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Neck and Shoulder Pain

How is the spine designed?
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The vertebrae are the bony building blocks of the spine. Between each of the largest part of the vertebrae are the discs. Ligaments are situated around the spine and discs. The spine has seven vertebrae in the neck (cervical vertebrae), twelve vertebrae in the mid-back (thoracic vertebrae), and five vertebrae in the low back (lumbar vertebrae).

What is the purpose of the spine and its discs?

The bony spine is designed so that vertebrae "stacked" together can provide a movable support structure Buy cheap levitra online - order levitra online. while also protecting the spinal cord (nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the brain) from injury. Each vertebrae has a spinous process, which is a bony prominence behind the spinal cord that shields the cord's nerve tissue. The vertebrae also have a strong bony "body" in front of the spinal cord to provide a platform suitable for weight-bearing.

The discs are pads that serve as "cushions" between each vertebral body which minimize the impact of movement on the spinal column. Each disc is designed like a jelly donut with a central softer component (nucleus pulposus). This softer component can rupture (herniate) through the surrounding outer ring (annulus fibrosus) and irritate adjacent nervous tissue. Ligaments are strong fibrous soft tissues that firmly attach bones to bones. Ligaments attach each of the vertebrae and surround each of the discs. When ligaments are injured as the disc degenerates, pain in the area affected can result.

What is degenerative disc disease?

As we age, the water and protein content of the body’s cartilage changes. This change results in weaker, more fragile and thin cartilage. Because both the discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (facet joints) are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are subject to wear and tear over time (degenerative changes). The gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae is referred to as degenerative disc disease.

Degeneration of the disc is medically referred to as spondylosis. Spondylosis can be noted on x-ray tests or MRI scanning of the spine as a narrowing of the normal "disc space" between the adjacent vertebrae.

Degeneration of the disc tissue makes the disc more susceptible to herniation. Degeneration of the disc can cause local pain in the affected area. Any level of the spine can be affected by disc degeneration. When disc degeneration affects the spine of the neck, it is referred to as cervical disc disease. When the mid-back is affected, the condition is referred to as thoracic disc disease. Disc degeneration that affects the lumbar spine is referred to as lumbago. Lumbago causes pain localized to the low back and is

common in older persons. Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the facet joints is also a cause of localized lumbar pain that can be detected with plain x-ray testing. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises, and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation.

What is ankylosing spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic spinal inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process called ankylosis. Ankylosis causes total loss of mobility of the spine.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

How inflammation occurs and persists in different organs in ankylosing spondylitis is a subject of active research. The initial inflammation may be a result of an activation of body's immune system by a bacterial infection. Once activated, the body's immune system becomes unable to turn itself off, even though the initial bacterial infection may have long subsided. Chronic tissue inflammation resulting from the continued activation of the body's own immune system in the absence of active infection is the hallmark of an autoimmune disease.

What are the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis?

The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are related to inflammation of the spine, joints, and other organs. Inflammation of the spine causes pain and stiffness in the low back, upper buttock area, neck, and the remainder of the spine. The onset of pain and stiffness is usually gradual and progressively worsens over months. Occasionally, the onset is rapid and intense. The symptoms of pain and stiffness are often worse in the morning, or after prolonged periods of inactivity. The pain and stiffness are often eased by motion, heat and a warm shower in the morning. Because ankylosing spondylitis often affects patients in adolescence, the onset of low back pain is sometimes incorrectly attributed to athletic injuries in younger patients.

Patients who have chronic, severe inflammation of the spine can develop a complete bony fusion of the spine (ankylosis). Once fused, the pain in the spine disappears, but the patient has a complete loss of spine mobility. These fused spines are particularly brittle and vulnerable to breakage (fracture) when involved in trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents. A sudden onset of pain and mobility in the spinal area of these patients can indicate bone fracture. The lower neck (cervical spine) is the most common area for such fractures.

