24345 Harper Avenue St. Clair Shores, Michigan
(586) 563-3300 - Phone (586) 563-3313 - Fax
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| Dr. Wilson treats a wide variety of conditions including back pain. Listed below is information on conditions he commonly treats. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have at (586) 563-3300 or by email at info@ceasepainnow.com
back pain Many adults develop low back pain at some point in their life. It is the 2nd most common reason for visiting a physician and one of the most disabling illnesses in young adults. this can affect you financially, emotionally, and sexually. Knowing about any diagnosis, procedures, and treatments available may help reduce anxiety about your back problems. The purpose of this website is to provide information. If you have back pain you should always have it evaluated by a licensed physician. Be being informed about back pain, you may facilitate your patient-physician interaction. WHAT CAUSES LOWER BACK PAIN? Low back pain may be the result of many factors. The most common cause of low back pain is from abnormal stresses placed on the lower back muscles. Improper lifting and repetitive activities can lead to this pain. This is called mechanical low back pain. A herniated lumbar disc can also be the cause of low back pain. A disc is a soft, spongy material found between the bones of your spine (vertebrae). This serves as a shock absorber to prevent the b ones from rubbing together. When pressure is applied to the spine, as with bending forward quickly or lifting a heavy object improperly, the disc may bulge. This bulging can compress the nerves causing pain. This is often referred to as radiculopathy. Sometimes patients report symptoms of pain traveling down their leg. This is commonly called sciatica. It refers to the irritation of the sciatic nerve as pain runs down the leg into the foot. It is important to note that there are many causes of low back pain, which is why a thorough examination by a physician is necessary.
WHAT PUTS YOU AT RISK FOR ACUTE LOW BACK PAIN? Your physician will order an imaging test to help make his diagnosis. Imaging studies of your back provide a picture of your spinal cord, blood vessels, ligaments, back muscles, nerves, and disc. X-rays may identify bony problems such as tumors, fractures, degenerative disc disease, dislocations, and spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebrae onto another). Bone scans give an image of the entire skeleton using a radioactive substance. This may detect fractures not seen by a typical x-ray and can also identify degenerative joint disease, tumors, and infections. CT scan and MRI studies identify changes see in the disc and if there are any signs of nerve entrapment. MRI has the advantage of giving a better view of the disc and nerves. Myelogram is a rarely used test, which involves the use of a special dye that is injection and when viewed by x-ray allows your nerves to be better seen. Electromyography (EMG) is another test performed to examine the nerves and assess if there is damage. This is not an image test. The test involves two parts: (1) a series of small electrical shocks to the nerves in your arms or legs and (2) a small needle is placed in several muscles. This test may be uncomfortable. The information gathered from this test may identify nerve damage along the circuit from your spine to the muscles. Neck pain Neck pain can result from abnormalities in the bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves of the spine. The pain can be mild and annoying or it can be severe and unbearable. Many cases of neck pain are caused by muscle strain, a tearing injury to the muscle. The often occurs with muscle overuse when the muscle become fatigued and eventually strained. Repeatedly overusing muscles can result in chronic neck pain. Since the neck is so flexible it is vulnerable to injury. Motor vehicle accidents, contact sports, and falls may result in neck pain. Rear-ended collisions often result in whiplash injuries, stretching the tissues of the neck beyond its normal limits. Neck pain can also result from arthritic changes. Wear and tear on the joints can cause stiffness and pain. Cervical disc changes can also occur. Less common causes of neck pain include tumors, infections, and congenital deformities of vertebrae. Pain from areas near the neck such as the jaw, head, and shoulders may affect neck pain. Problems in the neck can also cause other parts of the body to hurt. Neck pain can be diagnosed through a physical examination as well as diagnostic testing such as x-rays, CT scan, or MRI. It may then be treated using medications, ice or heat, stretching of the muscles, traction, acupuncture, TENS units, short-term immobilization, and in some cases surgery. Piriformis Syndrome The piriformis muscle is a narrow muscle in the buttocks that helps rotate the hip. The sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs down each leg, passes beneath this muscle. Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the buttocks and down the leg along the course of the nerve. Pain along the sciatic nerve is called sciatica. Piriformis syndrome may occur after an injury to the the area, which causes swelling or spasms in the muscle. It can also occur spontaneously. The muscle becomes tightened and compresses the nerve. The pain of piriformis syndrome is usually worse after prolonged sitting, climbing stairs, twisting movements, walking, or running. You may feel numbness or tingling in the buttocks and down the leg. Piriformis syndrome can be diagnosed by physical examination and discussing your symptoms with the physician. There are no specific laboratory tests or imaging studies that accurately confirm the diagnosis; however these tests can be used to rule other medical problems. Changes in the lower spine and problems with other muscles and tendons can also cause sciatica. Treatment may include medications, ice or heat, stretching of the muscles, injections, and acupuncture. You should also avoid activities that may irritate the muscle. Myofascial Pain Syndrome Myofascial pain syndrome is a common condition characterized by muscle pain that is reproduced by pressure on trigger points, hardened area of muscle tissue. It can affect any skeletal muscle in the body, but most commonly occurs in the head, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and lower back. Fascia is layers of tissue that surround every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, and organ in the body. The clear covering under the skin of a chicken breast is fascia. Disruption of this fascia can cause it to bind and may result in abnormal pressure on the muscles, nerves, or organs. Myofascia is the fascia that lines the muscle fibers to give them shape and support. The pain of MPS comes from the development of trigger points in the myofascia. Myofascial pain syndrome can be diagnosed by physical examination and discussing your symptoms with the physician. There are no specific laboratory tests or imaging studies that accurately confirm the diagnosis; however these tests can be used to rule other medical problems. On examination, you will typically have multiple sore spots (trigger points) in the affected muscles. You may also experience decreased range of motion, muscle weakness and muscle tightness. Other symptoms may include numbness, stiffness, poor balance, dizziness, headaches, muscle cramps, and localized sweating or goose bumps. A combination of treatments is recommended due to the chronic nature of MPS and the physical and emotional stresses that often accompany it. Treatments may include medications, trigger point injections, lifestyle changes, heat, pain relief gels, relaxation, posture re-training, acupuncture, and the use of TENS units. What are trigger points? Trigger points are painful areas of hardened fascia that you may feels as painful lumps or nodules. They are usually associated with tight, rope-like bands in the muscle tissue. Trigger points can develop as a response to muscle overuse, muscle tears, trauma, bruises, surgical incisions, joint problems, or as a result of other medical conditions. They can also be caused by changes in your body resulting from long-term stress. The muscle becomes tightened, inflammatory waste products collect in the muscle, and scar tissue could eventually form to entrap the nerves causing pressure and pain. A trigger point may be painful not only at the area being pressed, but also triggers pain in other parts of the body. This type of pain is called referred pain. fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia
(FM) is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain.
The degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of
flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission; however, the disorder is
generally perceived as non-progressive. The
defining symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic, widespread pain and tenderness to
light touch. Other symptoms can include moderate to severe fatigue, a heightened
and painful response to gentle touch, needle-like tingling of the skin, muscle
aches, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, nerve pain, functional
bowel disturbances, and chronic sleep disturbances.
Many
patients experience cognitive dysfunction
(known as "brain fog" or "fibrofog"), which may be
characterized by impaired concentration, problems with short and long-term
memory, short-term memory consolidation,
impaired speed of performance, inability to multi-task, cognitive overload,
diminished attention span and anxiety and depressive symptoms.
“Brain fog" may be directly related to the sleep disturbances
experienced by sufferers of fibromyalgia.
Advanced Physical Medicine 24345 Harper Avenue St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 (586) 563-3300 - Phone (586) 563-3313 - Fax
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