Trunk and Spine conditions

Kyphosis excessive curvature of the upper back, producing a rounded or hump back.

Lordosis

an exaggerated curvature of the low back, producing a hollowing in of the low back.

Scoliosis

a lateral curvature of the spine.

Costochondritis

inflammation of the joints around the ribs and sternum, causing pain and tenderness.

Low back pain

This can be due to a variety of reasons such as:

Poor posture

e.g. The swayback posture, (shoulders rounded and pelvis thrown forward), puts undue strain on the lumbo-sacral junction, causing discomfort and pain, as well as causing further spinal compensatory patterns.

Poor posture can also be attributed to sitting badly at a desk or a computer.

Postural changes during pregnancy

as the foetus develops, there may be pain and discomfort as the body's centre of gravity changes in compensation.

Sacro-iliac pain

Damage to the connective tissue around this joint will produce one-sided pain in the low back, and in the upper part of the pelvis, which may radiate to the buttock. May be caused by osteoarthritis, (wear and tear) ankylosing spondylitis, or postural changes in pregnancy. If a man wears an overfull wallet in his back pocket, it will eventually cause problems in the sacroiliac joint, due to him sitting unevenly, and so putting strain on the joint. (Fat wallet syndrome).

Facet joint strain

A result of over stretching and twisting, causing connective tissue to strain and tear, producing pain in the affected area, and muscle spasm.

Nerve root compression This is a result of damage to the local connective tissues, producing swelling in the area which then puts pressure on the nerve root, resulting in acute pain, numbness/tingling/pins and needles, and muscle spasm.

Sciatica

this is compression of the sciatic nerve, producing one-sided excruciating pain starting in the low back, and typically shooting through the buttock, down the back of the leg to the heel. There is also numbness, pins and needles or weakness in the leg affected. Sciatica is not a disease, it is a result of nerve root compression.

Disc herniation or rupture

this is where the injury produces a tear in the intervertebral disc, so that bulges or herniates, putting excessive pressure on the nerve root. Caused by prolonged strain to the area, and then in an instant a jarring by e.g. sneezing, coughing, bending forward and twisting at the same time, producing severe pain, (which may not come on until the next day). A good example would be someone who decides to lay a patio over the weekend; the next day, he simply sneezes, or goes to pick something up, and experiences excruciating pain.

Vertebral crush fracture

this is where the bone collapses and puts pressure on the nerve root. Typically seen in osteoporosis.

Spondyloleisthesis

Here the vertebral body slips forward. Can be congenital, or a result of osteoarthritis. Symptoms include stiffness and pain, with possible pins and needles or tingling down the leg(s). The pain is worse from movement and weight-bearing, and better from lying down.

Depending on the severity, surgery may be needed.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis cause not known. It usually starts in the sacroiliac joints and extends up the spine. It begins as inflammation and the joints then fuse so movement becomes very limited.

Please note

lumbar pain can be pain referred from the hip and pelvis.

For more information or to book an appointment please call 01243 543477 or email info@osteopathychichester.co.uk