The two main causes of Sacroiliac Pain:
1. Trauma – Due to lifting, slipping, or sudden unexpected movements.
2. Poor Posture – Due to occupation (improper workstation fit) or bad habits. It can take years in some cases for pain to manifest from postural problems.
How do I know that the pain is coming from my Sacroiliac Joint?
This question can only be answered after a thorough history has been taken, followed by an examination and the appropriate diagnostics. In many instances, an individual suffering from a sacroiliac problem will have trouble turning over in bed or getting out of a chair.
My treatment goals for patients with sacroiliac problems:
1. Pain reduction.
2. Stabilizing the patient’s posture.
3. Restoring normal function to the patient’s sacroiliac joints.
4. Creating an exercise regiment to help prevent future problems.
Sacroiliac problems are very common. I tend to see more of this type of problem in the spring and the fall, usually from sports in the springtime and yard work in the fall. So if you live in the greater Cincinnati area and feel like you may have a sacroiliac problem, give me a call.
In a Pilot Study Conducted at the University of Chicago
A one-time specialized chiropractic adjustment, delivered to patients suffering from high blood pressure and misaligned C1 vertebrae (this is the first vertebrae located directly under your skull), resulted in significant reductions in diastolic and systolic BP compared to controls.
According to a press release from the University of Chicago Medical Center, Office of Public Affairs, the decrease in BP was equivalent to that seen with concurrent administration of two blood pressure drugs. None of the patients took any antihypertensive medications during the study period.
Half of the 50 patients received a specific C1 adjustment, while the remaining half received a sham procedure, carefully designed to mimic the actual adjustment in order to ensure blinding. This was possible due to the delicate nature of the C1 adjustment. The primary outcome measure, assessed after eight weeks, was change in systolic and diastolic BP compared to baseline readings. Average age of the study participants was 52.7 years; 70 percent were male.
Chiropractic has always been and will always be about normalizing the body’s function.
Yours in Health!
Dr. Gould
It all started with lower back pain
I thought the pain would go away. Then over time, the pain started radiating down into my buttock and lower leg. Does this describe your problem? If so, know that you are not alone. This is one of the most common complaints I hear from patients while taking their history.
So why does this happen?
There are a variety things that can cause this. However, in each case, it is due to nerves being irritated or compressed. In the majority of instances this type of a problem begins as a mechanical problem. What do I mean by a mechanical problem? Simply put, our spine and pelvis are made up of many parts. Parts that not only fit together in a very specific way but also allow movement. Each part is connected to the other by ligaments. The ligaments not only hold everything together but allow a certain amount of motion. On occasion, due to trauma, repetitive activities or simply weakness due to a poor fitness level the parts of our spine and pelvis can shift outside of their normal position. When this happens, the ligaments become inflamed and due to their proximity to neurological structure put pressure on these structures. Where this happens will determine a patients pain pattern. In the leg, pain can occur on the front, side or back. It can occur in the upper leg, lower leg and foot. In fact, the term sciatica is often used for pain that radiates into the leg. Sciatica is actually graded due to severity. Pain into the buttock is called primary sciatica. Pain that continues through buttock into the thigh area, is called secondary sciatica. Pain that continues through the buttock and thigh area and into the lower leg and foot is called tertiary sciatica. As a general rule, the further down the pain goes in the leg the more serious the case.
Is this problem correctable?
In the majority of instances the answer yes! The first thing we need to do is to find out exactly where in your spine the problem is originating from. Once we find the problem area, we work on correcting the faulty position and mechanics. As you begin to heal, you will notice the pain will begin to retrace. I tell my patients it’s like playing the movie backwards. The last pain you had to show up will be the first thing to go away. Example: A person starts out with lower back pain that eventually goes into their buttock and then down the back of their leg to just above the knee. Once I begin treating them the pain will move up until it is no longer in the leg. Then it will move out of the buttock and only in the lower back. Finally, the lower back pain will be gone.
If you are suffering with lower back and leg pain and live in the Cincinnati area give me a call. Life is too short to be encumbered by pain.
I hope this post was helpful.
Yours in health,
Dr. Gould
This is a very sharp pain
Most patients describe it as knife-like pain. Why does this occur? A little anatomy will help you to understand this. Each rib actually attaches to the spine in two different locations. At each site of attachment, a joint is formed allowing movement. Yes, the ribs move. If it weren’t for this movement, we could not take a breath or bend in this area. Because of these joints, certain movements can create problems. Typically, “extreme” twisting of the upper body will cause these joints to become misaligned or subluxated. When this happens the ligaments that surround the joints (joint capsule) become stretched and on occasion pulled inside the joint allowing the capsule to be pinched. This is what causes that horrible knife-like pain. Treating this requires a thorough understanding of the anatomy in this area and the skill to adjust the rib head(s) back into their proper location.
Rib head pain, if not treated properly will become chronic. If you are experiencing this type of pain and you live in the Cincinnati area, give me a call and schedule an exam. Allowing this condition to become chronic is a mistake that all regret.
I hope this post was helpful.
Dr. Gould
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