Neck and Back Pain 
Back pain can be sneaky. You bend over to pick up a pencil and wham! Your back goes out. Neck pain can be even sneakier. You wake up one morning and presto-a stiff neck and pain down your arm. Don’t believe it? We see it every week in our clinic. Unfortunately, people with back and neck pain make the best students in how to avoid injuring their spine. They have to be careful because their back or neck can be easily re-injured. How does this happen? What is it about the spine that makes it so painful when it is hurt? The spine is a flexible structure that supports the head and entire upper and mid body. In the neck, 50% of the weight is supported on the discs and 50% is supported by two facet joints, much like a tripod bearing weight. In the low back the discs bear 80% of the weight and the joints only 20%. This is why the low back tends to have more problems with the disc. Pain may be localized only to the back or neck but it can also radiate into the arm or leg. In the neck I have seen pain or numbness radiate many places including the chest, shoulder blade, hand, wrist, or fingers. Sometimes patients are misdiagnosed with a heart attack due to pain from the neck. In the back, pain can radiate into the hip, buttocks, leg, foot and toes. Numbness or tingling of the feet may also be a problem. Some people are genetically predisposed to these problems and their brothers, sisters, moms and dads may also have problems in these cases. Motor vehicle accidents account for some of the worst spinal injuries which can be difficult to heal and reduce the pain and get back to a healthy state. However, most back or neck problems I see are an accumulation of wear and tear over time. You many have poor body mechanics when lifting. You may have a job where you are constantly on your feet or sitting. Any position that is held for too long over time can cause pressure on the spine. Lifting, vibrating equipment, smoking, and driving can all be contributing factors to neck and back problems. What can be done to help avoid or heal these problems? To avoid these problems or to keep from flaring up an existing one, try to keep these facts in mind: Avoid the same postures over long periods of time. Move around, get up from your seat and move! Your body is designed to move, not be a statue. If you have to sit for long periods of time get a chair with good back support. Armrests are useful in avoiding overloading the neck. Maintain good posture when sitting or standing. Don’t stoop with a rounded back and shoulders. Rest your back by leaning back into the back of the seat or lean on a support if you must stand. Walking regularly (yes, turn off that TV and get out there!) can be a beneficial and therapeutic exercise. A good mattress for lying down is essential. A good mattress should support the body’s curves, cushion well, provide good ventilation and should not sag under your weight. Do not use a thick, firm pillow. Pillows should be fairly soft but also provide decent support for the head and neck. Avoid vibration if possible. Vibration can cause destruction of blood vessels on a microscopic level creating scar tissue and may damage or weaken the structures supporting the spine and the nerves as they come out of the spine. For treatment we use a variety of techniques. We like moist heat and stretching generally, but ice can be useful for spasms and acute pain flare-ups. We use gentle traction as well. A new neck traction device can be used at home that is very comfortable. It is a soft inflatable pillow of air that gently stretches the neck. It is really remarkable. It can be ordered by your doctor and is covered by most insurances. We also do stabilization and strengthening exercises to help build muscular support for the neck and back. We teach a variety of stretches to loosen the pressure on the spine and the nerves as they leave the spine. Consider yoga stretching exercises. We offer Yoga classes every Thursday from 5:30– 6:50 pm and Saturdays from 10:30-11:50 am. The key is to get help when you need it if you have neck or back pain. Maybe you have pain or numbness in the hands or feet. If this persists for more than a a few weeks ask your doctor what can be done. Most of these problems can be helped with therapy. Avoid surgery if you can. Give us a call and see what we can do for you. Free consultations are available by appointment. Call 301-759-4263 and we will be happy to help you get on the road to healing your spine. Try therapy first at TriState Hand and Occupational Therapy. You will be glad you did! |
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