There are many things you can do to help your back that your doctor may or may not have mentioned to you. We realize that you have probably already educated yourself about the basics of back care, but the following points in particular bear repeating.

Get an accurate clinical diagnosis: A clinical diagnosis should rule out the possibility of rare but serious conditions (such as a tumor), categorize your condition, and determine if there are neurological deficits (nerve damage). It is based on a combination of the doctor’s findings on your diagnostic tests, your physical exam and symptoms, and is essential to determine appropriate treatment options for your back pain or neck pain. We offer a free spinal screening to help you understand what may be going on with your back.

Don’t smoke: People who smoke are more likely to have lower back pain and over 80% more likely to develop degenerative disc disease than non-smokers.

Exercise properly: Exercise provides the double-benefit of helping your back heal more quickly and helping prevent a recurrence of the back pain. A focused exercise program is a critical part of almost any back pain treatment, and should include a combination of stretching, strengthening and low-impact aerobic exercise. Exercise is important to continue even after you feel better to prevent future bouts of back pain.We offer information on proper back exercises at our clinic.

Consult a chiropractor.: Many people who suffer from ongoing back pain need to visit a spine specialist. Sometimes it will take a process of trial and error and seeing a health care professionals  several times before finding back pain relief and a treatment program that works for you. Also, try to be patient, because treating back pain takes time

Proactively manage your situation: We encourage you to proactively manage treatment for your back pain. This includes carefully preparing for your doctor visits, so that they are as productive and helpful as possible, and educating yourself with reliable information so you can ask the doctor the most useful questions. We treat hundreds of patients each week and we can tell you that our population has major back pain issues. We would be glad to help you get to the bottom of your back pain and design a treatment program to get results. We at McClellan Family Chiropractic want to help. Call us today 256-442-1441

Back Surgery Facts

You should know about back surgery, and be informed of the possible
downsides.

In a disc prolapse, what they usually do is fuse the vertebrae together.
They take out the cushion between the bones and put basically screw the two
vertebrae together.　 They sometimes will use different materials between the
bones to “cushion” them.　 There are many techniques that are used.

I have heard many stories from my patients.　 When you fuse the two vertebrae
together, that can put more pressure on the adjacent discs. This makes it
more possible to suffer a problem with those　 discs later.

Since back pain often comes from muscle spasms or tightness, the underlying
cause of the pain is not addressed.　 So your back can still hurt.  There are
other options to back surgery. One of them is Spinal Decompression.

We see dozens of patients each week who are being helped without surgery or
drugs. If you have serious back problems, please consider this cutting-edge
technology at The Decompression Center at McClellan Family Chiropractic.

We offer a free spinal screening and assessment to determine if you could
benefit from this treatment. Call 256-442-1441 for your appointment today.

Back Pain From Car Accidents

When you have a car accident, your body often is jolted forward and then
back again.　 All the muscles and tendons in your back can be stretched and
injured.　 Once the tissue is damaged, inflammation can set in.　 The muscles
can also react by going into a spasm.　 That is when the nerves are irritated
and that then results in the muscles going into a spasm.　 Once they start to
spasm, you will usually need intervention to stop the muscle spasms.

Sometimes after a car accident, the tissue damage is so severe that the
joints are thrown out of alignment.　 Even a very small movement of your
connective tissue can cause an inflammation in that joint and make it not
function normally.　 Stretching out your joints is very important to prevent
a permanent problem.

The sooner you get started with chiropractic, the better.　 The longer you
wait after a car accident, the longer the inflammation has a chance to cause
scar tissue and pain.　 Once the scar tissue builds up, it will take longer
to heal.　 Your body can still break down the scar tissue, but it takes a lot
longer.

Call us today so we can screen and assess your condition. We can’t help                                                                                 until you pick up that phone and call us at 256-442-1441.

Herniated Disc – Bulging Disc

Disc herniation is often caused by relative inactivity and then suddenly
lifting something heavy.  If you do not stretch and move your body at all,
the connective tissue is not lubricated and as flexible as it should be.
Your muscles are too tight and they are also too weak to lift heavy objects.
If your back muscles are weak, more pressure is put in the spine than if you
had a strong back.

