Archive for the 'Low Back Pain' Category

Low Back Pain

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on March 19, 2013
in Aging, Cincinnati Chiropractors and Low Back Pain
. Closed

The causes of low back pain are many.

Low Back PainFinding the actual cause is very important. Typically, people do things that simply “numb” the problem. Numbing the problem however, with various medications only allows the problem to continue, ultimately causing more pain, disability and degeneration. A thorough history and examination with the appropriate diagnostic workup is necessary to find the actual cause of low back pain.

Below are several causes of low back pain:

• Poor Posture – Causes an improper loading of the spine. Improper spinal loading, forces weight to be placed on structures that were not designed to carry weight. This type of compensation ultimately causes pain. In the majority of cases, poor posture is a symptom of years of inadequate exercise and improper sitting postures both at home and at work. Watch your posture. Watch your children’s posture. I tell patients all the time that proper posture in children is critical. I have a saying I use all the time… As the twig is bent the tree shall grow.

• Disc problems – See Disc Problems

• Facet Syndrome – See Facet Syndrome

• Lumbar Subluxations – Misalignments or subluxations are the true enemy of the disc and spinal joints. When your spine becomes subluxated the disc’s normal pumping motion is reduced or in severe cases, completely eliminated due to loss of motion. This pumping motion is needed to pull in nutrients and eliminate waste in both the joints and the discs.

• Osteoarthritis – If the subluxation is not corrected, degenerative processes begin leading to osteoarthritis. This is a degeneration of both the disc and the spinal joints at that same level. Once this happens, the areas above and below the affected area have to compensate for the osteoarthritic area. Over time these areas will begin to become problematic also.

• Pelvic Problems – The pelvis is actually made up of three separate bones. Two side bones or iliums and a center bone called the sacrum. These bones come together and form joints. There are actually three joints in the pelvis. There is a single joint in the front of the pelvis and two in the rear. These joints allow motion to occur when we move and walk. On occasion these joints become misaligned or subluxated. When this happens the lower back can respond by tightening muscles, shifting vertebrae which in turn can cause a stretching of spinal joints. All produce pain.

Eight out of ten people in the Cincinnati area will experience back pain during their lifetime. There are really only two choices of treatment when it comes to back pain. 1) If you choose to treat the symptom you are allowing the problem to get worse. Remember… Eliminating the pain with drugs does not eliminate the problem. 2) If you choose to treat the cause you will be working on eliminating the problem for good. A large percentage of my practice is made up of people that have had low back pain.

Cincinnati Golfers’ Most Common Injuries

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on February 9, 2013
in Cincinnati Chiropractors, Conditions & Treatments, Fitness, Knee Pain, Low Back Pain and Sports Injuries
. Closed

Most Common Golf Injuries

What are the most common injuries suffered by golfers? How do you recognize them, what are the available treatments, and what are some ways you can minimize their impact? Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Foster is the author of “Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries,” and with his help, here are the conditions most likely to affect golfers. Click the links to Dr. Foster’s recap of each injury’s characteristics.

1. Back Pain

The golf swing (not to mention the hunched-over putting stance many of us get into) puts great stress on the golfer’s back, so it’s no surprise back pain is the most common problem for golfers. Back pain in golfers might be mechanical or disc-related, arthritis-related, or caused by a stress fracture, among other possible causes.

2. Tennis Elbow / Golfer’s Elbow

Tennis elbow is an inflammation, soreness, or pain on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow. Golfer’s elbow is an inflammation, soreness or pain on the inside of the upper arm near the elbow. Tennis elbow is actually more common among golfers than golfer’s elbow.

3. Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain in a golfer might be caused by any of several different underlying conditions, including: rotator cuff tendinitis, or a tear or impingement in the rotator cuff; A-C joint arthritis; or instability in the joint.

4. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress disorder that occurs in the nerves of the hands. At its worst, carpal tunnel is extremely painful and sometimes incapacitating.

5. DeQuervain’s Tendinitis

DeQuervain’s causes pain in the wrist near the base of the thumb, and is caused by an inflammation in the tendons that control the thumb.

6. Knee Pain

Knee pain in golfers can be caused by any of numerous underlying issues, among them: a torn meniscus; knee arthritis (osteoarthritis), or knee cap pain (chondromalacia).

7. Trigger Finger

Trigger finger can cause a finger or fingers to lock up. The condition is caused when the flexor tendon sheath, through which the finger tendons run, is inhibited.

8. Wrist Impaction Syndrome

Impaction syndromes of the wrist are caused when the bones of the wrist bang into one another due to excess or repetitive movements.

9. ECU Tendon Subluxation

ECU Tendon Subluxation is caused when the sheath holding the wrist tendon begins sliding in and out of its groove.

10. Fracture of Hamate Bone

The hamate bone is a small bone on the pinky side of the wrist. The hamate has a small prominence called the hook, which juts into the palm. The way most golfers grip their clubs puts the butt-end of the club right up against the hook of the hamate during the swing.

via Golf Injuries – Most Common Golf Injuries.

