N E W S L E T T E R
6 BACK CONDITIONS NOT TO IGNORE
column, are the major muscle groups usually involved in lower back injury.
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There are many different back conditions, but here are a few common ones:
5. Fractures: These are due to trauma, or sometimes occur without any injury in people with osteoporosis.
1. Lumbar or sacral radiculopathy: The result of pressure on a nerve exiting the spine. Pain, numbness and tingling can be felt down in different parts of the leg.
6. Spinal cord compression: This is unusual, but very worrisome andmaybe associatedwithweakness and loss of bowel/bladder control. Medication and Bed Rest Most lowerback pain sufferers tryoverthe counterdrugs and bed rest. However, most self-remedieswill not provide the relief thatyou need. In fact, bed rest is thewrong thing to do, because it can weaken the spinal muscles further. Weakness in the spinal muscles is one of themain reasons for low back pain and puts you at risk for injuring your back with common activities such as lifting, bending or squatting. Most of us sit too much and this contributes to severe weakening of the back and torso muscles which are needed for a healthy back.
2. Sciatica: This comes from compression of the sciatic nerve byamuscle called the piriformis, deep in the buttock. Symptoms can radiate down the buttock and leg.
3. Spinal stenosis: This is a narrowing of the bonyspinal canalwhich causes rubbing orpressure on nerves. Central canal stenosis is quite serious as it presses upon the spinal cord.
4. Lumbar sprain/strain: This is a common cause of low back pain due to injury of muscles and tendons.The rows of muscles that run up and down the sides of the spinal
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