| Treating and preventing lower back pain |
|
| Written by Christina Hession | |
| Wednesday, 24 January 2007 | |
Simple tips for lifting, sitting and performing household duties go a
long way to keeping low back pain under control, Galway Chiropractor Dr
Brian Johnson tells Christina Hession Most people have developed low back pain that interferes with their work, routine daily activities, or recreation at some point in their lives. It can be a disabling and recurring source of pain for an individual and a significant source of frustration.However, in most cases, low back pain isn't something that has developed over night. Galway chiropractor Dr Brian Johnson says that patients often tell him they have suffered minor bouts of low back pain in the past that developed into severe back pain when they did an everyday task, such as bending down to pick up a pencil or put on their shoes. "These light lifts alone, obviously, aren't strenuous enough to cause damage, but instead act as 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. This condition has slowly built up over months or years and has finally reached the point where it can no longer be ignored," he says. In many cases of low back pain, the root of the pain is a 'slipped' or 'herniated disc', which, if severe enough, can cause pain down the legs, known as 'sciatica'. In the past, the treatment of low back pain consisted of a combination of bed rest and painkillers, with minimal long-term effect. However, Dr Johnson says there has been a change of approach. "A lot of important research has been done on low back pain in the past decade and the advances made in terms of treatment have been tremendous. Patients that have been suffering for years are finally able to get back to leading a normal, pain-free life," he says. Typically, chiropractors perform adjustments to the spine, applying pressure in specific areas of the back in order to encourage proper movement and reduce pain. In addition, Dr Johnson stresses the importance of addressing the muscular aspect of low back pain. "With most cases of low back pain, there is usually some degree of muscle damage involved. If tight muscles are not released, everything will be pulled right back into place," he says. "I find that by addressing the muscular component at the same time, pain levels drop faster and results last longer," he adds. Once the pain is under control, the chiropractor can then begin to introduce specific exercises to help strengthen the low back and teach the patient what they can do in order to prevent the problem from returning. "A huge part of my job is patient education. A patient who has a thorough understanding of what caused their problem in the first place will be much better equipped to prevent it from happening again in the future. Simple tips for lifting, sitting and household duties go a long way to keeping low back pain under control," he says. As an example, for people desk-bound during the day, Dr Johnson suggests getting up at least once an hour to take the stress off the low back and varying your sitting position every 20 to 30 minutes to avoid excessive low back strain. Other common conditions that Dr Johnson treats include neck and shoulder pain, tension headaches and a variety of sports injuries. "Chiropractors are known as 'back doctors', but we actually treat any condition involving muscles and joints. Many common health complaints are due to chronic tightness in various muscles and their effect on the structure of the body. "By releasing these muscles and freeing up the joints of the spine they attach to, people have been able to find relief from complaints that have been nagging at them for years," he says. Dr Johnson has been practicing as a chiropractor with fellow chiropractor Dr Shawn Toner in Galway since relocating from Toronto, Canada two years ago. His eight years of educational training include four years of Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia, followed by four years of Chiropractic study at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto. For more information, contact City Chiropractic on 091-567 055, or visit their website: www.citychiropractic.ie. He is also an avid marathon runner and leads a running group from the surgery on Thursday nights. Local runners are welcome to attend. |
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