Category: Back Pain & Sciatica
-
Menopasue is Associated With Disc Degeneration
As if menopause didn’t come with enough problems, now we see that there is probably another issue women have to deal with. In a study published in the journal Climacteric, the authors concluded that, “Menopause is associated with disc degeneration in the lumbar spine. The association almost entirely occurred in the first 15 years since menopause, suggesting estrogen…
-
Employers Need Chiropractic First and Sooner
From the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine comes a study that gives excellent direction to employers (and insurers) regarding the management of low back problems (LBP).1 The authors analyzed databases belonging to a large, self-insured company over the course of nine years to evaluate the direct and indirect costs of LBP for the company’s…
-
Effect of Weather on Back Pain
Contrary to what a lot of patients say, this article says that weather does not seem to increase the risk of a low back pain episode. ~ Dr. Broussard Effect of Weather on Back Pain: Results From a Case‐Crossover Study – Full Text Article Arthritis Care and Research Daniel Steffens First published: 10 July 2014…
-
Epidural Injections for Spinal Stenosis – Steroids vs. Lidocaine
It appears that epidural injections for spinal stenosis using steroids is NOT BETTER than just using lidocaine alone. A Randomized Trial of Epidural Glucocorticoid Injections for Spinal Stenosis – Full Text Article July 3, 2014 N Engl J Med 2014; 371:11-21 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1313265 Abstract BACKGROUND Epidural glucocorticoid injections are widely used to treat symptoms of…
-
Pain Journal Hurts Back Pain Outcomes
In this study, the people who kept a journal about their back pain experienced a reduced rate of recovery compared to people who did not keep a journal. This may mean that if we don’t focus on our pain, maybe we will be better off. ~ Dr. Broussard Rheumatol Int. 2015 Jan;35(1):55-9. doi: 10.1007/s00296-014-3082-3. Epub…
-
Low Back Pain During Pregnancy Responds To Chiropractic Care
This article concluded that most pregnant patients undergoing chiropractic treatment reported clinically relevant improvement at all time points of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 m onths and 1 year. Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: a prospective cohort study with short term, medium term and 1 year follow-up…
-
The Low Back – Foot Connection
Leg length inequality and flat-feet can be an underlying cause of back pain. Sometimes shoe inserts, known as orthotics, can help correct poor foot posture and take pressure off the low back. Sometimes, I prescribe foot exercises in order to try to strengthen the muscles of the foot itself to help with foot posture. The…
-
What is the Best “Dose” of Chiropractic Type Treatment for Chronic Back Pain?
For people with chronic back pain (pain for more than 12 weeks), 12 chiropractic type treatments over 6 weeks provided the most cost effective relief. ~ Dr. Broussard Cost analysis related to dose-response of spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain: outcomes from a randomized controlled trial – Full Text Article J Manipulative Physiol…
-
Spinal Stabilization Exercises Help Back Pain Due To Degenerative Disc Disease
Spinal stabilization exercises are effective for reducing pain in people with back pain due to degenerative disc disease. I have a set of “Core Stabilization Exercises” that you can download on my Exercise Instructions page on this website. ~ Dr. Broussard Effects of Spinal Stabilization Exercise on the Cross-sectional Areas of the Lumbar Multifidus and…
-
Why do some intervertebral discs degenerate, when others (in the same spine) do not?
This article discusses the process of disc degeneration and the reasons discs degenerate. The good news is that they conclude that moderate mechanical loading, strengthens all spinal tissues. ~ Dr. Broussard Clin Anat. 2015 Mar;28(2):195-204. doi: 10.1002/ca.22404. Epub 2014 Apr 19. Adams MA Abstract This review suggests why some discs degenerate rather than age normally.…