Let’s face it; if you live in a human body, your chances of having back pain over the course of your life are about 8 in 10. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason people go to their doctor. There are many underlying causes for pain in your back, including sports injuries, accidents, overuse, degeneration from … [Read more...]
Facet Joint Pain: Understanding and Managing This Common Back Issue
One of the most misunderstood aspects of your spine is something called facet joints. That’s primarily because it’s hard to describe exactly what a facet joint is and where it lives in your backbone, and what facet joints actually do. Today, I’m going to try to clear this up. In a previous post I talked about your discs, … [Read more...]
Exploring the Effects of Movement on Back Pain
It’s the rare person who is a stranger to back pain, with about 80 percent of people experiencing it sometime during their lives. And what’s worse is that in many cases, the pain seemingly comes out of nowhere. It’s common to hear a patient with back pain say that they were just reaching for soap in the shower, looking for … [Read more...]
Do X-Rays, MRIs, and CT Scans Hold the Key to Your Back Pain?
Your back hurts. Maybe a lot; it definitely has your attention. This may be a new kind of pain, or something you’ve had before, but now it’s blowing up, and you need to know what’s going on. When you make an appointment with your doctor, there’s a good chance that they’ll want some kind of imaging to help determine the … [Read more...]
FAQ: Understanding Back Pain
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain? Acute back pain comes on suddenly and is usually intense, but it tends to be short-lived. Acute back pain is often caused by an injury, such as a fall, muscle strain, or a broken bone. Chronic back pain persists for an extended period, typically lasting longer … [Read more...]
Acute vs. Chronic Back Pain: What’s the Difference?
Pain has its own personality. It can feel sharp, dull, burning, stabbing, achy, or intermittent, only a little bit annoying or taking over your life. Pain can also be acute or chronic. And when it comes to back pain, chronic pain can be an entirely different beast. So, what’s the difference between acute and chronic … [Read more...]
How Do My Hip Flexors Impact Back Pain?
When you think about back pain, it’s common to think about problems with your discs, an imbalance in your muscles, facet joint issues, or a nerve impingement. However, there’s another common cause of back pain that you may not have heard about, and that’s your hip flexor muscles. Your hip flexors are actually a group of … [Read more...]
Hope and Healing for Spinal Stenosis and Back Pain
Spinal stenosis is a common condition affecting millions worldwide, and here in Vancouver, many active individuals experience its limitations. It’s one of those conditions you may have heard about, but understanding exactly what’s going on can be confusing. That’s because it’s both a spine and a nerve problem, and it can … [Read more...]
Muscles that can Cause Low Back Pain
Back pain is a very common problem. Almost everybody at one time or another will experience some kind of issue with their back. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, miss time from work and are sidelined from their normal daily activities. There are several anatomical structures in your … [Read more...]
