Why you get back and neck spine pain
With our hectic modern lifestyle, there can be so many reasons why we don’t have a healthy spine and as a result suffer back and neck pain. As I have explored in my previous articles, keeping healthy involves four key things; state of mind, diet, exercise and posture.
The spinal cord and nerve roots are housed in a bony structure, the spine, to minimise fraying and compression to sensitive neural structures, further protected by cushioning discs and strong muscles.
If you are unable to eat a healthy diet or have chronic stress, the gut cannot absorb nutrients effectively. The body then starts to crave these missing nutrients and literally rapes the spinal bones of minerals to sustain the vital organs. This accelerates wear and tear in the small finely chiseled spinal facet joints that allow us to twist and turn. They become prematurely arthritic and fire off pain receptors.
Daily impacts due to heavy footsteps on solid surfaces, cause faster wear and tear. Furthermore with sustained poor posture in walking and sitting, amplified by not drinking enough water, the cushioning discs will crack and bulge. Then the fragile nerves are put at further risk by weak muscles. They turn into sensitive dysfunctional nerves which cause muscle contractures, accelerating arthritis, disc damage and general aging.
Hence the way we move will affect the harmonious flow of movement up through all the small joints in the spine. The correct structural alignment of feet, legs, pelvis and spine is very important, especially if you are very active and sporty. The science of how we move is called biomechanics, a physical expression of health, and a predictor of future problems.
So many times symptoms appear totally unrelated to the spine and yet unless recognized and treated the culprit lies dormant and the problem keeps reoccurring. Many times the symptoms of pain, numbness, weakness and pins and needles can be anywhere else in the body but the spine. So often, seemingly unrelated painful conditions such as osteoarthritis, tendinitis or unrelenting sports injury can only be resolved specialist neuropathic treatment to the spine. I firmly believe if anyone has a problem anywhere in the body the neural link to the spine must be assessed. Furthermore with shortened muscles compressing nerves such as sciatica in the leg, or brachialgia in the arm, the best way to quickly release the tight muscle contractures is with laser and a specialist pain treatment called Gunn IMS. We are the only centre in Europe to offer teaching internships in IMS pain relief, after being awarded the highest accolade in treatment and lecturing internationally on this subject.
We very much embrace this approach in the clinic, with our specific diagnostic physical and functional tests . We may also need to arrange an MRI to look inside the spine, and if we want to know if the bone or cartilage cells are healthy enough to repair and hydrated now we have leading technology to tell us.
It’s so exciting the way science is progressing, as now it is possible to repair sports injuries and arthritis at the cellular level. German scientists have pioneered a therapeutic version of MRI that can regenerate cartilage and bone cells throughout the body, including the disc and spine. Following a visit to the German research facility with our inhouse surgeon, we are proud to have joined over 150 European orthopaedic consultants who have helped over 150,000 patients with this non invasive technology.
Fitness & Exercise Pillar
I believe fitness and wellness go hand-in-hand. When our bodies are fit it anchors a sound mind. The pleasure from moving effortlessly envelopes the mind in bliss. This leaves our mind free to concentrate on the pleasures of life.
So how can you achieve a fit body with a busy lifestyle? You need to understand how much movement your body craves and when to rest if fatigue hits.
5 Top Tips to Everyday Fitness
- If you drive a car for more than half an hour, park away from your destination and walk briskly, swinging your arms. This will ease the pressure on your spinal discs, loosen stiffened joints and improve blood flow.
- If you work at a desk, swap your chair for a fit ball. The small movements keep your mind focused and your spine healthy.
- At least ten times a day take three deep breathes. This improves blood flow and sends signals to the brain to reduce the stress chemistry.
- By adding in a pilates move of gently pulling in the stomach button to the spine or slow outbreathes, you boost your core postural muscles.
- Follow a weekly plan of activity, like mine listed below. If you wish to achieve a steady progression of fitness , or get fit for a holiday or sports activity, as the guidance of a fitness instructor, ask ….. at the clinic.
Example of My Summer 7 Day Programme – suitable for those working full-time
Sat/Sun Power walk or cycle outside for at least half an hour to two hours if not exercising at a gym.
Monday/Wed/Fri Resistive exercises in gym with weights for 45 mins. Fast swim for 30 mins.
Tues/Thur Fit ball, stretches and core work-out for 30 mins at home.
We march into joint problems with innocent ignorance. A poor diet full of processed sugar, excess fat, caffeine and alcohol, leading to obesity, compounded by poor posture and footwear. These dark winter days we rarely get the correct amount of exercise to protect our joints, putting our bodies through repeated stresses and strains with weak muscles. On top of this it is difficult to keep a positive mindset with such negative world news.
No wonder arthritis creeps in.
My patients often ask if they have arthritis and what type. They often think that fibromyalgia is a form of arthritis.
Broadly speaking there are two kinds; osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis(RA). An examination by your physiotherapist or GP with xrays and bloods, should determine which it is.
