Treating Chronic Arthritis Pain In The Spine
Facet joint arthritis is a degenerative condition. In its early stages, occasional mild back pain may respond to one or more of the above tips. However, spinal arthritis can affect the facet joints between each backbone in the lumbar spine, eventually leading to constant bone and/or nerve pain. Only a doctor can determine if arthritis of the facet joints is the source of chronic lumbar pain.
Sperling Medical Group offers a new noninvasive MRI-guided treatment called Focused Ultrasound, a one-time noninvasive outpatient procedure that gives lasting relief without the use of drugs, injections or surgery. To learn more, visit the Sperling Medical Group or contact us to set up a consultation.
NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you have health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.
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Temporary Pain Relief: Ice Heat Or Both
Heat and ice both have a place in temporarily relieving back pain, says Stephens. Theyre both going to help calm down that pain signal and help relax the nervous system a little bit, he says.
Normally, with most injuries, we would counsel ice early on during the acute phase of the injury, he says.
As a general recommendation, ice the painful area with a frozen wet towel or an ice pack keeping a towel or other cloth between your skin and the cold pack to protect your skin at least three times a day. Dont apply ice for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
After a couple weeks, we would transition to using a heating agent, says Stephens. There is some research that suggests that moist heat during acute low back pain can be a useful adjunct to exercise and other interventions, he says.
Physical Therapy And Exercise
A physical therapist can apply a variety of treatments, such as heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and muscle-release techniques, to your back muscles and soft tissues to reduce pain.
As pain improves, the therapist can teach you exercises to increase your flexibility, strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, and improve your posture. Regular use of these techniques can help keep pain from returning.
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Maintaining A Healthy Weight Can Help Reduce Back Pain
If youre at a healthy weight, your muscles dont have to work as hard to support you against gravity. The muscles wont fatigue as quickly, and that would be helpful with pain, says Stephens. Theres also less pressure on your back and other joints, he adds.
A meta-analysis of 33 studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology examined the association between overweight and obesity and low back pain, and found that both conditions increased the risk for low back pain.
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A Herniated Disc Can Cause Serious Problems If Left Untreated
If you are experiencing persistent back pain, you should consult a doctor. A herniated disc causes back pain in the majority of cases, which can usually be relieved on its own within six months. If the pain persists or worsens, it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is also possible that a herniated disc will become permanent if not treated. It is possible that patients will lose control over their bowel movements as well as their sense of place in their legs and back.
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Physical Therapy Treatment Plan For Lower Back Pain
To develop a physical therapy treatment plan that specifically addresses your needs, we carefully evaluate your medical history, test results, and any additional information that you have provided.
Our goal for your physical therapy visits
We believe that physical therapy can make a positive impact on your life, especially if you are dealing with a condition like lower back pain. Our goals for your time with us include:
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Exercise To Get The Muscles Moving
Exercise may release endorphins, the brains natural painkillers, and relax tense muscles.
When back pain strikes, getting up and moving can be difficult. But a quick stroll, yoga, water aerobics, aerobics, swimming, or other low-impact activities can ease back pain.
To keep muscles flexible and strong, you can think about beginning a daily exercise programme that combines strength training and stretching.
Future episodes of tight muscle-related back pain may be avoided with regular exercise.
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Improve Your Posture To Reduce Back Pain
Most of us spend a good part of our day sitting down, which may be more harmful than you realize. You can minimize the impact by maintaining good posture. Correct posture in a chair means having all the bones in your spine lined up neatly, like a stack of perfectly aligned blocks. You should keep your feet flat on the floor and your computer keyboard within easy reach so youre not leaning forward or slumping. This is part of proper office ergonomics.
Many apps and devices exist that can help you enhance your posture. If you work at a computer all day, try the software and app Posture Man Pat. This free app interacts with the webcam on your screen, tracking where your face is relative to your screen. If your posture starts to droop and curve, the app will alert you.
If you are looking to get really tech-savvy, try the Lumo Lift Posture Coach. This wearable device has a sensor that will vibrate when you change your posture from what the posture coach is calibrated to.
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Does Abdominal Bloating Cause Back Pain
The buildup of air or gas in the abdomen can make the area heavy, rigid, and tensed. This kind of bloating often causes discomfort and pain, which might radiate to the back.
Moreover, due to the supportive function of the lower back, a bloated stomach may cause increased pressure in the area, resulting in pain.
