Category: Back Pain

Chronic Back Pain

Are you sick to death of chronic back pain?

Back pain affects 80% of Australians throughout their life and in a lot of these cases there can be steps taken to avoid a large portion of that pain. Although these steps may not rid the body of the more severe cases of back pain overtime they most certainly can. If you are suffering from back pain give some of these helpful tips a go.

• Foam Roller- The Foam Roller is a great tool that can be used anywhere and you can take as little or as long as you like with it. For the best result we suggest taking your time and very slowly working throughout whatever area you need to focus on. When you feel a more intense feeling of pain, chances are you are on the source – try and hold it on that spot for 15-20 seconds.
• Spikey Ball- A spikey ball is also a great way to free up tightened areas when not able to make it to your therapist. Very similar to the Foam Roller however a much smaller tool which is great to work deeper into fine areas such as working through the hips, (Glutes, TFL and Rhomboids)
• Heat Pack- For stiff and sore muscles a heat pack applied to the area can relieve tension within minutes. There is no particular time frame for a heat pack to take affect, however anything over 10 minutes gives the muscle and connective tissue a good chance to soften, the heat will also increase blood flow promoting fresh and healthy blood to the area

With these few tips you will be able to work on your back tightness and stiffness from home giving you the best chance of maintaining your back and eradicating pain. If after implementing these strategies your back pain continues please contact 03 9909 9905 or visit www.backsolutions.com.au
We specialise in lower back pain massage in Richmond, Victoria. 

How Wheat Bag And Heating Pad Can Reduce Back Pain

Can Back Pain Be Reduced By Wheat Bag And Heating Pad

It is quite shocking to see the percentage of people who suffer from back pain. 80% of the total world’s population is going to come in contact with back pain at some point of time. This means that we all are doing something wrong in our lives, which is why we have to deal with back pain. Though recovery from back pain is possible and people have been able to attain it as well, but the journey to get there is quite arduous, and considering the fact that back pain is excruciating and unbearable, it is a whole lot more difficult to reach the point of recovery.

There have been some new methods to treat back pain Melbourne, but it is the simple remedies that are doing the trick even today. Heat therapy, for example, has been available for many centuries, and it is an effective tool when it comes to reducing the inflammation, stiffness and back pain. Today, people have the option of wheat bags or heat pads as a method of relieving back pain.

The skeletal system supports the entire human body structure, and therefore, it is very hard to determine what will cause the injury to the back. There are 33 vertebrae and 77 muscles in the back region, with unending joints, ligaments, and discs positioned in a complicated manner. One bad incident can shake up these parts and cause back pain.

Talking about the most common reason for back pain, then it is the muscle strain, which happens when there is a small tear in the muscle tissue. Muscle strain can happen when a person makes a sudden twist or pull his/her back muscles in the wrong manner. Besides muscle strain, the back pain can be caused by the sprain in the ligament. There is a certain limit up to which the ligaments could be stretched, and if they are stretched beyond that limit, then it causes sprain in them. This, in turn, causes back pain; to be more precise, lower back pain Melbourne.

Another reason for back pain is the herniated discs, which occurs when a certain motion is repeated too many times, or the spinal nerves become compressed due to the lifting of some heavy object in a wrong fashion. The pain that occurs in the nerves is known as sciatica, and the pain around the nerves are caused by a herniated disc. There are some other causes as well, but those are less likely to happen, yet we will mention them.

1. Spinal Stenosis.

2. Osteoporosis.

3. Fibromyalgia.

Now, let’s discuss how wheat bags and heat pads can bring relief from back pain.

Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels and with this, the vessels become enlarged, therefore allowing more blood to flow through them. You can get heat therapy for back pain Melbourne at Back Solutions Clinic. This clinic offers highly effective treatment for back pain that has no side-effects as well.

Using a wheat bag for heat therapy will also prove to be good, as it will relax torn, tight and sore muscles. You can easily get a wheat bag from any local store these days, but it is important to have a consultation from a reputed clinic first. For the best lower back pain Melbourne treatment, kindly visit Back Solutions Clinic.

