printout is ready for engaging and educating patients in understanding health risk management and reduction. In 60 seconds, an InBody Test will generate easy-to-understand, accurate, and objective measurements to evaluate potential disease risk. Medical providers can use the InBody to:

• Monitor muscle, and visceral fat to provide an accurate measure of health risk.
• Monitor muscle distribution to determine specific health risks related to diseases.
• Identify fluid imbalances associated with certain diseases.
• Track changes for effective long-term risk identification and reduction.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care 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 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 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

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0701/p111.html#afp20010701p111-b1

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00586-020-06453-0.pdf

https://www.healthline.com/health/uneven-hips

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1556370711000915

Backpacks allow us to carry everything we need whenever and wherever. However, when carried improperly the fact is they can cause real damage. We carry too much weight and in incorrect ways. Children, the elderly,  and everyone in between should know how to carry a backpack correctly and stay healthy.

How They Can Hurt Your Back

A recent article on NBC News discussed the health concerns that backpacks present, discussing the various studies that have shown the damage they can cause. As the article noted, most everyone uses a backpack at one time or another. They are simply too useful to do otherwise. But research has demonstrated that they can hurt the back significantly, especially in children.

The back injuries that a backpack can cause include:

Disc Injuries

The spine is made up of vertebrae separated by spinal discs. The discs provide cushioning and flexibility in the spine. But the discs in your spine are only capable of carrying so much weight. When a backpack is too heavy, it can lead to disc compression and possibly tearing of the disc.

Pinched Nerves

Backpacks that are carried incorrectly, like when they are slung over one shoulder only, can cause misalignments in the spine. If the misalignment involves enough pressure, like from a heavy backpack, or is repeated daily, it can lead to a pinched nerve.

Muscle Imbalances

Carrying a backpack over one shoulder day after day will eventually cause your body to alter its alignment and your muscles to become imbalanced. Muscle imbalances can cause a cascade of problems, including altering the way you walk and increasing wear on your spine.

How to Carry Properly

Backpacks can be used safely, you just need to take the proper steps. These include:

1. Do not carry too much weight.

The recommended percentage of your body weight when using a backpack ranges from 10% - 15%. Someone that weighs 100 lbs should carry a backpack weighing no more than 15 lbs. Ideally, you should keep it around 10%. The more you go over the recommended weight, the more risk of injury to your back.

2. Use both straps.

Backpacks are designed to be carried using a strap over each shoulder. Using both straps distributes the weight evenly across your shoulders, minimizing the risk of excessive wear or injury.

3. Adjust the backpack properly.

The straps of your backpack should be pulled snug, but not too tight. If your backpack includes a belt or additional straps, use them – especially if you are carrying a lot of weight.

4. Only take what you need.

It is easy to accumulate items in your backpack without realizing how much you have. Try to examine what is in your pack on a regular basis to ensure you are only taking what you need.

5. Use rolling bags for heavy loads.

If you really need to carry more weight, invest in a bag with wheels. Rolling backpacks or other rolling bags can allow you to carry significantly more weight in comfort and safety. 

6. Pay attention to your child’s backpack.

If you have one or more children, it is important to train them on how to use backpacks safely – and to check them from time to time.

Get Relief from Back Pain

Our chiropractic team is ready to help you get relief from your back pain. If you are suffering from back pain, please contact us to schedule an appointment with an experienced chiropractor.

Soldiers routinely carry between 50 and 100 pounds of gear i.e. body armor, weapons, flack vests, rucksacks, and ammo. 

This weight is directly affecting their spine and increasing spine related problems for military men and women. Carrying gear weighing over 10% of a persons body weight is known to cause damage to the spine and vertebral discs. It is no surprise that the main complaint from soldiers returning home would be neck & back pain, followed by hip and knee problems. The VA has seen over 396,000 veterans already for these musculoskeletal problems, which is roughly 31% of the returning soldiers. It is assumed many more have not sought medical care or have gone to private medical center.

The Spine Maximum Load Restriction

The spine is made to hold a human being up right, and allow freedom of movement. Like any structure there are “maximum load restrictions”. When we increase the weight placed on the spine by more than 10% of our normal body weight it begins to stress and degenerate the vertebral discs that act like the shock absorbers between the spinal vertebrae. If these discs become worn and degenerated the spine can no longer function correctly. Compensation and adaptation sets into the spine and other structures such as the hips, knees, and muscles of the back.

Posture Misalingment Will Degenerate The Spine & Cause Back Pain.

An excess amount of weight on the spine puts the body into a compromised postural position to balance the weight. This causes the postural distortions patterns, which are known to degenerate the spine and cause back pain. Soldiers are trained to handle extreme situations. They are “mentally tough” and physically fit, however the spine can’t be trained to withstand these extreme loads. Forcing ones body to maintain extreme stress and weight bearing begins to slowly deteriorate the spine.

Anybody Overloaded With Weight Will Damage The Spine

A soldier may be tough and made to deal with the pain and stress, however, as they age, these traumas to the spine weaken the spine reducing them to canes, wheel chairs, and in some cases in ability to even get out of bed. The pain is traumatic and the damage is done. Soldiers often experience the most extreme situation in excess weight bearing, however, many of our population is suffering from the same thing. According to the Center for Disease Control 70% of adults are overweight with 35% being considered obese. This excess weight in the form of fat is placing the same stress on societies spines as well.

Carrying 15 Pounds or More Can Lead To Spinal Disease.

A backpack, military gear, or body fat for a long period of time will damage the spine. To know for sure if you are developing these postural distortion patterns get a Posture Diagnosis Online from the American Posture Institute.


6 Bits of Advice

Habits

1. Reduce The Weight.

The most obvious way to change the problem is to reduce the amount of weight you carry. Make purses, bags, and etc. lighter. Soldiers, look for options to reduce your load, or exchange items with lighter options.

2. Distribute The Weight Evenly

Extra weight should be evenly distributed on the body. Use two straps, one on both shoulders. Try to keep the weight as high up on the back as possible to reduce the stress on the low back. When possible use hip straps/support to help distribute the weight.

3. Maintain Proper Posture With Excess Weight.

Proper posture is crucial. Do not allow yourself to go into incorrect postural position. This will increase the stress on the muscles that protect your spine. Too much stress and these muscles give out and your spine takes the damage.
Rehabilitation

4. Strengthen The Postural Muscles

Core exercises will strengthen muscles that support the spine. Planking is an excellent exercise. Lay with your chest on the floor. Support your body weight on your toes and your elbows/forearms. Lift your body off the ground and maintain this position as long as possible.

5. Lose Weight.

Reduce extra body weight, which will remove stress from the spine and pressure from the vertebral discs.

Spinal Alignment

6. Spine Distraction Therapy

This therapy can be done at home to relieve stress on the vertebral discs. Lay with your upper body on a bed or soft surface. Let your legs hang off. The surface needs to be high enough that your knees don’t touch the ground. Allow gravity to pull your lower body down, which will expand the space between the vertebrae and allow the discs to return to a normal position.

By Dr. Alex Jimenez