Overview: About Injury and Pain

Pain and injury have a number of causes. Marin Spine & Sports Treats them all.

Most of us face pain and/or injury at some part in our lives. While the location on the body and the details of the condition vary, the reasons behind pain can generally be broken down into the following categories:

Acute Trauma
Repetitive Stress or Cumulative Trauma
Illness and other conditions

Of course, every individual’s condition is unique and complex, and we take that into account as we evaluate our patients. We hope that by providing you with some basic information, you may be better informed about your own health.

 

Acute Trauma

With acute trauma injuries, pain usually occurs suddenly. These injuries include:

Sprains
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Symptoms vary according to degree. Minor strains causing mild to moderate swelling, bruising and pain. Severe strains partially or completely tear the ligament. A pop or snap can be felt or heard at the time of injury, and this is followed by moderate to severe pain and swelling, restricted movement and bruising.

Strains
A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Like sprains, the symptoms vary according to severity and include: pain and tenderness made worse with movement, swelling and bruising, normal or limited movement.

Fractures
Fractures are broken bones and generally require emergency medical treatment. Symptoms include: out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint, swelling, bruising, sever pain, numbness, tingling, and limited mobility or inability to move a limb.

Nerve Compression
Nerves can be compressed or pinched with sudden acute trauma such as a fall or a car accident. This results in numbness or tingling, weakness and skin that is pale and/or cold.

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Repetitive Stress and Cumulative Trauma

Over the last decade, the incidence of Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI), also known as Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD), has increased dramatically. These injuries often cause people severe and ongoing pain and loss of function because of many doctors’ uncertainty about treatment. Fortunately, we have found our modern techniques and interdisciplinary approach to be quite successful in getting to the root of and subsequently curing these types of injuries.

What happens
Soft tissue structures (ligaments, tendons, muscles) in the body change or adapt as a result of trauma, pressure or overuse. Repetitive stress on any area of the body can, over time, begin to manifest itself with tightness and pain. As progressive damage occurs, the body will attempt to repair the damage with scar tissue. Accumulation of scar tissue, left untreated, can then cause progressive loss of function and increased pain as well as loss of flexibility, strength, and range of motion. Until the cycle is broken, the symptoms may worsen. People often mistakenly attribute these losses to age, but by breaking this pain cycle, their symptoms can be completely eliminated.

Work and Habit Related
Cumulative Trauma Disorders have become commonplace at work, often attributed to poor posture at the desk or repeated motions like typing and mouse usage. Habits like these are difficult to break and exacerbate the irritated area.

Sports Related
Sports Related Injuries that occur from repetitive motion and/or stress are referred to as overuse injuries. These injuries occur from repeated activity, such as running or cycling, that stresses joints and surrounding tissues.

Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the part of the body but may include: tingling, burning, aching, tightness, weakness, decreased range of motion and/or swelling.

Repetitive Stress Injuries by Body Part
Some common examples of Repetitive Stress Injuries by body part:

• Wrist/Hand: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Elbow: Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow
• Foot: Plantar Fascitis
• Knee: Bursitis, Tendonitis

Treatment
Dr. Kyle has found that by using Active Release Technique, complemented by his 17 years of experience in Chiropractic medicine, he is able to offer highly effective treatment for conditions thought to be chronic.

Treatment programs generally range from five to ten visits and, if necessary, are followed by instruction in preventative exercise and stretch techniques to help counteract recurrence. Patients marvel at how prompt, effective and enduring the results of this treatment are.

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Illness and Other Conditions

Some conditions are due to illness or conditions associated with age. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, but there are many conditions that manifest themselves as pain. A complete evaluation and proper diagnosis is critical to finding an appropriate treatment plan. We take great care in getting to the root of the problem so that we can help you live a healthier, happier life.