Unfortunatelly pain in the low back is perceived as something trivial and can be mistakenly dismissed as a self limiting conditions by patients and doctors alike.
LOW BACK PAIN (LBP) is a pain felt in the lower area of the spine. The pain in the lumbar spine can have multiple anatomical location. Pain from hip or pelvis as well is from thoracic spine can project to the area of lumbar vertebrae and is perceived as pain in the low back.
Symptoms will be dependent on which structures are irritated. Usually pain in the low back which changes location is functional in origin.
Low back pain with radiation into the leg, burning sensation, numbness and tingling should always be taken very seriously and requires immediate medical attention.
Low back pain can be caused by structural pathology such as: herniated or protruded disc,
arthritis of the lumbar joints.
It can also be caused by pinched nerve within or around the structures
of spinal canal or spinal foramens. It could also be functional such as muscular or ligsmentous pain.
Chronic LBP is usual a result of combination of following factors:
Poor, inadequate and untimely treatment, poor beliefs, poor copping strategies, overuse of structural diagnosis as well as emotional stress.
Diagnosis of LBP is almost always clinical with exception of very severe pain with numbness,
tingling, radiation and loss of strength.
Rarely low back pain can arise from structures inside the viscera (organs),
however dysfunction of motility of visceral organs as well as breathing can be an important causative
factor in LBP. Most often differential diagnosis requires the differentiation of anatomical areas below
or above the lowback as well as carefully examination of the whole locomotor system.
Since low back pain is so multifactorial individual approach is paramount.
The successful treatment of low back pain is one that addresses the cause rather then the symptoms. In order to attack the cause two factors must be identified:
1) movement dysfunction
2) pain generator- structure irritated during specific movement (ligament, muscle, joint, nerve,disc and etc…) Since multiple structures can refer pain to low back, primary load transfer failure must be identified. The spinal stability system has to be addressed from perspective of dynamic stability rather then the core strength
At NYDN we provide very individual and comprehensive approach based on our meticulous examination skills and most integrative treatment . We combine most advanced scientifically proven low back treatment methods such as:
DNS (dynamic neuromuscular stabilization), ISM (integrated system model approach), clinical Pilates, structural integration, postural retraining, myofascial release and acupuncture just to name a few.
Flexio-distraction is an old and very successful chiropractic concept which has recently been revived by new technology. Manuthera 242 delivers a variety of gentle manipulations to the spinal vertebrae, relieving pressure on intervertebral discs, relaxing deep spinal muscles, and most importantly, releasing lumbo-dorsal fascia.
From research we know that people with Low back pain (lbp) belong to different categories (or groups) and therefore should be treated with individual approach.
C.A.R.E.N can successfully facilitate treatment of people with LBP which belong to following categories:
Protection against spinal injury requires proper anticipation of events, appropriate sensation of body position, and reasonable muscular responses. Lumbar fatigue is known to delay lumbar muscle responses to sudden loads. Patients with chronic low back trouble had significantly poorer ability than control subjects on the average to sense a change in lumbar position, which was noticed before and after the fatiguing procedure. This feature was found in patients and control subjects, but patients with low back trouble had poorer ability to sense a change in lumbar position than control subjects even when they were not fatigued.
Traditional treatment for low back pain often includes interventions that target the locus of pain, including rest, anti-inflammatory medications, pain pills and steroid injections. However, most low back pain is caused by muscle imbalances, poor posture, lack of physical activity, weakened core muscles and other factors that exert pressure on the nerves that descend from the lower spine.
Pain medications may provide temporary relief from lower back pain, but they do not resolve it. Patients with persistent chronic pain are often advised to have surgery. However, most surgeries fail to resolve lower back pain over the long run, since the underlying cause of pain is not structural in nature. Even when pain stems from a herniated (bulging) disc, most disc herniations resolve themselves with conservative care and do not require surgery.
Conservative care like chiropractic and physical therapy seek to eliminate pain by correcting imbalances, strengthening weakened muscles and educating patients on healthy postural habits. Rather than focusing on symptoms and providing temporary pain relief, conservative care focuses on resolving the issues that cause lower back pain, saving patients from risky, costly and unnecessary surgery.
Dr. Lev Kalika is clinical director of NYDNRehab, located in Manhattan. In addition to his medical degrees in chiropractic and physical therapy, Lev has trained under some of rehab’s greatest innovators in DNS, diagnostic ultrasonography, 3D gait analysis, dry needling and several other innovative therapies. Lev Kalika is the author of multiple medical publications and research, and an international expert in the field of rehabilitative sonography, ultrasound guided dry needling and sports medicine Dr. Kalika works with athletes, runners, dancers and mainstream clients to relieve pain, rehabilitate injuries, enhance performance and minimize the risk of injuries. His clinic features some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the world, rarely found in a private clinic.
Pain in the low back is the most common musculoskeletal complaint of people over age 40, with almost everyone experiencing an episode of low back pain (LBP) at some time in their life. Many people suffer LBP for years on end, after efforts to resolve it medically, including surgery, have proven futile. However, most cases of LBP can be resolved with appropriate conservative treatment.
Contrary to what many people think, your low back is not fragile. It is designed to twist and bend, bear weight, transfer force loads between your upper and lower body during physical activity, and provide stability when lifting. Your lumbar spine is both flexible and powerful, enabling you to perform physical work and engage is challenging physical activities.
The five vertebrae of your low back that make up your lumbar spine are the largest non-fused vertebrae in your spinal column. The lumbar vertebrae are numbered L-1 to L-5 in descending order, with the lower vertebrae bearing the most weight. The two lower segments where L-4 meets L-5, and where L-5 meets S-1 (the first vertebra of the sacrum) are the most vulnerable to injury because they bear the greatest loads.
Most cases of low back pain occur at the L-4/L-5 and L-5/S-1 junctions, often due to pressure on the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve that exit the spinal column in the lumbar region. Muscle strains associated with lifting are a common cause of low back and sciatic nerve pain.
Low back pain can be debilitating at times, keeping you from performing even simple daily tasks.
LBP symptoms may include:
Low back pain falls under one of two categories:
Several lifestyle and behavioral factors can contribute to and increase the risk of LBP, including:
As with most musculoskeletal conditions, diagnosis of LBP begins with a detailed patient history and physical exam. The patient may be asked about recent and older injuries, sleep postures, lifestyle behaviors, activity level and athletic participation. A postural assessment may be performed. The physical exam may include palpation of the painful area, tests for range of motion and reflexes, and other motor assessments. A neurological exam may also be performed.
Imaging via MRI, X-ray or CT scan is often prescribed in hopes of revealing abnormalities in the low spine, but in many cases traditional static imaging scans are unable to identify the precise cause of pain, and some consider those diagnostic methods to be obsolete.
Medical treatment for LBP mainly focuses on eliminating pain to ease the patient’s discomfort. Treatments may include:
However, because most back pain is mechanical in nature, treating pain alone does not resolve the underlying issues that caused it, and back pain often returns once treatment is discontinued.
At NYDNRehab, we use the most advanced technologies and innovative therapies to diagnose and treat your low back pain. Many of our diagnostic and treatment tools are unique to our midtown Manhattan clinic, and cannot be found elsewhere.
Some of the diagnostic and treatment approaches that set NYDNR apart include:
Dr. Kalika and his team are dedicated to getting to the sources of low back pain, and devising individualized treatment plans to eliminate them, with the end goal of improving our patients’ quality of life.
and a faulty diagnosis can make treatment a total waste of time.
Failure to accurately diagnose a condition in its early stages can lead
to chronic problems and sometimes devastating results.
Diagnostic musculoskeletal sonography (MSUS) provides the perfect tool for the rehab practitioner. Yet many doctors and physical therapists have no experience with MSUS, are unaware of its advantages, and have no idea how to use it as a diagnostic tool.
Below is a prime example of how ultrasound can take the guesswork out of diagnosis.Successful Treatment
A bad physical therapy experience is one of the primary causes of unnecessary surgery.
We have equipped our clinic with the latest research-grade technology to arrive at objective and accurate diagnoses, and to objectively measure our patients’ progress.
Most importantly, we are the only facility in the US where structural medical diagnosis is reflected in functional treatment, and vice versa.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating
the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy
due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient
to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed
to be a complete tear with muscle contraction
under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris
with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited
on dynamic sonography examination
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