Understanding Back Pain

Back and Spinal problems can result from a range of factors such as injury, ageing, poor posture and bad habits that lead to muscle imbalance causing spinal compromise. What happens when this takes place is the discs / bones placing pressure on nerve roots lead to symptoms like acute and chronic pain, tension and tingling. Poor lifestyle habits stress the body by creating structural imbalance and what this leads to is disc degeneration, bulging or rupture, arthritis, instability and premature ageing.

Back pain occurs when there is injury to the spinal discs, stiff joints, ligaments or muscle imbalance and inflammation. These can come from fractures, strains, injuries, wear and tear. Pain is a result of pressure and irritation on the spinal cords and nerve roots which stem from the spine itself. Muscular weakness, overuse, stiffness and impaired range of motion are the leading causes of spinal problems and  pain.

Osteoarthritis is a result of the wearing down of joint cartilage which comes from restricted movement and flexibility. This leads to being prone to injury. Disc degeneration is the narrowing of space between the vertebrae affecting the spinal alignment. Excessive pressure from certain habits of daily living over time leads disc herniation, rupture, pinched nerves, pressure and pain.

Numbness in in any area where the nerve normally provides sensation comes from disc herniation. Mistaking this to be a problem in the area of the symptom (pain) risks not treating the actual cause. Myotherapists trace the problem to it's (compressed nerve) roots and treat the cause rather than temporarily treating the "resulting" pain. Treatment will also involve addressing the originating habitual / lifestyle causes that lead to the  musculo-skeletal problem in the first place.

Sciatica is the result of pain that comes from pinched lumber region nerves that run down the legs through the buttocks and thighs and some down to the feet. Herniated discs can cause Sciatica which is ultimately a result of pressure on the nerves which can be easily treated with Myotherapy.

Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of space between the bones which leads to degeneration of the spine. This leads to structural changes and bulging discs and lack of blood and oxygen supply to the spinal cord which cause swelling, numbness and pain in the affected nerves. This results in a sense of heaviness, weakness and fatigue which can be treated and prevented with Myotherapy. Most back problems can be treated without surgery and in many cases, Myotherapy helps prevent it.