You tweaked your back, pulled a muscle, or injured yourself lifting something incorrectly and suddenly you've got a shooting pain in your back. These sudden, temporary episodes of low back pain are characterized as acute low back pain rather than chronic pain. Acute low-back pain episodes are thought to last no longer than three months. This type of back injury may be compared to the common cold because of its temporary nature and because of the belief that each episode of pain is unlikely to recur. In other words, episodes of pain are thought to be independent events, like when you catch different viruses each year.

A new study turns this conception of acute low back pain upside down, suggesting that the natural progression of acute low-back pain may differ dramatically from what experts previously thought.

In the study, 589 acute back-pain patients answered extensive questionnaires on their current episode of pain as well as their history of back pain in general. After analyzing their responses, the researchers found that unlike the common cold, episodes of back pain tend to build off of one another. In the study, 73 percent of patients reported that they had previous episodes of low-back pain. Sixty six percent of those patients said their symptoms were significantly worse during their current episode of back pain compared to their last. The researchers wrote that recurring and worsening nature of back pain suggests that "whatever initiates the pain usually subsides but remains capable of repeating the cycle again."

If you're suffering from an episode of acute low-back pain, a chiropractor can help you heal from a current episode of acute low-back pain while helping you learn to practice healthy habits to prevent it from returning,


Reference
Donelson R, McIntosh G, Hall H. Is it time to rethink the typical course of low-back pain?. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2012; doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.10.015.(In press, corrected proof version).

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Proof Chiropractic Lowers Stress, Raises Wellness

Posted in chiropractic, Chiropractic News, stress, wellness

There's more to weight loss than fitting into your favorite jeans -- it just may be your ticket out of chronic pain. But how?

Research shows obesity not only increases your risk of lumbar disc herniation and pain in the lower back, it inhibits the effectiveness of back pain treatment. Like a smoker who continues to blow through a pack a day even as she receives cancer treatment, overweight people who fail to shed pounds cannot expect to get the full benefits of spinal treatments. When the spine is loaded with additional weight, the space between the spinal discs decreases, compressing or irritating surrounding nerves.  

A 2008 study from the journal Spine sought to see just how much slimming down could impact treatment outcomes for back pain. A team of orthopedists studied 30 morbidly obese people who had just undergone a major weight loss procedure (bariatic surgery). Researchers then  tracked the progress of pain as patients shed  pounds. As BMI levels dropped, the space between the discs in the lumbar spine expanded. This freed up pressure on pinched nerves, and over time, reduced pain.

Fortunately you don't have to resort to weight loss surgery to experience similar results.  Exercise, diet and chiropractic care can often do the trick for many patients, according to recent research. So if you're looking to rid yourself of pain while squeezing into those skinny jeans, give a chiropractor a call.

Reference
 Djurasovic M, Bratcher KR, Glassman S, et a. The Effect of Obesity on Clinical Outcomes After Lumbar Fusion. Spine 2008; 33(16): 1789-1792.

Posted in Back Pain News, weight loss, chiropractor charlotte 28209 southpark, purification detox cleanse