Newcastle Chiropractic

Type M Disorders

a. Lower back pain, leg pain, sciatica

Sciatica is a common condition readily treated by chiropractors. The sciatic nerve originates from the spinal cord segments L4, L5, S1 and S2. This nerve runs from the lower spine under and through the buttock muscles down the back of the thigh where it splits into the tibial and peroneal nerves below the knee. True sciatic pain comes about when the sciatic nerve is irritated at its origin at the spinal cord. This impingement is caused either by a herniated or bulging disc or by bony exostosis from advanced osteoarthrosis of the spine.

What is far more common is pseudo-sciatic pain. Pseudo-sciatic pain can come from the joints of the lower back or pelvis or the muscles of the buttock. When the facet joints of the lower back or the sacro-iliac joints are sprained or subluxated they can refer deep pain down one or both legs mimicking sciatic pain. Pain receptors in specific areas of the legs and pain receptors in the lower back follow the same pathway back to the brain, so the brain can be tricked into thinking that the pain is coming from the legs when it is actually only coming from the spine. The muscles of the buttock if tight enough can cause a compression of the sciatic nerve as it passes behind the hip. Pain, pins and needles or numbness down the leg can then occur as a result of this muscle-nerve impingement.

Chiropractors are capable of determining whether the leg pain is pseudo or true and can provide treatment based on the diagnosis. Methods to relieve the muscular, joint or nerve tension include massage, joint mobilisation, joint manipulation or traction.

b. Neck pain and headaches, migraines

Chiropractic can be effective in the treatment of headaches. Benign primary headaches account for 90% of headaches. These include migraines, tension, cervicogenic and cluster. The remaining 10% can be categorised as secondary headaches. These include headaches caused by tumour, temporal arteritis, meningitis, acute glaucoma, sub-arachnoid haemorrhage. Most primary headaches are manageable through chiropractic care, however secondary headaches require emergency referral. Chiropractic provides drug-free treatment that helps to relieve any muscle, nerve or joint pressure in the neck that may be triggering the headache.

c. Mid back and chest pain

d. Neck, shoulder and arm pain

Neck and shoulder pain is a very common problem amongst people who work in offices, usually at a desk and behind a computer. These symptoms may be related to a repetitive postural strain and are more significant towards the end of a working day. As the day goes on our heads start to drop, our shoulders roll forward and the general sitting posture gets worse, putting strain on the postural muscles that support the neck and the shoulder blades.

Pain or pins and needles can radiate down the shoulders and arms from the joints of the neck or upper back or from muscular trigger points activated from postural strain. Chiropractic can offer pain relief via the release of articular and muscular pressure as well as offer postural advice for the workplace to prevent the problem from happening again.

Chiropractic care can also treat specific injuries of the shoulders, arms or hands. Theses injuries commonly occur during sporting activities or at the workplace.

e. Hip pain

f. Knee, Foot and Ankle conditions