Five Ways To Prevent And Cure Back Pain

The problem with back pain is quite common and affects most people at some point in their life. The magnitude of the problem could vary, but one thing is certain, the discomfort is there.

There is one more term by which lower back pain is known and that is lumbago. Lower back pain is pretty common, and once it hits, your entire life changes for a long-long time.

In the majority of cases, there is no particular reason for the occurrence of back pain. The pain can start off suddenly and can get better over time, but in some cases, the pain remains persistent and that’s when people starts worrying about it. The prevalence of back pain today is as a result of less physical activity and sitting jobs. People don’t want to move out of their seats and this is what causing a lot of common issues. Here is what the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has advised on how to deal with back pain and lower the chances of its recurrence.

1. Most people in this world are going experience back pain at least once in their lifetime.

Though back pain is disabling and stressful and it can be dangerous. A human spine is quite strong and doesn’t get damaged easily. When people say they are suffering from back pain, then they are actually suffering from sprain or strain. A large percentage of back pain sufferers are going to recover quickly and without taking any treatment.

2. It is literally impossible to scan the area where you are feeling back pain.

Back pain is not dangerous, but at times, there could be more serious causes that could result in severe and chronic back pain. For that, you will need medical assistance from a reputed back pain Melbourne clinic such as Back Solutions Clinic.

3. Continue your working routine and other activities, and avoid bed rest.

While many people think that taking bed rest is the right thing to do when suffering from back pain, it’s not. You have to stay indulged in your day-to-day activities in order to keep your back in motion. Perform light exercises on a daily basis in order to keep your spine strong. By eliminating exercises you actually make the structures supporting your spine and back weak which can lead to more pain and problems.

4. No need to avoid bending or lifting objects

Many people after suffering from back pain avoid lifting heavy objects or bending to pick anything, which is unnecessary. They have to understand that if they pick things or lift things up in an awkward way, then they can damage their back, otherwise, in cases there is nothing to worry about. Yes, lifting way too heavy objects should be prohibited because it will put pressure on your already damaged back but being sensible about what and when you are lifting can actually be beneficial in helping your lower back.

5. Exercise and activity alleviate back pain and prevents recurrence.

Exercise has proved to be very helpful when it comes to handling back pain, plus it is also a great strategy to prevent back pain from occurring again. But, exercise needs to be carried out in a slow manner initially, and only after a period of time should the intensity be increased.

For better information, you can go to a lower back pain Melbourne specialist. They will help you get the right treatment and things you can do at home to prevent the occurrence of lower back pain.

97% of Chronic Back Pain is 100% curable.

Find how how your back pain can be fixed

Despite what any specialist or practitioner has told you, the vast majority of chronic back pain is 100% curable.

The spine and it’s structures are blamed for chronic back pain, which in the vast majority of cases is an inaccurate diagnosis, one often given to promote unnecessary surgery and prescription of mind altering drugs.

Postural weaknesses lead to early acute stages of back pain. This initial pain, discomfort leads to compensatory movement patterns to protect the lower back and avoid further pain. These compensatory patterns further weaken the lower back and the muscles integral to its support and function.

Postural symmetry continues to be comprised, as muscles forward of the midline carry all of the load that posterior muscles are designed to take.

The vulnerability created by the postural asymmetry finally leads to an innocuous action that sends the lower back and hips into a painful spasm (the straw that breaks the camel’s back).

At this stage, some people get MRI’s that show a herniated disc or degeneration. However, the vast majority show minor structural concerns, leaving no known reason for the back spasm.

The acute flare up creates further weaknesses and a stronger compensatory pattern due to restricted movement and inactivity in a bid to protect and settle the spasm.

After a few days, sometimes weeks, the spasm settles, however a residual pain remains present due to tension present in the soft tissue structures of the lower back and buttock region.

Some people respond initially to standard physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage, however the vast majority of people receive only short term temporary relief as only the symptoms of their pain is being addressed.