Cincinnati Chiropractor Choices

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on August 19, 2011
in Cincinnati Chiropractors, Low Back Pain and Wellness 101
. Closed

Making a Better Choice

If you live in the Cincinnati area, you have likely heard,  seen or received advertising from various Chiropractors.   The question is, if you need one, how do you choose one that is right for you? In this article, I’d like to share with you answers to some of the most common questions about Chiropractic Care, which will allow you to make a better choice.

I would like to begin by saying there is absolutely nothing mystical about chiropractic care, once you have a basic understanding of it.  In reality, Chiropractic makes more sense than many other forms of health care.

Chiropractic’s Philosophy is one that works “with” the body, not “against” it. Within you, there is a Life-Force, an intelligent energy, that runs and monitors “all” the processes of your body. Chiropractors have a name for this force, we call it the body’s “Innate-Intelligence.” This inborn intelligence has the ability to heal you and keep you healthy all the years of your life.

Like the front end of your car, the spine is also susceptible to misalignment problems.  When spinal misalignments occur, there is a disruption in the flow of this energy, allowing you to become susceptible to illness, injury and disease. Correcting spinal misalignments restores this intelligent flow of energy in your body, allowing you to regain your health.

A Chiropractor’s “primary function” is to correct  spinal misalingments.

People are always amazed how simple Chiropractic is once they understand it.  Yes, Chiropractic is simple, however, it is also extremely effective for a wide variety of health problems.

Ask Around!

Selecting a chiropractor should be no different than selecting a dentist, surgeon or accountant.  Do you have a friend that is currently going to a Chiropractor?  That is the best way to find a good one.  I never recommend yellow pages or other forms of advertising.  Remember, advertising (television, radio, printed ads or the “latest-marketing-gimmick” offering you a free dinner) is used to “entice” you to become a client. If you are looking to find the best deal on groceries or garden supplies, by all means check out local advertisers.  However, choosing a doctor should be a bit more contemplative.  Ask around, eventually you will hear one doctor’s name stand out above “all” the others.  Let that be your choice.

If your search for a chiropractor has brought you to my website, I would like to briefly tell you about my philosophy as a physician. First and foremost, my commitment has always been focused on one thing, Quality Patient Care. It is my belief, that the doctor patient relationship is critical when it comes to dealing with health problems. I’m dedicated to building a relationship with each of my patients, so that I can fine-tune my treatment to their individual needs.

Today’s health care arena offers many choices, if you choose my office; you will be educated, informed and respected.

Yours in Health, Naturally!

Dr. Gould

Back Surgery Should Be Your Last Resort!

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on August 4, 2010
in Drug-Free Approach, Low Back Pain and Sciatica
. Closed

Back Surgery

The facts are that four out of five adults experience back pain at some point during their lives and low back problems are the most frequent cause of disability in people under the age of 45 years of age. However, the unfortunate truth also is that while there are an estimated half million surgical procedures done each year on the back, most are either not needed or are unsuccessful in overcoming the health problem.

According to guidelines issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, a federal agency, only two percent of the people require surgery for back pain in the acute stage.

That’s why health authorities recommend that you explore “every option” before considering surgery. In this respect, Chiropractic Care, which incorporates spinal manipulations, is recognized as a highly effective method for treating back problems, without harmful drugs or potentially dangerous surgery.

It’s smart to be conservative when it comes to your health.  I’d be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding Chiropractic as an alternative to surgery.  If you would like a second opinion please call me.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Gould

Antalgic Spine

Published
by
Dr. Edward Gould
on February 27, 2008
in Cincinnati Chiropractors and Low Back Pain
. Closed

antalgic.bmpAntalgia! We have all seen this and some of us unfortunately have experienced it. So what exactly is an antalgic spine and what causes it? As the picture demonstrates, the spine takes on an abnormal curve. There are a variety of things that can initiate this, ranging from trying to lift something heavy to simply rolling over in bed. To say the least, it can be very frustrating. Not only is it unsightly but also very painful.

So what causes our spine to become antalgic? The simple explanation for this is weakness of the spinal muscles. Specifically the (paravertebral) muscles located on either side of the spine. This weakness allows more of the load of your body weight to be transferred away from the boney structures of the spine to the soft tissues around the spine. Specifically the disc.

A disc is made up of two parts. The ball like center is called the nucleus. Wrapping around the nucleus, in concentric rings, is a ligamentous structure called the annulus. By design, the disc allows the vertebra to tip on one another. This tipping allows us to bend in all directions.

Imagine watching two kids on a teeter-totter. When one goes up the other goes down. What allows this to occur is a center pivot point or fulcrum. The nucleus does the exact same thing, it allows the vertebra to tip or teeter on the other. When you bend to the right the nucleus actually shifts to the left in each disc. This causes a wedging of the disc. When you straighten back up the nucleus migrates back to the center.

The spine becomes antalgic when the nucleus does not migrate back to the center position. Within a short period of time the muscles that surround that area go into spasm which inturn causes more pain.

Correcting the problem requires isolating where it is occurring and then a series of spinal adjustments to reposition or center the nucleus. Once recentered, exercises are provided to strengthen the paravertebral musculature to prevent future occurrance.

I hope this has been helpful. If you should have a question or would like to make a comment please do so at the bottom of the page.

Yours in Health!

Dr. Gould