Neck and Back Pain Treatment

Your spine normally curves so that your lower back is arched, mid-back is rounded and your neck is arched. The centre line of gravity falls right through your spine through vertebrae designed to accept the load. When optimally placed there is balance between the soft tissues and structures at the front and back of your body. A fall on your tailbone (see: tailbone, bladder, period issues) or a whiplash (see: whiplash, nerve pain, concussion) can result in the flattening or the exaggeration of a spinal curve altering the line of gravity.

There are discs between the vertebrae. Nerves pass from the spinal cord through a canal at each spinal level to supply muscles and organs. A postural imbalance can lead to joint degeneration, arthritis in the spine or hips, disc protrusion (“slipped disc”), pinched nerve and soft tissue dysfunction including tendinopathies. (see: soft tissue injuries: sprains, strains and tendinopathy)

“ I am now able to stand more upright and no longer have a “crumpled, compressed accordian” feeling in my torso.”

-Ivy C.

Are you longing for that feeling of easy fluidic movement? Poor posture and weak core muscles create altered walking and movement patterns. This places excessive load on spinal joints and causes soft tissues to grip. It’s inefficient, causes pain and your body must work harder.

Restricted spinal vertebrae and poor posture can impact digestion, bladder and menstrual issues. (see: digestive issues) (see: tailbone, bladder, period issues) Releasing spinal restrictions can prevent altered nerve signaling to organs. If altered signalling persists, over time organ dysfunction can occur. The organ sends a distressed signal back to the spine increasing soft tissue and vertebral restriction - a self-perpetuating cycle.

Osteopathic Practitioners are masters of palpation and use tests to determine if the pain or dysfunction is primarily a restricted vertebrae, organ dysfunction or nerve tension. Knowing what to treat first is key to your treatment being more effective. The goal of treatment is to restore normal mobility, reduce your pain and help you become more posture aware.

“Recently I have undergone a triple bypass surgery. I experienced much discomfort in the area of my chest incision…..My practitioner released restrictions in my chest all around the scar. I was all bent over and now I can straighten up and walk normally.”

-Rick K.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (see: OMT)

• We have many back pain remedies in the osteopathic toolbox. From small direct corrections of spinal joint restrictions to gentle indirect techniques, we can improve your mobility. Following your tissues into ease and waiting for release is very effective as your body is relaxed and open to letting go.

• Releasing the diaphragm prior to treating L1–L3 can help the vertebrae release. Treating C3-C5 in the neck can help release the diaphragm before we even touch it. Just taking a deep breath is a good back pain remedy! Pain stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, into “flight or fight”, whereas learning to breathe deeply elicits a parasympathetic response, “to rest and digest”, and reduces pain (see: How can osteopathy help with chronic pain..)

• Osteopathic Practitioners use many gentle spinal techniques and is a very safe choice for all ages.

Visceral Manipulation (see: Visceral Manipulation)

Do you know that:

• There are ligaments attaching the top lobe of your lungs to your lower neck, vertebrae and ribs?

• The pericardium covering of your heart attaches to your breastbone and upper thoracic spine, T3 – T5?

• The stomach is related to T4, T5, as is the heart?

• Diaphragm tension can impact neck pain through its phrenic nerve supply from C3-C5? Neck and pack pain from an osteopathic perspective use these fascinating interconnections to release the spine.

• Lower back pain treatment the osteopathic way looks at the intestines, kidneys and pelvic organs?

• The ileocecal valve near the appendix, attaches to the front of the right sacro-iliac joint and can restrict it?

• The intestines are supplied by T5-L2 in the mid-lower back.

• Chronic constipation can cause back pain and sacro-iliac restriction?

• The uterus and bladder impact the sacro-iliac joints and pull on the upper lumbar spine?

Craniosacral techniques (see: Craniosacral Therapy)

Target the dura or the meninges, which are the envelope around the brain and spinal cord. It forms the beginning of all the nerve roots as they emerge from the spine. The dura is continuous with the entire nervous system and so a restriction of the dura in the head may be felt as low back pain or sciatic nerve pain in the leg. We can directly affect the dura by treating the eyes and the tailbone. (see: tailbone, bladder, period issues) Dural tension can occur with epidurals, whiplash, spinal disc injury, stress or TMJ dysfunction. The dura is like the string of a pearl necklace. When it is tight it causes the vertebrae to compress together. Releasing the dura releases restrictions and strain patterns throughout the spine. Craniosacral Therapy is one of the gems of osteopathy and our expertise in this area sets us apart.

“ I have scoliosis, degenerative discs and spondylolisthesis, and the list goes on. I had never heard of osteopathy until the physiotherapist I was seeing started taking the course and referred me to the Vancouver Osteopathy Centre.”

-Joanne C.