back pain Archives - Susquehanna Spine & Rehab

Tag Archive for: back pain

Alternatives to Pain Medication

Not that long ago, I wrote “show me someone with a six-pack, and I’ll show you a dysfunctional back.” The news is full of stories of the over use of Opioids or pain medicine. And you have to look no further than Tiger Woods. Take a look at his midsection. The guy has (had) serious hour-glass abs. Well, while that looks amazing at the beach, it also disrupts the diaphragm’s ability to create a piston base allowing the oblique swing to create torque. Instead he relied on his spinal rotation to power those amazing drives. Well, that wore out his back. Herniated some discs; opted for surgery instead of conservative fix; got arrested for DUI of narcotics and barbiturates.

alternate pain medication

Locally, if you haven’t heard about the problems with heroin and narcotics, you must be living under a rock. We are swamped with opiates. For years pain meds have been handed out like candy as the band aid for all sorts of pain. Unfortunately it’s just that, a band aid a temporary fix. Pain meds do not fix the reason behind the pain. Think of it his way; pain is like the check engine light on your car. Covering up the pain is like placing a post it note over the light. The light is no longer bothering you but the issue with the car is still there. If you ignore it long enough the car will eventually break down. Same happens with your body.

Guidelines for treating back pain:

The American College of Physicians has issued new guidelines for treating back pain. After looking at over 150 cases the following was found

Pain medication should only be prescribed when ALL other options have been exhausted
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is NOT recommended for anything bigger than a minor ache
For acute/ subacute pain
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Spinal manipulation by a chiropractor
Chronic pain
- Acupuncture
- Rehabilitation therapy
- Core stabilization exercises

Defining your pain:

Acute or subacute pain is shorter than 12 weeks.
Chronic pain is defined as greater than 12 weeks.

Why is it important to treat back pain?

It’s not just about the pain function is also important
Depression and anxiety often follow chronic back pain
Back pain is the most common reason pain meds are prescribed and often lead to addiction and transition to heroin

It won’t happen to me.

At some point in time 80% of adults experience low back pain so chances are you or someone you know is already expiring pain.

Back pain is caused when the spine nerves or discs start to move in a different manner than they should. This may be caused by an accident, lifting something heavy, repetitive motions, poor posture, age, and or disc degeneration.

Except for Yoga and Tai Chi all the guidelines listed above are offered at Susquehanna Spine & Rehab.

Back Pain

6 Pack or Beer Belly

Not a day goes by I don’t hear “I do plenty of sit-ups, I have a strong core so I don’t know why my back hurts.” Well, muscles can be strong in what’s known as the physic, or moving function, but not so much in the postural state. Poor postural strength leads to poor performance and low back pain. So matter what your stomach looks like on the outside it does not show how strong the core muscles are.

Core stability in fact is not due to the absolute strength of the stomach or back muscles, but how well they produce and maintain pressure especially under loading or movement.

At all times, but especially when trying to move or do things, the abdominal cavity squeezes in not only to keep you from falling but give you a burst. If the core stabilizers aren’t working correctly, then muscles that you’d normally use for activity have to divert from action to stability; kind of like when Capt Kirk would divert all the power to the front shields and then couldn’t jump to hyper-drive to evade the Klingons-or something like that.

The best way to build and maintain good core stability is through physical therapy. Physical Therapy is/should be more than doing a bunch of squats or playing around with a giant rubber band. Physical therapy is a dynamic protocol that addresses and restores pain, posture, mobility, stability, endurance, strength and power. There is s a science behind what muscles are strengthen and how. Our Chiropractors have PT privileges in MD. What does that mean? Chiropractors are able to perform and bill for PT services. Our doctors attend seminars each year to learn the newest PT protocols.

Proper core stability is not achieved by doing sit-ups or hanging upside down like Rocky did in that barn preparing to fight Drago, proper core stability is achieved challenging the small, long-contracting muscles that compress our internal cylinder; under supervision of trained Physical Therapy professionals like our Bel Air Chiropractors.

