SpineOne

The Value of Motion to Your Spine

When you’re dealing with back pain or neck pain, moving around may be the last thing you want to do. In fact, many back pain sufferers become adept at staying still and isolating the area of pain to keep it stationary. However, this habit can actually worsen the pain and lead to additional problems. Here are some of the ways that motion helps keep your spine healthy:

Injury Protection
Why are some people prone to back pain while others can perform the same activities without any problems? In many cases, the answer comes down to how protected their spines are. When you stay active, you build up the muscles in your back that surround your spine. These muscles offer protection for your spine, so your risk of injuring your back is greatly reduced.

Flexibility Promotion
When your spine doesn’t move, it becomes more rigid. This reduced flexibility leaves you prone to injury when you need to bend your back. Spine flexibility helps ensure that you can move without overstraining yourself and can help keep back pain at bay.

Pain Reduction
It’s normal to avoid moving your back and neck when you’re in pain. However, the more you avoid moving a certain way, the worse you actually make the condition of your back. The lack of motion only makes the affected area stiffer, and your protective muscles will begin to deteriorate, leaving your back vulnerable to injury. Furthermore, when you avoid moving a certain part of your back or neck, another part of your spine will have to move in an unnatural way. The increased strain could cause injury to that area, leaving you in even more discomfort.To beat back pain and prevent future flare-ups, get moving!

At SpineOne, we can show you how to safely move your spine, even if you are coping with back pain or neck issues. Call us at (303) 367-2225 to learn more about the importance of motion for your back health and let one of our spine specialists show you safe movements for your back.

Massage Therapy Can Relax Your Muscles and Treat Your Chronic Pain

Managing chronic pain is different than treating acute pain because there is typically no direct cause that is linked to the pain. Chronic pain develops over time, and it may be the result of a condition like fibromyalgia or it can be sourced from a previous injury that has already been treated. In both cases, there is no single treatment that will completely relieve your pain. If you are suffering from chronic pain, you will benefit most from ongoing treatment like massage therapy that provides you with a relaxing wave of relief.

The muscular response to massage
When working with a massage therapist, you will have the opportunity to point out areas that are causing you the most pain. During your massage, these areas will be the focus of the therapist so that optimal tension is released. As the muscles are manipulated, they are able to release built-up toxins and relax, so that blood flow can increase. A surge of oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood will relieve your sore soft tissues and alleviate pressure on the nerves. With regular massages, you may notice a variety of benefits like those listed below.

• Increased range of motion: Since massage helps your muscles properly relax, you can work to strengthen them more efficiently through physical therapy. When your range of motion is greater, your back will feel relieved, as external muscles can support weight that your spine would normally carry.
• Better balance in muscle use: Back injuries are typically caused by an uneven distribution of pressure from everyday activities. With massage therapy, your body will achieve a balance that will help you move more effectively so pain is relieved.

At SpineOne, massage therapy is just one of the beneficial back pain treatments available to you. We can develop a comprehensive treatment plan based on your individual needs so that you can live pain-free. Call us at (303) 367-2225 or visit our website to schedule your diagnostic consultation.

An Overview of Degenerative Disc Disease

Though many of the specifics about degenerative disc disease are unknown and disagreed upon by practitioners, the basic back pain symptoms and the behavior of the disease are both known. Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common reasons for lower back pain, although people diagnosed with the disease shouldn’t panic—its degeneration won’t debilitate you in the way that many spinal disorders can. Although you should visit a back specialist for diagnosis, here is a basic overview of the disease:

• Causes
  The lumbar disc system in your back is a system that works in between your vertebrae, providing cushion and shock support for the actions that your back has to endure. However, particularly if you play or have ever played sports, then these discs can tear, get twisted, or just be worn down, which is the source of the degeneration and subsequent back pain. There are two parts of a disc: the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus polposus. In very short terms, if the content in the middle of the disc, the nucleus, comes into contact with a nerve or the outer portion of the disc, then the proteins in the nucleus trigger lower back pain.

• Degeneration
  A common concern of patients is that the pain will worsen as they age. However, studies show that the lower back pain should actually decrease with age as the disc stiffens and begins to dehydrate.

• Treatment
  If caught early or if the degeneration is still mild enough, then the lower back pain can be treated with a variety of non-surgical methods. Heat and ice packs or various medications are the simplest methods of relieving the back pain. However, exercise is one of the most effective methods for lessening the lower back pain, especially in conjunction with chiropractic manipulation and epidural steroid injections.

If you are experiencing lower back pain, contact SpineOne today. Call (303) 367-2225 for more information about all of our various treatment options.

Learn More about How SpineOne Can Help You Prevent and Treat Back Pain

Back and neck pain can interfere with even the most minor tasks, causing a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. SpineOne provides safe and effective medical care for a wide range of spinal disorders. We offer comprehensive treatment options for spinal stenosis, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, and more. To schedule a consultation with a back specialist at our Denver facility, please call (303) 367-2225.

• Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column that often causes back pain and limb numbness. Medscape.com offers an overview of this spinal disorder.
   
• Pregnant women are often at a higher risk for sciatica, which typically manifests as a tingling or numbness in the legs. WhatToExpect.com explains why this is the case.
   
• Athletes frequently suffer from back and neck pain as a result of their strenuous activities. MedicalNewsToday.com explains how to avoid sports injuries.
   
• Sitting for extended periods of time can lead to lower back pain. The Mayo Clinic discusses how to avoid this frequently cited medical problem.
    
• If you suffer from osteoarthritis, vitamin D is a natural treatment option. ArthritisToday.org discusses how this supplement can combat chronic back pain.

Don't Let Back Pain Keep You Out of the Game! Call SpineOne Today!

Healthcare providers often cite regular physical activity as one of the key components for health and longevity. However, athletic individuals often experience back pain that can temporarily or even permanently cause them to stop participating in the sports they love. If you are suffering from back pain that is prohibiting you from engaging in your favorite physical activities, consult a back specialist at SpineOne today to discuss available treatment options.

Sports Injury Causes
A sports injury can stem from one sudden traumatic occurrence or from recurring stresses on the body. Every sport, including weight lifting, running, and cycling, comes with some risk of injury. Many times, sports-related back pain results from overuse of a certain area of the back, such as when baseball players repeatedly twist their lower backs while swinging a bat.

Sports Injury Symptoms
Back pain from a sports injury can be either acute or chronic. Acute back pain typically signals that a traumatic injury has occurred. Chronic back pain may be more obtuse in nature, and may occur as residual pain from an older injury. In addition to causing pain, a sports injury that affects the back may also cause other symptoms, including limb numbness and tingling.

Sports Injury Treatments
The vast majority of athletes can return to sports once they have received proper treatment for their back pain. The key to recovery is making sure that a correct diagnosis is made, which is why athletes should never self-diagnose the cause of their back pain. Only a trained back specialist has the means to conduct the needed diagnostic testing required to determine the nature of an injury and administer treatment for it.

Is back pain keeping you out of the game? SpineOne offers a variety of back pain solutions for individuals residing in the greater Denver area. We can both identify why you are experiencing back pain and develop an effective treatment plan for it. To learn more about the many spinal disorders we treat or to schedule a consultation at our Denver facility, please call (303) 367-2225.