Backache and sciatica can have a wide variety of causes. These can range from problems in the spinal column with ligaments, discs, inflammation, bony spur growth, and nerve root impingement; through to muscular and other soft tissue disturbances both adjacent to and further from the spine. The appropriate use of massage can often provide dramatic relief.
Often muscular spasm or active Trigger Points are the direct cause of local or referred pain. In addition, muscular tension, spasm, or active Trigger Points can lead to local flexion forces on the spinal column. This can often aggravate existing spinal problems such as nerve root impingement.
The appropriate use of massage or Trigger Point therapy will often, therefore, give dramatic relief from both Trigger Point referred pain and muscle induced nerve root pain such as certain types of sciatica and similar referred pain.
The type of treatment will vary depending on the nature, location and degree of the problem. Techniques will vary from advice through to heat, relaxation massage, Trigger Point therapy or stretching in appropriate combination. Regular use of heat, stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises will often be advised to accelerate both short and long-term improvement. A healthy lifestyle is important if rapid improvement is desired.
When pain is due to muscular tension, heat-packs or hot baths will often provide some relief for emergency self treatment. If pain relief is still inadequate take one or two Panadol or Panadeine. Regular pain sufferers should consult a medical doctor.
MUSCULAR AND JOINT PAIN
The causes of muscular and joint pain include disease, and damage or surgery to nerves, ligaments, other joint tissue, muscle or tendon fibres. In traumatic injuries (eg whiplash) active Trigger Points can develop if early treatment is inadequate. In chronic conditions (eg osteoarthritis) muscle tension generally leads to the development of active Trigger Points. The resulting pain/symptom referral pattern can become the major source of pain.
In overuse syndromes (eg tennis elbow, RSI) active Trigger Points will invariably be present. If overuse continues, satellite Trigger Points develop rapidly. The interaction with the nervous system is a major factor in the development of chronic pain.
Joint pain can be due to problems within the joint, but can also be due to referred pain from an active Trigger Point. It is not uncommon for Trigger Point pain/symptom referral patterns to closely match those of disease such as arthritis, sciatica or nerve root impingement. A thorough assessment should be undertaken to identify the actual causes of symptoms.
An appropriate treatment using heat, massage, Trigger Point therapy or stretching will then be given.
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