Question
i have a lot of stiffness in my lower back! although i can touch my toes most of the time,  i still have pain doing everyday stuff. if i try to lean over the sink in the kitchen i will have pain in the lower back, sometimes i have pain while in the process of bending up or down. (take an office chair for example without wheels) if i try and move that around in the office my lower back will hurt. now sometimes after sitting a certain way,,,the back of my right thigh about middleway of the thighbone feels like pressure, it happens sometimes when sitting at the computer or driving car. also about 2 months ago i started having some numbness and tingling in my left hand & lower part of the arm,,,but now the numbness & tingling have eased off i am getting pain from the underarm down to elbow on the underside of the arm. sometimes the pain is like tenacles running down from armpit to elbow on the underside, sometimes the arm feels as if there is a band around the armpit, cutting off the circulation. any idea what this kind of problems could be comin from?
Thank You!!!!

Answer
Dear Judy,

Your back pain appears to be diffuse in nature with no specific pain patterns.  This is normally due to the muscular structures which tend to produce dull aches that move around and are not pinpoint. The disc can produce diffuse pain as well, but it is usually more localized in a smaller area. Disc pain many times is sharp as well and will actually produce enough pain to limit your motions and possibly the way you stand. If there is irritation to the nerves or nerve roots, the pain patterns are more distinct and tend to follow reproducible routes into the buttocks and down the legs.  These are called dermatomal patterns and are illustrated in most anatomy texts.  **Listed below is a link to see these dermatomes on the internet.**

http://www.backpain-guide.com/Chapter_Fig_folders/Ch06_Path_Folder/4Radiculopath...

Concerning the tingling and numbness in the arm, this is an example of the dermatomal distribution of the nerves.  The description you give of under the armpit to the elbow is indicative of the C8 and T1 nerve roots which supply the radial and ulnar nerves of the arm.  This problem can be caused from the nerve root itself, which is located at the base of the neck, or branches of the nerve root which make up the brachial plexus and peripheral nerve roots.  The anatomy of the upper chest and lower neck, such as the pectoralis minor muscle, the anterior, middle, and posterior scalene muscles, the clavicle, the first rib and the vertebral levels of C6, C7, T1, and T2 may be factors in the problem.

All of these areas can be helped with chiropractic care. The chiropractic profession is thoroughly trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal and soft tissue issues which include nerve distributed pain, as well as the proper biomechanics of the skeletal system and their muscular attachments.

I would recommend that you seek out and find a good chiropractic physician locally and schedule an examination of your problem areas for an indepth analysis of the anatomy to formulate a proper diagnostic picture.  Ask friends, family, and co-workers for a referal to a doctor they trust.  IF you do not know anyone who goes to a chiropractic physician, go to my website at www.suncoasthealthcare.net and click on the links button.  This will guide you to useful resources and help you find a quality doctor in your area.  If a problem exists that is beyond the scope of chiropractic care, the doctor will be able to refer you on to the appropriate medical specialist if warranted.  Good Luck Judy.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman