A Quick Guide to Back, Neck & Knee Pain Management

2. INTRODUCTION Feel pain when you exercise, climb the stairs, get out of bed or walk? Something could be seriously out of balance and you are probably wrong about it. The human body is connected in more ways than one. There are muscles, nerves, ligaments, and bones that join everything up promoting normal functioning of the body. Thanks to the wrong information out there, people are now more informed about joint pain than ever before. The flipside, however, is a growing mass of untrue and non-evidenced information that only misleads patients about how to manage joint pain. When you have back pain, for instance, don’t be in a rush to think that the back muscles are responsible for it. In most cases, this is not actually the case. Follow through as we discuss neck, back & knee pain management in detail.

3. TABLE OF CONTENTS Back pain. Neck pain. Knee pain. How Are The Back, Neck, And Knee Pain Connected? Common Back, Neck & Knee Pain Treatment Mistakes.

4. BACK PAIN If you have suffered from back pain in the past, you know finding relief is a tough battle. A simple exercise such as sitting down can send pain signals all over your brain. When you have back pain, it simply means you back is taking more weight than its ability.

5. The biggest culprit for back pain is habitual poor posture. Think of the posture you assume when typing away in front of the computer at work. You tend to lean forward, slouch on your chair with a hunched back, or poke your chin because that’s your most comfortable position, right? Well, this is probably what is making that back hurt day in day out. Causes of back pain include the following: Muscle or ligament strain as a result of repeated heavy lifting, a sudden awkward movement or a poor physical condition Ruptured or bulging discs Osteoarthritis Skeletal irregularities Osteoporosis

6. R Ri is sk k f fa act ctor ors s Back pain is not a reserve for the old and obese; anyone can develop it. However, there are certain risk factors that increase your chances of developing it. These include: Lack of physical activity Medical conditions such as cancer and arthritis Age Improper lifting of heavy objects Smoking Psychological conditions

7. S Sy ymptoms mptoms Symptoms associated with back pain include the following; Burning, dull, or sharp pain in your back that is either confined to one spot or one that covers a large area Achiness or stiffness anywhere along the spine (starting from your neck to the tailbone) Shooting pain on your lower back to the buttock area down to the back of your thigs and into your calf and toes. Steady pain in your lower or middle back particularly after sitting and standing for a long period of time.

8. M Ma an nagement agement Back pain will typically improve within a couple of weeks or months. Here are a few things you can do to manage and alleviate the pain while at it. Increase your physical activity Carry out simple back exercises and stretches Use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Use hot and cold packs on the painful area to help in the short-term

9. S Sp peci ecia al li iz zed ed t tr reat eatm ments ents Rare and severe conditions require specialized treatments such as: Exercise classes: sometimes doctors recommend attending a NHS group exercise programme. Here, you will be a part of a class led by a qualified instructor who is a master at teaching different aerobic and stretching exercises aimed at improving your back. Manual therapy: manual therapy treatments have found use in the treatment of back pain for many years. Usually carried out by osteopaths, chiropractors, and physiotherapists, this is the process of using hands to massage, move and apply adequate force to the joints, muscles, and bones around the spine to alleviate pain.

10. Surgical procedures: albeit not recommended by doctors, surgery is sometimes the only treatment option for back pain. This is particularly true if you have sciatica or a prolapsed disc. The common procedure used is radiofrequency denervation and it involves using radio waves to heat nerves of affected joints causing them to stop sending pain signals. Other treatments: acupuncture, traction, belts, corsets, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, foot orthotics, and therapeutic ultrasound, spinal fusion, painkilling spinal injections are alternative treatments that are least recommended by the medical fraternity for lack of evidence to deal with back pain.

11. W Whe hen n to to s se ee e t the he d do octor ctor Back pain almost always disappears after a few weeks of doing home treatments and other self- care routines. It can, however, be a sign that things are not okay with your spine. Seek the opinion of a medical professional if your back pain is accompanied by fever and unexplained weight loss, causes a string of bladder or bowel issues, causes tingling, numbness in the legs, spreads down to the knees, becomes severe even after plenty of rest, and if it follows a blow or fall to your back.

12. NECK PAIN The neck is an integral part of the body for the simple fact that it solely supports a bowling ball – the head. It does this with the assistance of the bones located at the top of the spine and other muscles and ligaments. Maintaining a balance of everything can be a tough job. More than one- quarter of the entire american population suffers from neck pain. Symptoms of neck pain include headaches, shoulder pain, tingling or numbness of the arms, and dull aches or sharp shooting pains around the neck area.

13. Causes of neck pain Poor posture Bad sleeping habits Repetitive motion Heavy lifting Pinched nerves

14. Gritting your teeth Injuries from such things like sports and exercise Tumors Infection Arthritis

15. M Ma an nageme agemen nt t Most patients with neck pain respond to self–care pretty well within a maximum of three weeks. If symptoms persist, however, the doctor may recommend any of the following treatments. Physical therapy: this is where a therapist teaches you good posture, neck-strengthening exercises, correct alignment, use of ice and electrical stimulation to alleviate neck pain. Traction: traction employs weights, air bladders, and pulleys to gently stretch your neck. This treatment helps alleviate back pain greatly especially the kind related to irritation on the root of the nerve.

16. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens): a doctor places electrodes on the skin near the affected area that release electrical impulses that take the pain. Short-term immobilization: this uses a soft collar to support your neck hence relieving you of the pain therein. Surgery: surgery is rarely used unless the situation is extremely severe. Spinal cord compression and surgery aimed at relieving nerve root are two major treatment options for neck pain. Steroid injections: your doctor may also inject corticosteroid medications around the nerve roots of the joints in the bones of your neck muscles or the cervical spine to relieve back pain.

17. W Whe hen n to to s se ee e t the he d do octor ctor For the most part, neck pain can be dealt with using over the counter drugs and simple neck exercises. However, certain cases may be serious to warrant medical attention. You may want to call the doctor if the pain on your neck becomes severe, doesn’t improve after treatment, or becomes worse in the course of time. Additionally, if the pain is accompanied by numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs and arms, you may want to have it checked by a medical professional.

18. K KNEE NEE P PAI AIN N Knee pain is one of the leading musculoskeletal issues in today’s world. The knee essentially carries the weight of the entire body around along with bending and straightening the body. Knee pain results from an issue with any of the four bones that make up the knee joint (tibia, femur, and fibula), the cartilage and ligaments (meniscus), or the kneecap (patella). Physical activity such as sports and obesity are risk factors for knee pain.

19. Knee pain varies depending on the structure involved. For instance, an inflammatory or an infection might cause the entire knee to be swollen while a fracture or a torn meniscus on the bone will concentrate the pain in a single location. A knee joint pain can manifest as a minor ache or a serious and disabling pain. Some of the symptoms of knee pain include the following; Limping caused by discomfort in the pain Challenges with walking and weight bearing led by knee instability Difficulty when climbing stairs Inability to bend, extend, or lock the knee Swelling and redness of the knee Weight shifting to the other foot

20. Causes of knee pain The knee is a rather complex structure consisting of three bones namely the kneecap, the upper thighbone and the lower shinbone along with tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Damage to any of these structures would cause knee pain. Here are some of the most common causes of knee pain: Injuries such as torn ligaments, broken bones, or meniscal tear Medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and other infections Chronic overuse conditions such as patellar syndromes, chondromalacia, osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and IT band syndrome Dislocating kneecap Plica syndrome Kneecap fracture Bone tumor

21. M Ma an na ageme gement nt Depending on the exact cause and condition of your knee pain, the doctor will recommend different treatment options. These include the following: Medications: these will not only help relieve pain but will address underlying medical conditions such as gout and arthritis. Therapy: therapy is a collective term for a group of exercises that focus on stabilizing your knee muscles. Some of the therapy options include arch supports, braces, training for both hamstrings and quadriceps, exercises aimed at improving balance and correction of suboptimal movement patterns.

