CAN STRESS AFFECT MY BACK PAIN?

The short answer is, it depends on the stress the back problem and the way your body responds to stress. When we get stressed we automatically tense our muscles up in a fight or flight mechanism. We do this in order to sub-consciously protect ourselves from whatever is causing the stress. The initial muscles are the triceps and the intrinsic neck muscles these in tern affect the "Erector Spinea" muscles (the ridge of muscles going down the length and each side of the Spine). If the Ligaments holding the Vertebrae are not strong enough to take the strain, then a misalignment may occur, or if the movement of an already taut muscle occurs, it may have a similar effect but this may not so severe. Just getting stressed can put a muscle into spasm, if this muscle is not 100% fit it may develop an inability to relax again, therefore causing pain and discomfort. Generally though it is not the actual stress that causes the problem it is the movement of an over tight muscle, which is as I have said, contracted to help fight the stress condition. But as with anything to do with the body - everybody is different and we all react to stress differently. Also pain can cause stress!!

WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?

Basically it means Osteo - bone, Porosis- porous. Instead of looking like a normal bone in severe cases they look like the inside of a Crunchy bar. In normal circumstances cells of the bones are being renewed throughout our lives. Osteoclasts cells eat away at the old bone and Osteoblasts cells build new bone back up again. This cycle happens quite naturally and with no ill effects. But with Osteoporosis the Ostoeclasts are working harder -or the Osteoblasts aren't working as hard to cause an imbalance. This is mainly found in postmenopausal women, but men with a low testerone level may also suffer from it and well as some pre menopausal women. Women are more likely to be affected because of a decrease in the female hormone Oestrogen. But there are other factors such as heredity, lifestyle and medical drug side effects. Unfortunately most people don't know they've got it until they fall and break a bone generally a wrist or hipbone, then have a bone density scan. This will then show the extent of the fracture but not the loss of bone mass until it's reduced by 30%. Diet and a change of lifestyle can help in preventing and easing the condition.

WHY DOES IT HURT MORE IF THE JOINT DOESN'T CLICK.

The technique that I use is to relax the muscles first then to realign the misaligned joint using a stretch reflex action. Where there is a rotation of the joint being treated the bones of that joint with "click" because the joint is pulled into its correct site and therefore does not stretch the muscles to their fullest extent. If the joint is in the correct place then the muscles are stretched to their fullest range. This is the cause of the pain and why I need to do it on some occasions. It is a sure way to know that the joint has correctly realigned. Joints tend to slip out of position rather than "click" out, although if put under stress or trauma they may well "click". And there is no sound scientific reason why this happens although there is a lot of speculation, it has not been clinically proven why this happens.

WHY DOESN'T A DOCTOR REFER ME TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU?

There are many reasons why, some doctors don't know of me, or what Remedial Massage and Manipulative Therapy can do, some do know, but don't believe it, others don't want to know. But the main reason is that they are basically frightened that I may injure someone who they have referred to me and therefore putting themselves in the litigation line, to be sued by the patient. As they do not understand how I treat the patient as a whole, looking at the muscular, skeletal and with a whole holistic approach to their problems. Also because there has been a lot of "Bad press" about unqualified " table top practitioners" it is perhaps understandable. Although I do treat quite a number of medical personnel, and have been told by one patient that their GP thinks "I'm the finest thing since sliced bread" but he is not allowed to say so. Which may pose a question or two? It is true that some practices around the country do now have Remedial Massage and Manipulative Therapists instead of Physiotherapists now. - Not necessarily because they like what we do it's just a case that we cover more conditions and may get quicker results than other accepted N.H.S. treatments

WHY DO I FEEL LIGHT HEADED WHEN I GET UP FROM THE PLINTH?

The reason is that in most cases I have asked you to take several deep breaths this alters the oxygen level in the bloodstream and therefore when you sit back up again it alters the blood oxygen level going to the brain therefore causing a light headed sensation but after a few seconds this does return back to normal. Because of the state of giddiness, I ask you, sometimes steady you on the plinth and tell you to stay there until you feel safe enough to stand and walk. - As I say I will pick you up from the plinth but not from the floor