Back pain maybe referred to the hip, groin, buttocks, the leg and foot as sciatica. The main cause of lower back pain are muscular weakness and postural strains due to sitting too much, lack of exercise, leg length differences, trauma or over exercise.
Sometimes it is the cushion between the vertebra (disc) which bulge (HERNIA) and compress nerves.
Cervicogenic headaches are the most common type of headaches. Originating in the upper neck due to mechanical dysfunction or fixation of the occipital area and cervical joints irritating the nerves C1 – C3, ligaments and muscles.
Cervical spondylosis, arthrosis, trigger points in the cervical and shoulder muscles , poor posture during work or sleep can be causative factors.
Whiplash describes the rapid forceful movement of the neck backwards and forwards which occur most commonly in ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, sports injuries or falls.
Excessive force to the spine can cause inflammation, misalignments and hyper mobility of any spinal joints from the top of your neck to the coccyx.
Some of the more common symptoms are :
- Pain in the neck, arms, shoulders and hands.
- Headaches and lower back pain.
- Blurred vision, irritability, fatigue, nausea, tinnitus, dizziness and jaw or face pain.
Think of your body as a building. If the structure is not strong enough the building will fall down. You need to establish a balance between weights, forces and tensions within the body, which means checking your total body mechanics, developing the proper muscular strengths and understanding the correct postures you need to be in.
Neck pain, often with referred shoulder and arm pain can be caused by injury , trapped nerves, herniated discs or mechanical, muscular or due to osteoarthritis of facet joints.
Trauma , anxiety ,awkward sleeping positions and prolonged , poor postures at computers are a common causes.
Car accidents involving whiplash can result in acute and chronic neck pain.
1. Frozen shoulder: This effects the shoulder joint’s mobility producing stiffness and pain ,and usually occurs between the ages of 40 to 60.
2. Subacromial impigment: The tendons of the rotator cuff pass beneath the acromion of the shoulder. Overuse can cause inflammation and will produce pain on raising the arm.
3. Rotator cuff injury: The tendons may tear or become chronically inflamed from acute injury or repetitive strain
4. Sholuder dislocation: The shoulder is a ball and socket joint and can easily be dislocated. If the ligaments or capsule stretch or the labrum (a thick rim of tissue that deepens the socket) is torn then the joint may partially or fully dislocate.
Not all cases of dizziness or vertigo originate in the inner ear or have an arterial pathology. Proprioreceptive nerve receptors in the cervical spine and supporting muscles should be considered.
Computer and laptop work with long hours and poor posture is a common cause of rib and chest pain. Severe referred rib pain to the side and front of your chest can be caused by nerve and muscle inflammation to the facet joints in your middle back, Rhomboid muscles or ligaments between your shoulder blades or from nerves in your lower neck or mid back. It can be aggravated by breathing in, coughing, lifting, twisting or side bending of the neck, spine or rib cage.
True Sciatic or sciatic nerve pain involves the posterior aspect of the thigh, calf or foot and is caused by irritation or compression of a branch of the sciatic nerve, the main nerve into the leg.
Pain may originate where the nerves pas through or emerge from the Lumbar spine or as the nerve passes through the Piriformis muscles in the leg. There maybe numbness or weakness of the lower leg muscles or loss of reflexes.
Sciatic leg pain is often combined with lower back pain. The order in which they appear may vary. Back pain often proceeds leg pain and sometimes will follow.