For the majority of people who are diagnosed with chronic back pain, they begin a cycle that can last years, often decades of being in constant pain, experiencing severe flare ups that become more and more frequent as time progresses.

Medication only masks the pain. Surgery is rarely an option, and for those who go down this path, the success rate is really poor. Standard therapy provides less and less effectiveness, with the patient requiring it more frequently just to be able to function through day to day activities.

The underlying cause that created the back pain in the first place – postural weaknesses remains the exact same reason that keeps the person in chronic suffering.

If at any stage throughout the typical back pain cycle the underlying cause is addressed – eradicating postural weaknesses and compensatory patterns. The back pain sufferer can rid their pain and carry on with a pain free healthy life.

Regardless of whether you have been suffering for months, years or decades.

An accurate diagnosis that leads to addressing the underlying cause of your back pain – the postural weakness, will break the chronic pain cycle and give you back your life

What do physio’s, chiros do for a Chronic Back Pain Sufferer.

What type of care do you need?

As someone who suffered from severe back pain, that affected the lower and upper back, I had a mixed experience seeing countless physio’s and chiropractors.

Some practitioners I saw provided short term relief, others none at all making me question what I was doing wasting my time and money.

After I initially injured my lower back, I was sent for x-rays and MRI’s which showed 2 herniated discs and 1 ruptured disc.

Initial physio 3 times a week incorporated the Mckenzie technique which was aimed at restoring the herniated disc to its place by carrying out repetitive back extension exercises (arching of the back). The theory being that due to having a posterior disc bulge, thought to be brought about through repetitive flexion of the spine (forward bending),  repetitive movement in the opposite direction would encourage the disc to restore to its midline position between vertebrae.

After 3 months of constant physio, and religious discipline in carrying out the Mckenzie technique, my condition had only worsened.

When you have back pain, everyone has their guru to go and see. Someone who has helped them, or a friend/ relative. I took one of the many ‘helpful’ advice and decided to see a chiropractor, a leading practitioner in the industry. One of my lecturers in my health science course worked at this Chiropractor’s clinic and raved about the success he was having with his patients.

My initial consult was insightful, it contradicted much of what I had been told by the physio I saw in the reason why I had my back pain, and what needed to be done to eradicate it. This at first was refreshing, as after 3 months of religiously following the physio’s advice, I was very disenchanted with physiotherapy.  I felt better after my first session, and held strong hope that I had found the practitioner who could finally fix me. However the pain relief was short lived, and the pattern continued with each following session. I felt great in the initial hours after the adjustments/ manipulations, only for my back pain to return soon after. I was told that my spine was not aligned and that with each adjustment my spine would become straighter. I persevered with the chiropractic treatment for 3 months, only to find the same pattern continue. No change to my pain levels and ability to participate in sport.

Over a 4 year period I tried many other chiros and physio’s in a desperate attempt to find someone who could help fix my back pain. With all of the Chiropractors and osteopaths I saw who used spine and joint manipulations to treat my back pain, the exact pattern occurred, short term relief only for the pain to return.  The majority of physiotherapists that I saw did little more than place a heat pack on my back, carry out ultrasound, and prescribe extremely passive exercises that did nothing to improve my pain levels of freedom of movement. I did however find a few sports physiotherapists who used a mobilisation technique of the spine, that provided instant relief and increase in range of movement. I found intense grade 3 mobilisation was the most effective technique in freeing my body and restoring movement. The relief was much longer that manipulations, however as soon as I ran, stood for too long, the pain and lack of movement returned once again. Whilst I found this technique the best of all used by physiotherapists or chiropractors, once again it was not lasting and not a cure to my back pain. On top of this, I found it difficult to find sports therapists who were willing to do this technique, and of the ones who did, very few had the strength to carry out the technique effectively.   

