Pain

What are common treatments for a pinched nerve in the neck?

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Mon, 04/12/2021 - 3:01pm
What are common treatments for a pinched nerve in the neck?

A "pinched nerve" means something is putting pressure on a nerve. Any number of things may be the culprit, including repetitive motions in sports or at work, poor posture, excess weight, a ruptured disc, bone spurs or arthritis in the neck.

If you have a pinched nerve in the neck, you’re likely to feel symptoms in the neck, elbow, hands, wrists, or fingers. Symptoms may include:

  • Pain
  • Tingling or “pins and needles” feeling
  • Numbness
  • Weakness

So how can you relieve those symptoms? A number of strategies, some of which can be done at home, may help:  

Surprising causes of back pain

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 10:23am
Surprising causes of back pain

Could the wrong shoes be causing a backache? Maybe. Experts say back pain can have many causes, some originating in the spine itself. But other cases of back pain may result from problems in the feet, knees, or hips.

Back pain is common. About 80 percent of us are going to suffer from it at some point. Tracking down the source of the problem is a key to getting relief.

When feet are the problem

If you have low arches, or “flat feet,” your feet will turn inward when you walk or run. This is called hyper-pronation and can cause your leg to turn inward as well, affecting the alignment of your body all the way up to your back.

Fibromyalgia Pain Points

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Tue, 11/10/2020 - 11:00am
Fibromyalgia Pain Points

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread chronic muscle pain and tenderness. This condition is often accompanied by other debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, memory problems and mood swings. Although there is no cure, fibromyalgia is medically manageable through a combination of pain medications, behavioral health therapies, interventional pain treatments and more. Before treatment can be sought, however, physicians must be able to determine whether or not fibromyalgia is to blame for pain symptoms patients are experiencing.

Is Fibromyalgia Pain Different From Chronic Pain?

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Thu, 10/22/2020 - 3:00pm
Is Fibromyalgia Pain Different From Chronic Pain?
Fibromyalgia pain differs from general chronic widespread pain in many ways. Fibromyalgia pain is not only characterized by its widespread musculoskeletal pain, but the fatigue, cognitive difficulties and other symptoms it causes (i.e. headaches, depression, restless leg syndrome, etc.). Chronic widespread pain is usually defined as pain that remains active for more than 12 weeks, and it can be mild or severe, episodic or continuous, a minor inconvenience or completely debilitating.

Difference Between Sore And Spasming Back And Shoulder Muscles

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Wed, 09/16/2020 - 10:00am
Difference Between Sore And Spasming Back And Shoulder Muscles

Patients who experience sore or spasming muscles may wonder if their symptoms indicate a particular condition, disease, or ailment. For individuals with sore muscles, the first thing to ask is how the symptom developed in the first place. Sore muscles caused by an intense workout or a day spent moving or landscaping are not necessarily things to worry about. Overuse or injury during physical activity, stress, or tension can cause muscles to ache, and over time these symptoms should subside on their own.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe After Spine Treatment Or Surgery?

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Mon, 03/23/2020 - 10:35am
Is Chiropractic Care Safe After Spine Treatment Or Surgery?

When performed by licensed chiropractic physicians, chiropractic care can be incredibly beneficial in reducing different types of back, neck, or joint pain. However, like any surgical procedure, therapy, or treatment, spinal manipulation can have serious health risks if performed incorrectly or if administered by a chiropractic physician who’s unfamiliar with non-rotational methods of manipulation. If you’re considering chiropractic care for after an interventional pain treatment or minimally invasive spine surgery, take note of the following points.

Muscle Spasms: What Do They Mean and Should I Be Worried?

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Sun, 02/23/2020 - 12:00am
Muscle Spasms: What Do They Mean and Should I Be Worried?

Occasional muscle spasms are normal, but here’s how to tell if your muscle spasms may be something more.

Most people have experienced a muscle spasm at one time or another in their lives. Have you ever noticed that sometimes, as you’re trying to go to sleep and just about to drift off, your entire body will suddenly twitch uncontrollably? Well, that unexpected wake-up call is actually a muscle spasm. 

Muscle spasms can occur as a result of a lot of different things, from being tired to stress to certain medical conditions. In many cases, occasional muscle spasms are nothing to be concerned about, but read on for more information about when your muscle spasms might warrant a check-up with your doctor.  

Running with Sciatica: Is it Safe?

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Mon, 01/20/2020 - 9:59am
Running with Sciatica: Is it Safe?

Sciatica can be a painful condition and interfere with exercise—here’s what you need to know.

You’ve probably heard people talk about having sciatica, and that’s for good reason—many people experience a form of pain related to the sciatic nerve at some point in their lives. 

That’s because the sciatic nerve is actually the largest nerve in the entire body, extending from your lower back all the way down through the muscles and joints of your hips, glutes, legs, and feet. Because it affects so many structures in your body, it can be relatively easy for it to become injured or irritated, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness, in your back, buttocks, or legs.

What Causes Sciatica?

Are Chronic Headaches and Back Pain Linked?

Submitted by Southwest Spine... on Sun, 11/17/2019 - 5:22pm
Are Chronic Headaches and Back Pain Linked?

It seems like some people just can’t get a break. Researchers are discovering that people who have chronic headaches are also more likely to have chronic low back pain.

Research published in July in the Journal of Headache and Pain looked at 14 studies from around the world—studies from Denmark, the United States, Germany, Iran, Tunisia, the UK and Qatar—that had examined a link between headache and low back pain. 

Some of the studies were small—just 88 participants—while other were quite large. One international study included over 404,000 people. The ages of people in the various studies ranged from 9.8 to 102.