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Remedies And Treatments For Back Pain
Back pain can occur in two forms â acute and chronic. In other words, back pain can manifest suddenly and without warning, or it can come back from time to time as a familiar condition that youâll eventually know how to manage efficiently.
Generally, your acute or chronic back pain can be treated at home. There are many ways to find back pain relief, but below are the best methods for treating acute and chronic back pain.
Acute Back Pain Care
Acute back pain typically resolves within a few days or weeks. Here are some ways to treat the condition and help make you feel better:
- In the first 48 hours of a flare-up, you may use ice packs to relieve pain and swelling. You can add compression â the use of pressure on the affected area â to this tactic, too.
- You can take analgesic medications like acetaminophen or aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen, muscle relaxants, and topical pain relief like gels, creams, patches, or sprays.
- Gentle stretching, light exercise, and resuming normal activity will help improve the movement and extension of your back. Bed rest is not recommended for back pain, but if the pain becomes unbearable take a break.
Chronic Back Pain Care
Chronic back pain may be something that you have dealt with or will experience from time to time over a long period. Here are ways to help relieve chronic back pain:
How Do You Relieve Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is so common that around eight out of 10 adults experience it at some point in their lives. For many, low back pain can be uncomfortable to live with. Thankfully, most peoples symptoms improve with home remedies.
At Advocate Health Care, our team of spine specialists is fully equipped to help you find relief from low back pain. We use a range of tools to diagnose back pain and offer comprehensive treatment that enables you to get back to the activities you love.
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Stretching And Foam Rollers May Improve Back Pain
If the primary issue causing back pain was limited motion and stiffness, its likely that I would prescribe some stretching exercises, says Stephens. These could be done with a therapist or independently at home, he says.
Foam rollers can sometimes be helpful in relaxing a tight muscle, but it can be difficult to access the right spot with lower back pain if youre trying to do it on your own, he says.
Herniated Disc Still Hurts After A Year
A herniated disc can be a very painful condition. Even after a year, the pain can still be quite severe. The disc may not have healed properly, or there may be other underlying issues that are causing the pain. It is important to see a doctor to determine the cause of the pain and to find the best treatment options.
The degeneration of discs is one of the most common causes of herniation. A disc herniation can shrink or disappear as a result of treatment. It is possible that your body is producing an autoimmune response, which aids in disc healing. If the pain does not subside within a few weeks or worsens, surgery may be required.
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Find A Physical Therapist
This can make a big difference, especially if youâve had the pain for more than 4-6 weeks. With techniques like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat, and muscle relaxation, these specialists help you get more mobile and flexible.
They can also teach you exercises to do on your own to keep your symptoms from coming back. These can help your posture and keep your back and abdominal muscles healthy.
Keep Moving Keep Stretching
Scared to get back to your exercise routine? It makes sense. After all, you want to be careful and avoid things thatâll make you feel worse. But did you know that your chronic back pain will improve if you get moving? Exercise keeps your muscles strong and prevents spasms.
Studies show that people who stay active despite low back pain are more flexible than those who play it safe and stay in bed for a week. Exercises that both strengthen and stretch your body help the most. In addition to walking, you might want to swim, ride a stationary bike, or try low-impact aerobics.
Also, research shows that yoga and stretching can ease pain and improve back movement. Scientists divided 228 people whoâd had moderate pain for at least 3 months into three groups. Two groups took a 75-minute yoga or stretching class once a week for 12 weeks. The third group got a book of exercises and lifestyle changes they could make to ease their discomfort.
After 3 months, those who did yoga or intensive stretching fared better than those who didnât. A full 6 months later, they took less medicine for their back pain. They also said their pain was better or completely gone during follow-up appointments.
While exercise is one of the best things you can do to relieve back pain, it shouldnât hurt or make your pain worse. If so, check in with your doctor or physical therapist to make sure youâre doing the right exercise for you.
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Pain In The Lower Back
Pain in the lower back due to a pinched nerve is a common symptom. It can be experienced as an occasional, sharp shooting sensation radiating from the lower back area and traveling down the sciatic nerve towards the buttocks and legs. In more serious cases, it may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and weakness in that particular area of your body. This type of pain will typically worsen when sitting or standing for prolonged periods and can be relieved with exercise or activity.
Painful sensations may also develop further along the sciatic nerve path into one or both legs and may feel more like an ache. If you are exhibiting any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away for further assessment and treatment options.