Chronic spondylitis and ankylosis cause forward curvature of the upper torso (thoracic spine), limiting breathing capacity. Spondylitis can also affect areas where ribs attach to the upper spine, further limiting lung capacity. Ankylosing spondylitis can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath, especially with exercise and infections. Therefore, breathing difficulty can be a serious complication of ankylosing spondylitis.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis can also have arthritis in joints other than the spine. Patients may notice pain, stiffness, heat, swelling, warmth, and/or redness in joints such as the hips, knees, and ankles. Occasionally, the small joints of the toes can become inflamed, or "sausage" shaped. Inflammation can occur in the cartilage around the breast bone (costochondritis) as well as in the tendons where the muscles attach to the bone (tendinitis) and ligament attachments to bone. Some patients with this disease develop Achilles tendinitis, causing pain and stiffness in the back of the heel, especially when pushing off with the foot while walking up stairs.

What is diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis?

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) has also been called Forestier's disease. It is considered a form of degenerative arthritis. DISH is characterised by flowing calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine. It is also commonly associated with inflammation (tendinitis) and calcification of tendons at their attachments points to bone. This can lead to the formation of bone spurs, such as heel spurs. In fact, heel spurs are common among individuals with DISH.

What are symptoms of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis?

Symptoms of DISH include intermittent pains in the areas of the bony changes of the spine and inflamed tendons. Stiffness and dull pain, particularly in the upper and lower back, are common. Sometimes pains in these areas can be sharp with certain body movements, such as twisting or bending over.

DISH is only slowly progressive. Calcifications between the vertebrae occur over many years. This calcification can lead to limitation of motion of the involved areas of the spine.

What is polymyalgia rheumatica?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a disorder of the muscles and joints of older persons. It is characterized by pain and stiffness, affecting both sides of the body, and involving the shoulders, arms, neck, and buttock areas. Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica are typically over the age of 50 years.

What causes polymyalgia rheumatica?

The cause of polymyalgia rheumatica is not known. Recent research has indicated that genetic (inherited) factors play a role in who becomes afflicted with the illness. Theories have included viral stimulation of the immune system in genetically susceptible individuals.

What are symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica?

The onset of the illness can be sudden. A patient may have a healthy history until awakening one morning with stiffness and pain of muscles and joints throughout the body. These symptoms persist and are often accompanied by an intense sensation of fatigue. Some patients notice a gradual loss of appetite, weight, and energy. Depression can occur.

. What is bursitis?

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.

How does a bursa become inflamed?

A bursa can become inflamed from injury, infection (rare in the shoulder), or underlying rheumatic condition. Examples include injury as subtle as lifting a bag of groceries into the car to inflame the shoulder bursa (shoulder bursitis), infection of the bursa in front of the knee from a knee scraping on asphalt (septic prepatellar bursitis), and inflammation of the elbow bursa from gout crystals (gouty olecranon bursitis).

Bursitis is identified by localized pain or swelling, tenderness, and pain with motion of the tissues in the affected area.

Degenerative Disc Disease

What is bony encroachment?

Any condition that results in movement or growth of the bony vertebrae of the spine can limit the space (encroachment) for the adjacent spinal cord and nerves. Causes of bony encroachment of the spinal nerves include foramenal narrowing (narrowing of the portal through which the spinal nerve passes from the spinal column, out of the spinal canal to the body), spondylolisthesis (slipping of one vertebra relative to another), and spinal stenosis (compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or other soft tissues in the spinal canal). For example, lumbar spinal nerve compression in these conditions can lead to sciatica pain which radiates down the lower extremities. Lumbar spinal stenosis can cause lower extremity pains which worsen with walking and are relieved by resting (mimicking poor circulation). Treatment of these conditions varies (depending on the severity and condition of the patient) from rest to surgical decompression by removing the bone that is compressing the nervous tissue.

Degenerative Disc Disease & Sciatica At A Glance

• The discs of the spine serve as "cushions" between each vertebral segment.
• The discs are designed somewhat like a jelly donut.
• Degeneration (deterioration) of the disc makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain.
• Sciatica can result from disc herniation when nerves of sensation in the low back are irritated.

What are radiculopathy and sciatica?
 

Radiculopathy refers to nerve irritation caused by damage to the disc between the vertebrae. This occurs because of degeneration ("wear and tear") of the outer ring of the disc, or because of traumatic injury, or both. Weakness of the outer ring leads to disc bulging and herniation. As a result, the central softer portion of the disc can rupture through the outer ring of the disc and abut the spinal cord or its nerves as they exit the bony spinal column.