22. Injections: once in a while, the doctor may recommend injections like hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids and platelet-rich plasma (prp) to help clear knee pain symptoms. Surgery: your options include arthroscopic surgery (use of fiber optic treatment to repair joint damage), total knee replacement, or partial knee replacement. Like always, this should be your very last resort.

23. W Whe hen n to to s se ee e a a d do octor ctor Knee pain treatment is more effective if the exact cause has been determined. If you do not know the cause of your pain, it is prudent to book an appointment with a doctor. In addition, if you have any of the signs below, you should see a doctor: Knee pain attacks at night or during rests Locomotion challenges on the affected knee Persistent knee pain

24. Swelling and redness of the knee joint Signs of infection such as redness, fever, and warmth Inability to bend the knee Deformity of the knee as a result of an injury

25. H HO OW W ARE CO CONNE NNECTED? The nerves that operate the knee muscles are located on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbar vertebral levels on your lower back area. Therefore, when there is an issue with the nerves such as a disc or arthritic joint compressing the nerves, the symptoms will most likely be on the knee region. The lower extremities’ nerves branch off from the lower spine hence a pinched nerve in the lower back will direct that pain down the branch into the knee. You may not notice low-level nerve irritations as back pain because these just cause the muscles to misfire a little. The serious nerve issues, however, may present themselves as acute knee pain, sometimes accompanied by back pain. If the specific nerve that travels to your knee or thigh is pinched, you may feel such symptoms including knee pain, front thigh pain, tingling/numbness in your thigh and weakness in your hip. ARE TH CTED? THE B E BAC ACK K,, NEC NECK K,, AN AND D KN KNEE P EE PAI AIN N

26. Neck pain and back pain also go hand in hand. It all goes back to the spine. The neck and the lower back have been designed to mirror each other. Both have similar degree of the spinal curves and align on top of each other. If this balance is disrupted, the spine’s ability to effectively transfer weight across the lower back and neck is compromised. This often happens due to poor sitting posture that throws the lumbar curve out of balance.

27. CO COM MM MO ON N B BAC M MI IST STAK AKES 1 Avoiding exercise altogether: you must have come across some information on the internet purporting that exercise and joint pain are like water and oil. Well, this couldn’t be further from ACK K,, NEC NECK K & & K KNEE NEE P PAI AIN N TR TREA EATM TMENT ENT ES the truth. Unless you have acute back pain, regular exercise is bound to help you deal with chronic back pain. The secret here is to focus on low-moderate exercises that work to strengthen your muscles. 2 Overusing pain medications: when back, neck, and knee pain attacks, all you care about is alleviating the pain by all means possible. This is however not the best card to pull out. The outcome is that the meds will stop being effective afterall.

28. 3 Ignoring self-care techniques: pain meds only deal with 60% of the pain; the rest relies on self-care technique. Watch your posture, exercise, avoid carrying heavy weights, take rests, worry less about the pain and just stay positive. 4 Self-diagnosis: many people suffering from joint problems prefer carrying out self-diagnosis rather than enlisting the help of a medical professional. Again, this is a recipe for disaster. You might cause a string of problems in the future that may become permanent. 5 Resorting to spine surgery before exhausting all the safe remedies: to be safe, wait it out. Let surgery be your last option, not your first.

29. Joint pain can steal the joy of even the most carefree and happy individual on the face of the planet. The pain is unlike any other which is why you should take good care of your body to avoid it. Granted, you can develop it as a result of unpredictable events such as injuries and medical complications but take care that you don’t give yourself over to it by being not watching your weight and posture. Holistic healthcare center have a wide range of practitioners that work together as a team to help you and your loved ones accomplish optimal health. Whether it is back, neck, or knee pain, the practitioners at the facility will help you find the root cause of your symptoms and arrange for apt treatment that allows different systems in your body to work together in the most appropriate way possible. Contact them at (905)553-9255 for a free consultation.

30. THE END • For more details, please visit- http://www.hhccentre.com/back-neck-knee-pain/