You’ve probably heard people mention they have a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back “went out”. What they’re most likely describing is a herniated disc. This painful condition is a common source of back and leg pain.

Discs are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of your spinal column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the spinal cord. The nerves that supply your arms, legs, and torso come from the spinal cord.

The nerves from your neck supply your arms and hands, and the nerves from your lower back supply the butt and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow your back to move freely and act like shock absorbers.

Your disc in your back is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the outer wall but doesn’t completely go through the wall.

What do you feel?

Low back pain in mid-Michigan will affect four out of five people during their lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc and probably the most painful is “sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on your sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord.

Other symptoms include:

• Weakness in one leg or both legs

• Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)

• A burning pain centered in the low back

• Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)

• Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain. (If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)

Your medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected (and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which of your disc has herniated.

Discs in your back are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so your discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When your disc becomes smaller, the space between your vertebrae decreases and becomes narrower. Also, as your disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.

While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of the discs in your back, the primary cause of a herniation or bulge is uneven compression and torsion that’s placed on the discs.

This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what is referred to as a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.

When it comes to treating your herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary, if at all.

But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can’t fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some back pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.

Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.

So, unless you have a doctor or physical therapist that does spend some time and focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition, most people will just end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions beforehand that are causing your pain as part of your recovery.

Colestock Family Chiropractic specializes in using the Activator Method Technique to pinpoint those problem areas. It’s a very targeted and painless approach to back pain relief. Stop in our give us a call to schedule an appointment at 517.663.8825.

To ease, remove and prevent your sciatica, you must address all the factors causing it. Sciatica is created by four main factors:

- tight muscles (especially your Piriformis muscle)
- weak muscles
- joint movement
- pelvic balance.

The tight muscles need to be stretched. Stretching effectively is the KEY, you need to know what to stretch, but knowing how and when to stretch are more important.

The goal of stretching is to ease muscles, stretching effectively means you can do this almost overnight. The main muscles to target are your Hip Flexors, Hamstrings and especially your Piriformis. But please do not stretch until you complete the first step below.

You must strengthen weak muscles, however before you exercise the muscle, you need to improve the nerve and blood supply to the muscles. If the supply is poor, exercise will not strengthen the muscle enough to remove pain.

A good nerve and blood supply also allows the muscle to maintain it’s structural support, which is needed for long term results to avoid low back pain.

Joints need to move freely, and you can learn some simple self adjusting techniques to accomplish this. Your pelvis is the most important factor. If your pelvis is out of balance, joints will slow in motion, muscles will tire and tighten. It is your pelvis that is the vital area to target to relieve sciatica pain.

Your sciatica pain relief specialist in Mid Michigan is Colestock Family Chiropractic in the Eaton Rapids community utilizing the Activator Method Technique. You can click on the “about us” link over in the right column or at the top for more information on hours and payment policies.

If you’ve ever experienced really painful lower back pain and you just can’t hold back a sneeze or a cough….hang on because you’re about to drop to your knees in pain.

That’s no exaggeration.

If your lower back hurts when sneezing, then the chances are the problem will be related to nerves as they emerge from a previous back injury or structural abnormality. The discs, which separate each of the backbones or vertebrae, can push out or prolapse, putting pressure on the spinal cord. Any sudden movement can cause pain, thus the lower back hurts when sneezing. Kind of like a really bad toothache that occurs when you bite down wrong and touch the nerve sending you into screaming mode.

Coughing and sneezing can take a toll on your sore low back. Rapid trunk flexion and forceful abdominal pressure, which are common during a violent coughing spell or sneeze, can actually herniate a weakened spinal disc. Positioning your back before you cough or sneeze may protect your back from pain and further injury.

Just before you cough or sneeze, lean back slightly while placing one hand behind your back for support. At the very moment you cough or sneeze, bend your knees slightly. Another way is to place your back against a wall or door jamb as a way to keep your back straight so it doesn’t lurch forward when you cough or sneeze. And sneeze or cough “upward” which relieves pressure on your lower spine and back.

A forceful cough or sneeze can cause low back pain to flare up. It can also put a weakened disc at risk of injury. Take a few seconds to position your back before coughing or sneezing.

Follow the advice of your doctor and therapist for best results.

Staying in proper alignment will prevent you from having recurring setbacks and being immobilized with pain for days or weeks at a stretch. Your back determines your mobility and if your upper or lower back is a hurtin’, you’re not going to have a very good day.

Here’s some proper body mechanics that if you adhere to will minimize your setbacks and keep you feeling as well as you should be.