When nerves are irritated in the neck from degenerative disc disease, the condition is referred to as cervical radiculopathy. This can lead to painful burning or tingling sensations in the arms. When nerves are irritated in the low back from degenerative disc disease, the condition is called

lumbar radiculopathy and it often causes the commonly recognized "sciatica" pain that shoots down the lower extremity. This condition can be preceded by a localized low back aching. Sciatica pain can follow a "popping" sensation at onset and be accompanied by numbness and tingling. The pain commonly increases with movements at the waist and can increase with coughing or sneezing. In more severe instances, lumbar radiculopathy can be accompanied by incontinence of the bladder and/or bowels.

 

Frozen Shoulder

What is a frozen shoulder?

A frozen shoulder is shoulder joint that is significantly limited in its range of motion in all directions. The range of motion is limited not only when the patient attempts motion, but also when the doctor attempts to move the joint fully while the patient relaxes. A frozen shoulder is also referred to as adhesive capsulitis.

What causes a frozen shoulder?
 

Frozen shoulder is the result of scarring, thickening and shrinkage of the capsule that surrounds the normal shoulder joint. Any injury to the shoulder can lead to frozen shoulder, including tendinitis, bursitis, and rotator cuff injury. Frozen shoulders occur more frequently in patients with diabetes, chronic inflammatory arthritis of the shoulder, or after chest or breast surgery. Long-term immobility of the shoulder joint can put persons at risk to develop a frozen shoulder.

Why Pain T.E.M. over Prescriptive medication?

 

Alternative medicine has become the choice of an increasing number of people over the past 5 years. These same individuals are also looking for a drug free alternative for pain management. Many individuals find themselves suffering with long term chronic back pain, but due to the prescriptive medication they may be currently taking, additional pain medication may not be advised due to the possiblilty of drup interaction.

Others however may just be looking for an effective may to control pain naturally. In answer to this growing demand Health Tech International has developed a unique and inexpensive disposable membrane that is charged with micro-current. This product was tested for four years and found to relieve pain in a wide variety of conditions, both chronic and acute at an astounding rate of 86%.

How does Pain T.E.M. Work Specifically for Neck and Shoulder Pain?

The PAIN T.E.M. membrane contains no DRUGS or CHEMICALS. This membrane is statically charged and  placed directly over the area of pain.  The membrane is held in placed by specially designed surgical tape.  Once the membrane makes contact it releases its subsensory current of micro-current impulses over a 48 hour period.  Figure 1 & 2  PAIN T.E.M. works similar to a TENS unit in that it blocks the pain sensation, but goes a step further, in that it helps promote healing by neutralizing the positive field produced by injured cells and allowing the normal bio-processes to resume in that area. Pain T.E.M. provides a micro-current electrical stimulation that more closely approximates the naturally occurring bio-electric current in the body.  The cuurent therfore is considered subsensory and cannot be felt.  It provides "bio-stimulation" that stimulates cellular physiology and growth. It increases the adenosine triphosphate (APT) generation, amino acid transport and protein synthesis.  This causes the body to heal itself at a much faster rate. 

It has long been known that all life processes involve electricity, and that biological processes can be affected by electrical treatment. The cells of the human body are basically tiny electrolytic batteries, each with a potential current flow of approximately 4 picoamps or 4 trillionths of an ampere.

These microcurrents flow through the body in an orderly manner when there is no pathology present. However, since injury disrupts the bio-electrical functions of the cells, the electrical activity of damaged cells is quite different from that of healthy ones.

There is more electrical resistance in injured cells, so the normal energy flow through these cells is lower, impeding the healing processes and maintaining the presence of pain. If the electrical resistance of such injured cells can somehow be reduced, allowing the body's own electrical energy easy access to those cells, the health of the cells will improve. Inflammation may decrease, the healing process will be enhanced and pain can be lessened. 

Pain T.E.M.  administers extremely low electrical current to the area of injury. This energy can be stored and used by the injured cells to lower their electrical resistance and provide additional energy to aid the body's natural healing process and relieve pain.