When the disc herniates, or slips out, the lubrication inside the disc
capsule can leak onto the spinal nerves.  The nerves then get irritated,
then they cause the muscles to get tight or to spasm.

You can have a disc herniation and not feel pain.  You can also have pain,
but no disc herniation.  Many people have disc degeneration and do not even
know it.

 Slipped discs can be so bad that the normal nerve flow to the limbs is cut
off and you have a problem walking.  In my experience, slipped discs can be
one of the most painful things you can experience.

At The Decompression Center at McClellan Family Chiropractic, we have
brought to Etowah County, the latest technology on treating herniated and
bulging discs. Call us today to determine if you qualify for this
revolutionary spinal decompression therapy. We offer a free screening and
assessment. It costs nothing to call 256-442-1441 for your appointment. Do it today.

Quick tips to a healthier back

Following any period of prolonged inactivity, begin a program of regular
low-impact exercises. Speed walking, swimming, or stationary bike riding 30
minutes a day can increase muscle strength and flexibility. Yoga can also
help stretch and strengthen muscles and improve posture. Ask your physician
or orthopedist for a list of low-impact exercises appropriate for your age
and designed to strengthen lower back and abdominal muscles.

* Always stretch before exercise or other strenuous physical activity.
* Don’t slouch when standing or sitting. When standing, keep your
weight balanced on your feet. Your back supports weight most easily when
curvature is reduced.
* At home or work, make sure your work surface is at a comfortable
height for you.
* Sit in a chair with good lumbar support and proper position and
height for the task. Keep your shoulders back. Switch sitting positions
often and periodically walk around the office or gently stretch muscles to
relieve tension. A pillow or rolled-up towel placed behind the small of your
back can provide some lumbar support. If you must sit for a long period of
time, rest your feet on a low stool or a stack of books.
* Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
* Sleep on your side to reduce any curve in your spine. Always sleep
on a firm surface.
* Ask for help when transferring an ill or injured family member from
a reclining to a sitting position or when moving the patient from a chair to
a bed.
* Don’t try to lift objects too heavy for you. Lift with your knees,
pull in your stomach muscles, and keep your head down and in line with your
straight back. Keep the object close to your body. Do not twist when
lifting.
* Maintain proper nutrition and diet to reduce and prevent excessive
weight, especially weight around the waistline that taxes lower back
muscles. A diet with sufficient daily intake of calcium, phosphorus, and
vitamin D helps to promote new bone growth.
* If you smoke, quit. Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine
and causes the spinal discs to degenerate.

The staff of McClellan Family Chiropractic is dedicated to educating our
community on good health and safe living. Paying attention pays dividends! Call us at 256-442-1441 today.

Can back pain be prevented?

Recurring back pain resulting from improper body mechanics or other
nontraumatic causes is often preventable. A combination of exercises that
don’t jolt or strain the back, maintaining correct posture, and lifting
objects properly can help prevent injuries.

Many work-related injuries are caused or aggravated by stressors such as
heavy lifting, contact stress (repeated or constant contact between soft
body tissue and a hard or sharp object, such as resting a wrist against the
edge of a hard desk or repeated tasks using a hammering motion), vibration,
repetitive motion, and awkward posture. Applying ergonomic principles -
designing furniture and tools to protect the body from injury – at home and
in the workplace can greatly reduce the risk of back injury and help
maintain a healthy back. More companies and homebuilders are promoting
ergonomically designed tools, products, workstations, and living space to
reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury and pain.

The use of wide elastic belts that can be tightened to “pull in” lumbar and
abdominal muscles to prevent low back pain remains controversial. A landmark
study of the use of lumbar support or abdominal support belts worn by
persons who lift or move merchandise found no evidence that the belts reduce
back injury or back pain. The 2-year study, reported by the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in December 2000, found
no statistically significant difference in either the incidence of workers’
compensation claims for job-related back injuries or the incidence of
self-reported pain among workers who reported they wore back belts daily
compared to those workers who reported never using back belts or reported
using them only once or twice a month.

If you have back pain, let us check you out and assess your situation. Our
free screening is a phone call away. Make that call today! 256-442-1441.

What conditions are associated with low back pain?