Back Pain, Disc Pain

NO MORE PAIN

A note from one of our many happy clients:

“When I came to Susquehanna Spine & Rehab I was very skeptical. I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my neck in Aug 2016 and after four years of sleep problems, lower back pain, and many different procedures I didn’t really think this place was going to do anything for me. After only 2 weeks at Susquehanna Spine and Rehab the severe pain in my neck, shoulder and arm had greatly improved … NO MORE PAIN! I can now sleep through the night without waking up in pain! THANK YOU SUSQUEHANNA SPINE & REHAB!!!” -T.M., age 63

Back Pain, Disc Pain, health

Strengthen Your Core

Your core zippers the two halves of your body together. The core muscles support your spine, control the body’s balance, and center of gravity. When your core is not strong, it causes joints and muscles that are not in charge of balance to have to take over for the core muscles.

This can lead to poor performance, fatigue, pain, and damage to the joints. Solution: don’t have kids… Just kidding, but seriously: being pregnant, c sections, and other surgeries in the belly area can cause weakness in the core. Core strength is something we work on in the Physical Therapy department in the office. Read more

Back Pain, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Knee Pain, Neck Pain, Pain

Can acupuncture treat my…

Chinese Medicine is a full service medicine that can treat a great variety of ailments by addressing each person as an individual. Unlike Western Medicine, it does not treat or cure diseases.
Disease mechanisms are an entirely Western Medical concept.

Patients often identify themselves with these diseases, i.e. “I am diabetic.” You are not a disease! Diseases have become generalized labels that cover everyone with similar symptoms. Read more

Back Pain

You and your bad posture

I wonder how many of you remember your mother nagging you to “stand up straight and don’t slouch?” You may have been annoyed with her constant nagging, but mom was on to something here.

Forward head posture is one of the leading causes of pain in the neck and shoulders. How many of you sit at a desk staring at a computer for over 8 hours a day 5 days a week?

Over the years, gradual changes to body position can slowly wear away at joints and surrounding soft tissues. Chronic pain, TMJ, and headaches may appear if changes progress and postural alterations remain uncorrected. Read more

Pain

A Miraculous Story

One of our new patients has given us permission to share his story. Everyone at our office is excited, and it has reminded me why I became a chiropractor. In the words of the patient:

“I have been having severe pain since Thanksgiving 2014. I have had several meetings with an orthopedic doctor whose specialty was arthritis and joint replacement. I’ve had a full battery of x-rays/MRI done to diagnose my condition to which I was told to be severe arthritis deeply inflamed with fluids pushing on the nerves. After I was prescribed an injection that I was told would take care of everything, the pain was back within 36 hours — worse than before. Read more

Back Pain, Disc Pain, Foot and Ankle Pain, Headaches, health, Knee Pain, Neck Pain, Pain

How is your posture?

If you are like most people, you just sat up straighter. Some people will admit their posture is off; many that don’t, should. In our society today there are many factors that contribute to bad posture. Texting is one! Many people work on computers all day. The way you sit, stand, read, drive, and work can all put added stress on your spine. Here is a summary of research in the journal Surgical Technology International. Read more

Back Pain, health, Lifestyle Coaching, Pain

Flip Flops are NOT Shoes

So anyone who knows me knows I love shoes! My kids have also inherited my love of shoes. What they don’t love is a daddy who knows about shoes and how footwear affects your body. The shoes you choose are important! Take tennis shoes for example: they are not all made alike, and they are not all the same support level or the same shape. Not all feet and shoes are the same shape; and all 7’s aren’t exactly the same size and shape either. Read more

Back Pain, Disc Pain, Fibromyalgia, Foot and Ankle Pain, Headaches, health, Knee Pain, Lifestyle Coaching, Pain, TMJ

New: Acupuncture

We now offer

Acupuncture Sessions!!

Continuing our pursuit in helping you achieve your healthcare goals and our goal of making Harford County as healthy as possible; we are now offering acupuncture from Eric Smith, LAC

A note from Wendy: I love acupuncture! I suffered from stress headaches when I was teaching in an alternative high school. These weren’t headaches, I should be clear — they were migraines: no talking, no light, no movement allowed. I was in terrible pain. I could not even have an adjustment, my head hurt so bad. I tried acupuncture. Read more

Susquehanna Spine & Rehab
2105 Laurel Bush Rd #103
Bel Air, MD 21015

Phone: (443) 512-0025
Fax: (443) 512-8844

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 1pm; 3pm – 6pm
Friday: 8am – 12 noon

Same day appointments available!

Call or Text: (443) 512-0025

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Tag Archive for: back pain

Acupuncture Sessions!!

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