Do you have Scoliosis??

A side to side (lateral) curvature of the spine.  Scoliosis affects boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18.  It is more common with girls.  There are several causes of scoliosis, the two most common are congenital and habitual.  Congenital scoliosis occurs when someone is born with a lateral curvature of the spine.  Habitual causes are environmental or situational depending on the habits of the individual.  Carrying backpacks improperly can contribute to a spinal distortion.  Poor sitting habits and practicing poor posture can also affect spinal development in children.  Signs of scoliosis are a high hip (uneven hips), a high shoulder, the head being off center, head tilt, back and leg pain.

Definition

Between the vertebrae of your spine are 23 discs which act as a spacer and shock absorber. These discs have soft, gel-like centers surrounded by layers of fibrous tissues.Sometimes, due to an injury or just aging, the material in the middle of a disc pushes to one side or even ruptures. This is called a bulging or herniated disc.Where it occurs:  Bulging or herniated discs can appear in the Neck (Cervical Spine), Low Back (Lumbar Spine) and Middle and Upper Back (Thoracic Spine).

The following strategies may help you reduce your chance of having a herniated disk:

Definition

The majority of back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cause of most back pain is the cumulative effect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. All of these factors cause stress and imbalances on the spine and eventually pain. This is why people often injure their back by just bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already compromised and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. In the US, low back pain is one of the most common conditions and one of the leading causes of doctor visits.

 In fact, at least four out of five adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Thirty-one million Americans have low back pain at any given time. One half of all working Americans admit to having back symptoms each year. One third of all Americans over age 18 had a back problem in the past five years severe enough for them to seek professional help. And the cost of this care is estimated to be a staggering $50 Billion yearly--and those are just for the more easily identified costs!

What is Sciatica? 

Sciatica is defined as pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttocks and down the back of one or both legs, caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerves, the largest nerves of the body.  It usually begins as an acute pain in the lower back and then radiates down the back of either or both legs.  There are 5 pairs of nerves that exit the spine in the lower back.  These nerves make up what we know as the sciatic nerves.  If the vertebrae or bones in the lower back are misaligned or out of place; or the disc between the vertebrae are swollen, bulged or herniated, the result is pressure on those nearby nerves.  This can cause tremendous pain and normal daily activities become almost impossible.