Conditions that may cause low back pain and require treatment by a physician
or other health specialist include:

Bulging disc (also called protruding, herniated, or ruptured disc). The
intervertebral discs are under constant pressure. As discs degenerate and
weaken, cartilage can bulge or be pushed into the space containing the
spinal cord or a nerve root, causing pain. Studies have shown that most
herniated discs occur in the lower, lumbar portion of the spinal column.

Sciatica is a condition in which a herniated or ruptured disc presses on the
sciatic nerve, the large nerve that extends down the spinal column to its
exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibers to the leg. This
compression causes shock-like or burning low back pain combined with pain
through the buttocks and down one leg to below the knee, occasionally
reaching the foot. In the most extreme cases, when the nerve is pinched
between the disc and an adjacent bone, the symptoms involve not pain but
numbness and some loss of motor control over the leg due to interruption of
nerve signaling.

Spinal degeneration from disc wear and tear can lead to a narrowing of the
spinal canal. A person with spinal degeneration may experience stiffness in
the back upon awakening or may feel pain after walking or standing for a
long time.

Spinal stenosis related to congenital narrowing of the bony canal
predisposes some people to pain related to disc disease.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease marked by progressive decrease in
bone density and strength. Fracture of brittle, porous bones in the spine
and hips results when the body fails to produce new bone and/or absorbs too
much existing bone. Women are four times more likely than men to develop
osteoporosis. Caucasian women of northern European heritage are at the
highest risk of developing the condition.

Skeletal irregularities produce strain on the vertebrae and supporting
muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues supported by spinal column. These
irregularities include scoliosis, a curving of the spine to the side;
kyphosis, in which the normal curve of the upper back is severely rounded;
lordosis, an abnormally accentuated arch in the lower back; back extension,
a bending backward of the spine; and back flexion, in which the spine bends
forward.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread
musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple “tender points,” particularly in
the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Additional symptoms may include sleep
disturbances, morning stiffness, and anxiety.

Spondylitis refers to chronic back pain and stiffness caused by a severe
infection to or inflammation of the spinal joints. Other painful
inflammations in the lower back include osteomyelitis (infection in the
bones of the spine) and sacroiliitis (inflammation in the sacroiliac
joints).

If you, or someone you know is hurting, you　may be suffering from one of these conditions.

The best way to know is to be examined. We offer a free screening and assessment of your condition.

Call us today for an appointment. 256-442-1441.

What causes lower back pain?

As people age, bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to
decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which decreases
their ability to cushion the vertebrae.

Pain can occur when, for example, someone lifts something too heavy or
overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or
ligaments in the back. If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a
disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on one of
the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body
movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain. When these nerve
roots become compressed or irritated, back pain results.

Low back pain may reflect nerve or muscle irritation or bone lesions. Most
low 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. Additionally, scar tissue created when
the injured back heals itself does not have the strength or flexibility of
normal tissue. Buildup of scar tissue from repeated injuries eventually
weakens the back and can lead to more serious injury.

Occasionally, low back pain may indicate a more serious medical problem.
Pain accompanied by fever or loss of bowel or bladder control, pain when
coughing, and progressive weakness in the legs may indicate a pinched nerve
or other serious condition. People with diabetes may have severe back pain
or pain radiating down the leg related to neuropathy. People with these
symptoms should contact a doctor immediately to help prevent permanent
damage.

Who is most likely to develop low back pain?

Nearly everyone has low back pain sometime. Men and women are equally
affected. It occurs most often between ages 30 and 50, due in part to the
aging process but also as a result of sedentary life styles with too little
(sometimes punctuated by too much) exercise. The risk of experiencing low
back pain from disc disease or spinal degeneration increases with age.

Low back pain unrelated to injury or other known cause is unusual in
pre-teen children. However, a backpack overloaded with schoolbooks and
supplies can quickly strain the back and cause muscle fatigue. The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 13,260 injuries
related to backpacks were treated at doctors’ offices, clinics, and
emergency rooms in the year 2000. To avoid back strain, children carrying
backpacks should bend both knees when lifting heavy packs, visit their
locker or desk between classes to lighten loads or replace books, or
purchase a backpack or airline tote on wheels. We see many, many patients
with these problems every week. All of us at McClellan Family Chiropractic
are interested in your good health. Call 256-442-1441 any time if we may be of
service to you and your loved ones!

