December 2015 Newsletter- South OC Chiropractic

In This Issue

Welcome. This is the first issue of our monthly newsletter which will provide you with fascinating articles about chiropractic and its benefits. Today we will look at low back pain and why the pain is there. In addition, we will take a look at "Warning Signs" you should be looking for when you are experiencing low back pain. 

Quote of the day

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest the patient in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

-Thomas Edison

Articles

• Why Does My Back Hurt?
• A Low Back Pain Warning You Better Not ignore

Why Does My Back Hurt?

Mattress: Which type of mattress is best for you? In short, the best answer is there is no single mattress fro all people. Every person is different  from body type, size, gender, and pain perception. It is recommended to try a variety of mattresses for several minutes to see which one  best fits you. A good mattress should maintain your natural spinal curves when lying on your sides or back (avoid sleeping on your stomach  in most cases). Placing a pillow when side sleeping can prevent you from rolling to your stomach while you sleep. Finding the proper matters can make a world of different with your low back pain.

Shoes: Have you ever looked at the bottom of your shoes and notice the wear pattern? That is actually a great indication as to which side you lean towards when you stand, walk or sit. Analyzing the wear pattern can actually make you more conscious of how your standing posture which can help with managing and preventing your low back pain.

Diet: Poor diet can have many detrimental effects on you and your health and in fact is one of the major causes of low back pain. Fast food, soda, ice cream, chips.... always look like delicious tempting options, however consuming these sources of food is only hurting your system more. Consider the Paleo or Mediterranean diet to help lower your weight. Keeping your BMI (Body Mass Index) between 20-25 is idealistic and where you want to be. Improving your diet can increase your longevity, better health and improve your quality of life. 

Exercise: The most effective self treating help for low back pain is exercise. Recent studies have shown that people who exercise regularly see doctors less, less risk of disease, have a higher quality of life and in general regularly hurt less. Your doctor can guide you through a proper exercise and stretching regimen than can improve your quality of life.

Posture: Is another  self help trick to avoid having low back pain. Avoid sitting slumped over with your head forward. Remember: Every inch your head pokes forward places an additional 10 lbs of load in your upper back muscles. This stresses your body more than normal which can lead to more serious conditions such as degeneration of body, impingement, disc problems and more.

A Low Back Pain Warning You Better Not Ignore

Low back pain can gradually arise from many forms. Some may be traumatic, some may not but for the most part most of our low back pain comes from a gradual build up of many factors that were never dealt with prior the initial pain symptoms. Every day factors such as: vast amounts of hours we drive, sitting or standing for long periods of time, and our posture all play a big part in the pain we experience. For the majority of time when someone experiences these symptoms, conservative treatment such as chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy is the best form of treatment.

However, there are a handful of times when a medical emergency is appropriate. There are many "Red Flags" we all should be aware and properly diagnosed by your chiropractor. Common conditions we should be looking out for include cancer, caudal equine syndrome, infection, and fractures. A thorough patient history, routine physical and orthopedic examination and special diagnostic test such as X-rays or MRI's are all used to properly diagnose these "Red Flags" in a chiropractic office.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

1. Cancer:  
   • Unexplained weight loss (>22 lbs within 6 months)
   • If you are older than 50 or younger than 18 years of age
   • Failure to respond to conservative treatment
   • Pain at night wakes you up and night sweats.
2. Infection:
   • Persistent fever (> 100 degree F)
   • Problems breathing and or chest pain
   • Pain while going to the bathroom
   • Lumbar spine surgery within the past year
   • Recent bacterial infection
   • Immunocompromised diseases such as diabetes mellitus and HIV
3. Cauda Equina Syndrome:
   • Urinary incontinence
   • Fecal incontinence
   • Bilateral lower extremity weakness or numbness
   • Sensory deficit
4. Fracture: 
   • Prolonged corticosteroid use
   • Older than >70 years of age
   • History of osteoporosis
   • Trauma to the area
5. Abdominal Aortic Aneurism:
   • Abdominal pulsations
   • Pain at rest or night time pain
   • Older than 60 years of age

Keep in mind that the majority of times these tend to be the minority of cases for most people. Conservative care will usually resolve the majority of low back pain. However, having a good sense of things to look for not only helps you determine what could be happening but information like the one above provide by the patient to the chiropractor can help him diagnose you properly so you can get the proper treatment. 

Sources:

https://chiro-trust.org/back-pain/why-does-my-back-hurt/

https://chiro-trust.org/back-pain/warning-you-better-not-ignore/