A Case of Midback Pain

Interesting case I thought would share.

I recently had a patient come in for moderate pain in the midback area.  She is a software engineer and spends the majority of the day sitting, approximately 7-8 hours, for the past 20 years.

She had a diagnosis of osteopenia, which is precursor for osteoporosis.  Basically, the bones are weakening.

I ordered thoracic spine x-rays, I just wasn't comfortable adjusting this patient with this history.  And my hesitation was correct.  She had multiple compression fractures in her thoracic spine/midback.  She was literally shrinking, and her spine could not stand up to the forces of gravity and poor posture, and her spine actually 'broke'.

VERY IMPORTANT for all here:

SPINES DO NOT LIKE FLEXION.  Flexion is sitting, driving, watching TV, bending forward.   Anything that causes the spine to flex forward.  It loads the discs in the back, and weakens the lumbar spine.  Guess what else that means?  NO full sit ups, there has been research showing that a full sit up will compress the discs of the spine.

So, if you have a desk job, or even if you don't, and you spend a lot of time in flexion, you must strengthen the spine in neutral.  Exercises include utilizing a foam roller to induce extension, planks, sidelifts, bird dogs, dead bug.  The list goes on and on.  If these terms are foreign to you, please contact our offices for an explanation or to speak with Dr. Conley.

Take responsibility for your health today.

Dr. Courtney Conley
Golden & Denver Chiropractor providing Chiropractic Services for Neck & Back Pain
 Personal Injury & Headaches - Total Health Solutions, LLC