Why Do My Muscles Cramp?

This topic came up twice in the last two days so I thought I would put together a little information about muscle cramps.  I have suffered with muscle cramps in my gastrocs, quads, and the very painful abdominals throughout my life.  In my case, it is due to dehydration and mineral depletion due to diet, medications and exercise.  Whatever the case may be for you, it is generally treatable if you gently stretch the involved muscle, stay hydrated, eat right, and supplement with minerals if you need to.  

Before I get carried away, this is a great article here on everything muscle cramps.  If you suffer from them I suggest you take a look :  Great Article on Muscle Cramps.   My own remedy includes generously salting my food with a good quality sea salt and taking liquid minerals such as these that you can purchase on Amazon which I have linked to.  I have recommended them to many of my patients who have had successful results.  If you are suffering frequent muscle cramps I suggest you give these a try.

Buy it here

Muscle cramps can also be caused by spinal radiculopathies. when spinal nerves are affected and not working as they should,  which you know by now, Grimm Physiotherapy specializes in.  If you are experiencing neck or low back pain with arm and or leg muscle weakness, then your muscle cramps may be related to this condition.  You know what I am going to say!  "Everyone deserves a Good Mechanical Assessment and Treatment Plan."  Call or text 504-228-0524 to set up your evaluation today!

No such thing as lumbar strain? What?

I hear it all the time.  I don't have back problems...I just pulled a muscle, or I just strained a muscle in my low back, it's happened before and it just goes away...Listen up everyone, this is just my opinion based on 100's of patients over the years.  If you "pull" a muscle in your back or "strain" a muscle in your back YOU HAVE LOW BACK PAIN!  Wow, that feels good to get off my chest.

Of course, just looking at this guy, causes my low back to spasm just a little!  This bad technique with deadlifting isn't any worse than this gardener.  He isn't lifting enough weight to pull a muscle and neither is the gardener on the right.    It isn't the first time you lift incorrectly that you notice your "pulled muscle" in your low back, but many times it was the last time.

Low Back Pain generally starts in the middle of your low back as pressure, soreness, stiffness or tightness.  It seems this is something we all ignore.  As it gets progressively worse you will notice a tightening in your buttock then pain in your hip, the pain then wraps around in your groin or down your hamstring.  When it is out of control you will feel pain, coldness, numbness all the way into your foot.  I can't tell you the number of people who have come to me for plantar fasciitis when it was actually referred from their lumbar spines.  

This is what is known as peripheralization.  That is when something travels away from its source.  Why am I sharing this with you?  The best time to address your low back problems is when it is in the center of your low back and "just a stiffness," strain, or pressure.  If you don't address it, it will always come back when you least expect it, and when it is the most inconvenient time to have it, and just a little bit worse than the last episode.  When it does, it can bring leg weakness and numbness along with it.  No good for all you gym warriors out there.  Trust me on this!  I see it all the time.  

What should you do when you experience this?  First, do not ignore this!  This is your low back talking to you and begging you to do something before it gets worse.  My recommendation is to see me of course, or see anyone who is credentialed or diploma-ed in the the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.  We are experts in mechanical pain and will teach you everything we know to take care of the problem yourself.  Not a good business move you say?  In the case of low back pain,  I heard the other day that 80% of the population will experience low back pain this year.  More than enough business potential if you ask me.  In fact, I am fond of saying there is enough for every discipline.  A great book for your libraries is called Treat Your Own Back which I have conveniently linked here to Amazon.  This book is worth its weight in gold and may help you resolve your own problems without seeing me. With that said, the fastest and surest way to complete resolution of your pain would be to have a few visits with me so you know exactly what to do to treat yourself.  

Buy it here!

You know what I am going to say,  "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Assessment and Treatment Plan!"  Schedule your evaluation today by visiting Grimm Physiotherapy  or by calling 504-228-0524.  Here's to a pain free spine!

  

Rapidly Reversible Headaches?

If you are experiencing headaches that originate in your neck they may be mechanical and are known as cervicogenic headaches.  These really exist and are pretty easy to treat on your own once you know how to take care of them.  Essentially they are rapidly reversible just as spinal and extremity pains we have been discussing lately.

Cervicogenic headaches originate in the upper cervical spine.  These headaches are produced and respond to movements of your neck.  You may not have thought that sustained poor posture or movements in your neck could do this but they certainly can.  It should be noted that the site of the pain isn't always the source of the problem. 

Is this you at work?  Don't you think this can give you a headache?

If headaches are a result of neck problems they are generally felt at the top and base of the neck (on one or both sides), and/or extending from the base of the head to just below the crown,  or spreading from the back of the head over the top to above or behind the eye (on one or both sides), and/or across the forehead and behind the eyes or like a tight band around the head.  See the images below for cervicogenic headache pain pathways.

Of course there are many causes of headaches.  For instance it could be really serious like a brain tumor or a subdural hematoma.  You could have vascular problems that can give you hypertension headaches or migraines.  Although rare you can get post-coital or exertional headaches.  You could even have toxic headaches from heavy metal poisoning or alcohol.  These types of headaches will not be influenced by mechanical treatment, but wouldn't it be nice if your headaches were something you could manage on your own?   Treatment on your own without medicines?  

If you are experiencing a stiff neck with one sided headaches or if you know that headaches are produced by neck movements or certain postures you might be experiencing cervicogenic headaches. These could be rapidly reversible with the right movement and posture!  I really hesitate to give you something to try because headaches really need to be evaluated carefully to rule out any serious pathology, but here is one thing you can try.

Sit in correct posture with a lumbar support such a the Original McKenzie Lumbar Roll  and tuck your chin back as pictured and hold this posture for 3 minutes.  If this changes your symptoms for the better or even for the worse, chances are you are experiencing cervicogenic headaches.   Read Treat Your Own Neck by Robin McKenzie.  If this works for you, I would love a shout out.  If this doesn't work for you, you know what I am going to say, "Everyone deserves a good Mechanical Evaluation and Treatment Plan!"  If you are experiencing headaches and want to have quick resolution and a good assessment give Grimm Physiotherapy a call at 504-228-0524 to set up your evaluation today.