Back
& Neck Pain |
Most back & neck pain is usually a result of mechanical or functional disturbance of the spine – problems that Osteopaths have been treating successfully for over 100 years. Back and neck pain may not occur immediately following injury because the body is very adept at adjusting to injuries and accommodating the stresses and strains imposed. This adaptation disturbs normal posture and the spinal mechanics causing joint and muscle strain to accumulate and symptoms will often occur gradually over a period of time. |
Episodes of spinal pain may be triggered by physical exertion, emotional stress, or illness. An unfit spine usually associated with tired muscles and therefore poor spinal joint control. Sometimes minor muscle or joint strains may cause more pain and take longer to heal and repair than seemingly major trauma. This may be because the body has reached its limits and is unable to accommodate to any further strain or injury. Often the smallest event is the ‘final straw’ that triggers the pain. Osteopathic treatment will release these old strains from the body as well as addressing the new injury in order to prevent the pain from recurring. Stresses within the body can often cause problems in other parts as well as the back and neck. Symptoms commonly associated with spinal strain include: v Fatigue The majority of these problems will also commonly improve during a course of Osteopathic treatment. Common Types
of Trauma & Injury |
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Habitual bad posture as a result of a poorly designed work station can place undue strain on the spine so creating back and neck ache. This is very common across occupations as administrative or managerial staff sit at desks all day, factory workers stand on a production line for hours on end while sales reps & lorry drivers sit in vehicles, and plumbers, electricians & carpenters work in the most awkward of positions. This type of injury is becoming an increasing problem for too many people. 350 million working days are lost in Britain each year as a result of occupational strain. The most common types of illness due to work are disorders of the muscles, tendon and joints, especially in the back, neck, hands and arms. These can often be prevented just by altering the way you use your body while at work. The Osteopaths at The Mersea Road Clinic are therefore committed to working with Health & Safety in the workplace to improve the employee’s environment and reduce sickness days lost to the employer. Lifting strains are a common cause of low back problems - lifting heavy or awkward weights, including babies & children or heavy shopping bags can all cause back strain if not done properly. At The Mersea Road Clinic our Osteopaths and Rehabilitation specialists will be able to advise you regarding lifting or any supports to use while lifting repetitively. Most car accidents can cause spinal stain as the body is subjected to sudden acceleration & deceleration forces in many different directions. At the Mersea Road Clinic our Osteopaths are skilled at feeling the forces held within the tissues after a whiplash type injury. In this type of accident the entire body is affected – it is not just the neck and back that are strained during the impact. It is important to seek treatment quickly following a whiplash type injury, otherwise some of the side-effects may be with you for life. The spine can be twisted and shaken during a fall so compressing or twisting certain areas of the spine. Falling or slipping on uneven surfaces can lead to damage in vulnerable areas of the spine, especially when there is any direct impact to the back or neck. Any direct injury to the spine can cause or create localised injury and a disruption to normal spinal mechanical function. It may be once the local bruising has subsided that you realise that deeper damage has affected the spine. An Osteopath will be able to identify & treat any local soft tissue injury as well as restore normal spinal balance. A blow to the head can disrupt the subtle movements of the bones of the skull as well as overstraining the muscles and joints that support the head on top of the neck. Posture may also be affected as the spine adapts to the muscle and joint strain. An Osteopath will be able to treat the local joint and soft tissue injury as well as preventing any long term postural changes. Furthermore a Cranial Osteopath at our clinic will be able to detect any alteration to the rhythm of the skull bones and ensure this is treated fully. During pregnancy and labour, the mother’s pelvis is subjected to many various forces. Not only do joints become more mobile during pregnancy, but during a long, difficult labour the pelvic bones may move to accommodate the passage of the baby while other spinal joints become compressed. These strains usually rectify themselves during the weeks following the birth, however sometimes these problems don’t fully release and treatment may be necessary to prevent long term joint dysfunction and postural changes. Many people suffer Jaw related and are often unaware that Osteopathic treatment may help relieve their discomfort. The cause of jaw ache and pain are many and varied, however misaligned teeth play a major role by causing uneven stress to the local muscles and joints, including the top of the neck. Uneven bite, bridges, plates and extractions may all have an adverse effect on the jaw joint and the top of the neck. It is a common misconception that nerves get trapped – they don’t!! This is a term that is often used as it is something that people can understand and relate to. In reality what is happening is this - local tissue injury or strain causes local inflammation and swelling that in turn irritates and puts pressure on nerves. These nerves then start to send the altered signals that result in the shooting pains, pins & needles, numbness or altered sensations that we all associate with ‘trapped nerves’. Common areas where this type of problem may occur are the neck and low back (where it is often called ‘Sciatica’). Sciatica means inflammation of the sciatic nerve – literally. However it is often used to describe any pain in the low back, buttocks or legs. ‘True sciatica’ is caused when local tissue &/or joint injury causes local inflammation – this then inflames and compresses the sciatic nerve. Symptoms from this can be felt in the low back, the leg, calf and foot. It is often a very painful and worrying condition. Common problems that cause this pain include Disc injuries, Osteoarthritis, local trauma, muscle & joint strain as well as postural changes. Most sciatic pain can be dealt with by your Osteopath. At the Mersea Road Clinic we will explain the cause of your sciatic pain and help you understand how treatment and specific exercises will facilitate your recovery. This old terminology for simple low back pain or strain of the muscles and joints in the Lumbar spine. Most low back pain is the result of overstrain of the muscle and ligaments in the low back – this results in undue stress being placed on the facet joints in the Lumbar spine, so causing local inflammation and thus pain. Osteopaths treat low back pain every day and treatment is usually very successful in total resolution of the condition. At the Mersea Road Clinic we understand the distress and disruption that low back pain can cause. We aim to alleviate your symptoms as soon as possible while treating with a view to ensuring a long term cure. We will always discuss the course of treatment with you and advise you how small changes to your lifestyle will not only aid your recovery, but also prevent the problem recurring. Osteoarthritis is the medical term for wear and tear of joints. Osteoarthritis occurs mainly in the lumbar and cervical spines (the low back and neck) along with other weight bearing joints such as hips and knees. The joints in the neck and low back are weight bearing and subject to the postural stress of modern day living. Consulting an Osteopath at The Mersea Road Clinic could save you unnecessary discomfort and distress from this painful condition. It is never too late to seek help. Here at the clinic we approach Osteoarthritis with treatment, exercise and lifestyle advice to help you help us manage your condition in the optimal way. |