What structures make up the back?

The back is an intricate structure of bones, muscles, and other tissues that
form the posterior part of the body’s trunk, from the neck to the pelvis.
The centerpiece is the spinal column, which not only supports the upper
body’s weight but houses and protects the spinal cord – the delicate nervous
system structure that carries signals that control the body’s movements and
convey its sensations. Stacked on top of one another are more than 30 bones
- the vertebrae – that form the spinal column, also known as the spine. Each
of these bones contains a roundish hole that, when stacked in register with
all the others, creates a channel that surrounds the spinal cord. The spinal
cord descends from the base of the brain and extends in the adult to just
below the rib cage. Small nerves (“roots”) enter and emerge from the spinal
cord through spaces between the vertebrae. Because the bones of the spinal
column continue growing long after the spinal cord reaches its full length
in early childhood, the nerve roots to the lower back and legs extend many
inches down the spinal column before exiting. This large bundle of nerve
roots was dubbed by early anatomists as the cauda equina, or horse’s tail.
The spaces between the vertebrae are maintained by round, spongy pads of
cartilage called intervertebral discs that allow for flexibility in the
lower back and act much like shock absorbers throughout the spinal column to
cushion the bones as the body moves. Bands of tissue known as ligaments and
tendons hold the vertebrae in place and attach the muscles to the spinal
column.

Starting at the top, the spine has four regions:

* the seven cervical or neck vertebrae (labeled C1 – C7),
* the 12 thoracic or upper back vertebrae (labeled T1 – T12),
* the five lumbar vertebrae (labeled L1 – L5), which we know as the
lower back, and
* the sacrum and coccyx, a group of bones fused together at the base
of the spine.

The lumbar region of the back, where most back pain is felt, supports the
weight of the upper body. Don’t take any chances with your back and spine!
Come in today to our clinic and let us conduct a free examination and
assessment. You’ll be glad you did! Call 256-442-1441.

Neck pain is a fairly common condition. Most people will experience it at
some point in their lives with women reporting slightly higher instances of
chronic pain. Pain medication often is the first line of defense against
neck pain but it doesn’t solve the problem and many drugs carry the risk of
harmful side effects. Chiropractic treatment for neck pain is a non-invasive
and drug-free therapy.

The first thing a chiropractor will want to know during your visit is the
intensity and duration of your pain. Sometimes, the pain is merely a mild
nuisance but severe neck pain can cause serious impairment of your daily
activities. While mild to moderate pain is typically the temporary result of
poor posture or carelessness when performing daily activities, severe neck
pain can be a sign of a congenital defect such as scoliosis, an injury from
a recent accident, or progressive age-related deterioration.

Spinal manipulation and spinal adjustments are an important part of the
treatment program for chiropractic neck pain. This drug-free therapy simply
involves the chiropractor using his or her hands to treat subluxations. A
subluxation occurs when one or more vertebrae move out of position, thus
creating pressure and irritation near the spinal nerves. Spinal manipulation
and spinal adjustments can fix the subluxation, relieve pain in the soft
tissues, increase circulation, and stimulate the body’s nervous system.

Contrary to popular belief, spinal manipulation and spinal adjustments are
not painful. When you seek chiropractic treatment for neck pain, the
treatment is precise and gentle. Chiropractors are trained as experts in the
spine and how to manually return motion to restricted spinal joints.

After spinal manipulation or spinal adjustments, or your
chiropractor may recommend that you use an ice pack on your neck to further
control inflammation. This cold therapy can be completed at home and is an
excellent supplement to traditional chiropractic treatment for neck pain.

Once your chiropractor has helped to get your neck pain under control, he or
she may suggest exercise, diet, or lifestyle changes to improve your range
of motion, strengthen muscles, and prevent a painful relapse. Our　 McClellan
Family Chiropractic Clinic offers all these treatment protocols, and more.
We really believe ” that the Power that made the body can heal the body.”

Call us today for a free spinal screening and let us help you heal
naturally. Call 256 442 1441.