After finally finding a permanent solution to fixing my own back through a unique range of neuromuscular strengthening exercises, my thoughts on physiotherapy and chiropractic for chronic back pain sufferers is as follows:

The techniques engaged in these modalities address purely the symptoms, not the cause of long term chronic back pain. The same goes for massage, myotherapy, osteotherapy and acupuncture. It is not a criticism of the many great people who were physios and chiros who did everything they could to try and help me. It is purely that these modalities work great for acute, short term back pain where the concern is purely tension that has built up. The tension releases with their techniques and the patient feels better.

For chronic back pain sufferers, weaknesses, and compensatory patterns are the underlying cause, and my experience was that very little if anything was done to address this.

If you are suffering from chronic back pain and not responding to physiotherapy or chiropractic care, search for a practitioner who specialises in addressing postural imbalances and has a proven track record in helping people just like you.

Rick Saunders

Back Pain Specialist

Back Solution Clinic, Melbourne, Australia

Ice or Heat for Back Pain?

There is a lot of conflicting information as to whether ice or heat is better for back pain.

Amongst modalities, even amongst practitioners within the same modalities there is conflicting views and opinions.

Whilst there is great benefit in both approaches what is absolutely integral is that the back pain patient and or the practitioner have a clear goal of what they are trying to achieve in using either heat or ice.

We will attempt to remove biases and instead focus in on both the different sources of back pain, and the different approaches to alleviating back pain and how either ice or heat can help or hinder.

Ice treatment is dedicated to achieving:

• Reduction in swelling (anti inflammatory)
• Pain relief (analgesia)

Heat treatment is dedicated to achieving:

• Promotion of blood flow
• Muscle relaxation
• Pain relief  (analgesia)

In the event of an acute back flare up ice treatment can provide effective pain relief until the area settles down.

In the event the practitioner is trying to reduce inflammation of the back, ice treatment can assist following the treatment and is frequently prescribed by practitioners for this reason.  

In the event of a back spasm, heat can assist by relaxing the muscles, promoting blood flow which can provide pain relief and ease the symptoms.

With chronic back pain, the vast majority of sufferers use heat as a form of relief either through intuition or trial and error.  

If you are suffering from back pain, it is imperative that you get an accurate diagnosis from your doctor or practitioner and seek their guidance as to what is the most appropriate approach at that specific time.  If you are unsure, then listen to your body, the is no definitive right or wrong answer to whether heat or ice is better for back pain, however you will feel better using one or the other, so let that be the guide.

Are heat ointments good for your back pain

Find out if heat ointments could be beneficial to you.

Heat creams, ointments and heat patches contain skin irritants. The active ingredients present in the ointments create a reaction that results in blood rushing to the applied area.

The blood rushing to the surface of the skin, along with the irritation create the hot sensation. Muscles will also warm up in the process of blood rushing to the area, which is why the use of heat ointments are so prevalent in sporting change rooms.  

Whilst these ingredients are not overly harmful to the body, continuous daily use is not ideal.

As the smell of liniment or deep heat often brings comments of a football change room, the use of heat ointments regularly to assist with the symptoms of back pain is not ideal, especially if you work in an office or are in direct contact with clients.

Alternative options to heat ointments:   

1. Hot shower first thing in the morning
2. Really hot bath prior to activity
3. Use of hot water bottle
4. Use of wheat bag heated in the microwave
5. Sports massage prior activity

Heat ointments are terrific for getting through a sports activity, or a day’s work after waking up with a stiff back. However if you do suffer from an ongoing achy back, forming a habit of using a wheat bag placed in the microwave with a small cup of water is most optimal.

The steam held in the wheat penetrates deep into the muscles of the lower back often reaching the areas where people experience discomfort. Hot baths are even better as the entire back and hip region is immersed in hot water which has a greater benefit on the restricted connective tissue of the lower back which is another common source of discomforting back pain.

So in conclusion, if you need to get through an activity or can’t take the day off work, heat ointments are a great method of assistance. However if you find you are requiring heat as a form of pain relief on a daily basis we definitely recommend looking for a preferable alternative.  

And if pain your back pain is persistent, seek out a practitioner who can address the cause of your pain and offer you lasting relief.