When Standing

- Place feet shoulder width apart, don’t lock your knees;
- Avoid arching your lower back or slumping your upper back and shoulders;
- Keep your breastbone up, shoulder blades down;
- Keep your chin level, relax jaw and neck muscles.

When Sitting

- Rest your feet on floor with knees and hips bent 90 degrees;
- Maintain a neutral arch in your lower back;
- Keep your breastbone up, shoulder blades down;
- Keep your chin level, relax jaw and neck muscles

When Driving

- Adjust your seat so that the back is vertical. Your back should be supported by the seat back and your head should rest against headrest with your chin level;
- Knees should be bent, and at least at the same height as your hips;
- Elbows should be slightly bent and relaxed, with your shoulders down.

When Sleeping

- Use a firm mattress. Placing a board between the mattress and box spring can provide a temporary fix for one that is sagging.
- Lie on your back or side. When lying on the side, a pillow between the knees helps maintain a neutral spine. This will make a world of difference.
- Use a cervical roll (a foam roll or a folded pillow will do just fine) to support the natural curves in your neck or low back.

Whether you’re suffering from acute back pain, upper back pain, lower back pain, any sort of back pain at all, remember your back care specialist in Mid-Michigan is Colestock Family Chiropractic in Eaton Rapids.

Unlike typical chiropractors, Dr Denise from Colestock Family Chiropractic uses the painless procedure called the Activator Method Technique where she is able to pin-point your problem area and alleviate the pain without the “snap, crackle and pop” most chiropractors specialize in.

A no pain visit and you’ll walk out feeling much better for it.

So the next time you need some back pain relief give Colestock Family Chiropractic a call at 517.663.8825 and schedule yourself a quality body and back re-alignment with the Activator Method Technique. Walk-in’s are welcome.

Serving the Eaton Rapids community and Mid-Michigan since 2003.

So the new year is here and you’ve decided to finally get to the bottom of your lower back pain that has been nagging you for way to long.

Once and for all you’re finally going to do something about it.

The first step is understanding the various causes of low back pain and learning a little bit about the normal design anatomy of the tissues in this area of your body.

Important structures of the low back that can be related to symptoms there include the bony lumbar spine vertebrae, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area. Many muscle groups that are responsible for flexing, extending, and rotating the waist, as well as moving the lower extremities, attach to the lumbar spine through tendon insertions.

Fortunately, most occurences of low back pain go away within a few days. Most lower back pain follows injury or trauma to the back, but pain may also be caused by degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital abnormalities in the spine.

Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress, poor physical condition, posture inappropriate for the activity being performed, and poor sleeping position also may contribute to low back pain.

Nearly everyone has low back pain sometime. The risk of experiencing low back pain from disc disease or spinal degeneration increases with age.

Exercise may be the most effective way to speed recovery from low back pain and help strengthen back and abdominal muscles. (Read elsewhere on this website about proper back exercises)

Most low back pain is triggered by some combination of overuse, muscle strain, and injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine. When low back pain strikes, we become acutely aware of just how much we rely on a flexible, strong back. The causes of low back pain tend to be interrelated.

Just What Are the Low Back Pain Symptoms?

The term “low back pain” is used to describe a spectrum of symptoms. Depending on the cause, low back pain may be dull, burning, or sharp, covering a broad area or confined to a single point. Leg symptoms can be caused by lower spine problems that place pressure on a nerve to the leg; they can occur on their own or along with low back pain. Your health professional can assess acute low back pain by talking to you about your medical history and your work and physical activities, and doing a simple physical examination. However, some episodes of low back pain are signs of more serious conditions. Low back pain can result from something simple, like cleaning house or lifting a heavy box, or it can be caused by a diagnosable spine condition like a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease.

Effective pain relief may involve a combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies including BioFreeze (a product Colestock Family Chiropractic endorses and carries). Some type of Lumbar Support is also important for constant support for low back pain.

The vast majority of lower back pain conditions will eventually get better with time and can be addressed with non-surgical treatments, such as osteopathic or gentle chiropractic care such as the Activator Method Technique, physical therapy, pain medications, etc.. Low back pain responds very well to appropriate conservative treatment such as physical therapy with the Activator Method; along with proper medication which can be prescribed by your physician.

If you’re experiencing any kind of lower back pain and reside within driving distance of Mid-Michigan, contact Colestock Family Chiropractic in Eaton Rapids at 517.663.8825 to schedule an appointment today. As one of only a few thousand proficient-rated professionals in the entire world using the Activator Method Technique, Dr Denise Colestock is only a phone call away in alleviating your lower back pain in Mid-Michigan.