OA, the most common type, is wear and tear in the smooth cartilage protecting the bones in joints, which eventually leads to bone erosion, bone spurs and unsightly bony end thickening. The joint juice, the synovial fluid, swells and becomes inflamed and sticky. The attacked bone haemorrages precious calcium. By 50 years old 8 out of 10 of us have OA and by 60, 9 out of 10. Left untreated, OA can have a massive negative impact on quality of life and eventually need surgery. When bone is very fragile, it becomes osteoporotic and breaks easily. By the age of 70, 1 in 3 ladies suffer this.
Clearly, for everyone, it is well worth investing time to prevent the worst. I have mild OA in my right knee following surgery and if I follow the plan enclosed, I keep the symptoms at bay.
RA is totally different to OA, whereby the malfunctioning of the immune system is self destructive to joints and muscles. It is linked to genetic makeup and believed to be triggered by a viral attack.
I am frequently asked about Fibromyalgia, but this is not arthritic or inflammatory. The symptoms of fatigue, sleepless nights and muscle pain are believed to be a malfunction of the mitochondria energy processing system in the cell.
Action Plan
Exercise regulary every 48 hours, include gentle exercise like Tai Chi or Yoga when you are feeling sore and stressed up, and try to exercise outside to get your daily sunshine, vital for vitamin D.
Consult a nutritionalist to check for food allergies and consider a liver function test. Many natural products support the liver, milk thistle, artichoke and dandelion.
Increase fruit and vegetable intake, especially raw. Best for arthritis are; carrots, green peppers, watercress, tomatoes, beetroot, berries, grapes, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and kale.
Eat less red meat, dairy, sugar laden and deep fryed food, drink less alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
Increase water, ionised if possible.
Consider supplementing, check with a nutritionalist. I take high quality antioxidants, minerals and Omega 3 & 6 every day. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are very important for arthritis.
For fibromyalgia, 5 HTP can help sleep, try malic acid with magnesium for pain and to boost ATP energy cycle, manganese and coenzyme Q10.
Check your blood sugar level. Vitamins C,E, manganese and chromium can help with this.
Menopause can increase the problems with arthritis and fragile bones. Mineral uptake can be poorer, vitamin D low in winter, hormone levels of oestrogen and progesterone and parathyroid can be out of kilter. There are great self help books out there, and your GP can advise you on your hormones and bone density.
If pain worsens on walking, consider a biomechanical check for your footwear.
For preventive treatment ask us about on the revolutionary German MBST technology that repairs and regrows cartilage and bone cells for osteoarthritic and osteoporotic sufferers.
Suitable Therapies
For RA( rheumatoid arthritis): laser, acupuncture, physiotherapy and massage
For Fibromyalgia: the above plus Gunn IMS dry needling.
For Osteoarthritis: in addition to all the above, shockwave is excellent.
If you would like help, please contact Nicky Snazell Clinic, 01889 881488.
Optimum Health – Your Route to a Healthier & Longer Life
I want you to think of your body as your sacred temple, housing your mind and soul, with each pillar representing a different aspect of health. To achieve Optimum Health, you must make each pillar strong. If cracks appear, pain and disease will creep in and shorten your life.
Optimum Health Parthenon
I am going to take you on a journey, exploring one pillar at a time, giving you the tools for a happier and healthier life. Here is a taste of what is to come:
Mindset
Over the years I have come to realise that about 70% of suffering is linked to emotional baggage which destroys any enjoyment of life.
You may not realise that the marriage between your unconscious and conscious is not always a happy one because the former reacts coldly to your chattering thoughts.
I will expand on how what you think affects your actions and hence your future. For those of you that have heard of ’The Secret’, I will be touching upon the science behind it and how you can use it to your benefit.
Lifestyle
For most people lifestyle stress is an increasing problem. Research has shown that snatching a little relaxation at the end of the day is simply not enough to counter the negative effects of a long stressful day.
I am going to take you through some powerful techniques to change your biochemistry and brain wave focus and show you technology which can help teach you to relax through the day.
Fitness
Today humans are far too sedentary, all too often sitting in front of a computer by day, followed by sitting in front of TV at night. This lack of physical activity causes emotional and physiological imbalances. Improving your fitness changes your chemistry, acts as a powerful antidepressant, promotes mental clarity and reduces the probability of cancer.
If you are not happy with both how you look or feel about your weight, then with correct guidance, you can break out of inactivity and be rewarded by smiling at yourself whenever you see your reflection.
We will show you how and when you should exercise. The correct mix can extend your life.
Nutrition and Hydration
In an age of junk food, the affects of poor diet are evident everywhere. Perhaps not so evident is that about 80% of the population is dehydrated.
Poor nutrition and hydration will have your cells screaming out to you to listen to their needs and at the end of the day, humans are just an awful lot of cells. Research has shown that premature cell ageing by as much as nine years can result from poor diet.
Healthy food and water is medicine. It has a direct effect on preventing pain, arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, how young you look and much more.
Problem Severity – Fire Fighting
Once you have a problem, we are in fire fighting or reactive mode. With correct understanding of the previous proactive health actions, you can substantially reduce your chances of suffering these problems. Once in pain, or suffering erosion of normal daily activities, then you need involvement of my broad based clinical team.