How To Find Us
Awesome Physiotherapy Of Richmond Hill Ontario is located on 10350 Yonge St Suite 300, Richmond Hill. From Toronto Pearson International Airport head west and keep right at the fork, follow signs for ON-409/ON-401/ON-427. Then continue onto ON-409 E and use the middle lane to take the Ontario 427 N exit. Next, keep left at the fork, follow signs for ON-427 N and merge onto ON-427 N and keep left to stay on ON-427 N. After that, use the right 3 lanes to merge onto Express Toll Route/ON-407 E and use the right 2 lanes to take exit 75 for Bathurst Street/Regional Road 38. At this point, use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto Bathurst St/York Regional Rd 38 and turn right onto Major MacKenzie Dr W/York Regional Rd 25 . At 1.0 km, turn left onto Yonge St/York Regional Rd 1 and turn left at Crosby Ave. Finally, slight left and Awesome Physiotherapy Of Richmond Hill will be on your left.
Were open Monday Friday 9 a.m. 8 p.m.
For additional questions you can call us ator you can find us on Yelp.
Richmond Hill Ontario has seen significant population growth since the 1990s. The city is home to the David Dunlap Observatory telescope, the largest in Canada. Part of the Greater Toronto Area, it is the York Regions third most populous municipality and the 28th most populous municipality in Canada.
Some of the top things to do in Richmond Hill include:
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Healthy Diet Promoting Bone Health
A balanced diet and good nutrition are key to maintaining overall health. Same applies to the bones, muscles and other structures in the spine, which also need proper nutrition to perform their functions.
These must-have nutrients include:
Calcium is essential for bone health and helps maintain the necessary level of bone mass.
Foods high in calcium include dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and milk. Also, green leafy vegetables such as kale, bok choy and broccoli.
Magnesium is a key mineral in the structure of the bone matrix.
Foods high in magnesium include green leafy vegetables, fish, beans, seeds, nuts, whole grains, yogurt, avocados, bananas, and dark chocolate.
Vitamin D is known to promote skeletal muscle metabolism and improve bone health.
Foods high in Vitamin D include salmon, sardines, eggs, and cod liver oil. It can also be attained through nutritional supplementation and time spent in the sun.
Exercise To Get Muscles Moving
It can be challenging to get up and move when back pain strikes. However, a short walk, yoga, water exercise, or another low-impact activity can often help alleviate back pain.
Exercise may loosen tense muscles and release endorphins, which are the brains natural painkillers.
A person can also consider starting a daily exercise program, including strength training and stretching, to help keep muscles flexible and strong.
Regular exercise may prevent future episodes of back pain that are due to tight muscles.
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Exercise To Loosen Muscles
Although it may seem counterintuitive to exercise when lower back pain is causing you grief, the right kind of movement can help eliminate the discomfort. Its always important to consult your physician before you engage in exercise when you have pain, but this conversation is well worth having if youre suffering.
First, you should keep in mind that not all exercise is beneficial in combating back pain. Try to avoid toe-touch exercises and sit-ups, which may add to the stress on your spine instead of relieving it. Leg lifts are another exercise to stay away from when you are hurting. If your core is not strong, leg lifts could be too demanding on your body if youre already experiencing pain.
Several types of exercises can be useful when you need to relieve back pain. Partial crunches can aid in strengthening your core without applying too much pressure to the area. Slow and controlled wall-sit exercises may also be useful. Other repetitions to consider include bringing each knee to the chest in succession, pelvic tilts, and swimming.
How Can A Physical Therapist Help
Your physical therapist can help you improve or restore mobility and reduce low back painin many cases, without expensive surgery or the side effects of medications.
If you are having low back pain right now:
- Stay active, and do as much of your normal routine as possible
- If your pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse, schedule an appointment to see your physical therapist.
Not all low back pain is the same, so your treatment should be tailored to for your specific symptoms and condition. Once the examination is complete, your physical therapist will evaluate the results, identify the factors that have contributed to your specific back problem, and design an individualized treatment plan for your specific back problem. Treatments may include:
- Manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, to improve the mobility of joints and soft tissues.
- Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises.
- Education about how you can take better care of your back.
- Training for proper lifting, bending, and sitting for doing chores both at work and in the home and for proper sleeping positions.
- Assistance in creating a safe and effective physical activity program to improve your overall health.
- Use of ice or heat treatments or electrical stimulation to help relieve pain.
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