Back Pain
Treating Lower Back Pain
Eighty percent of the US population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason to visit the doctor behind upper-respiratory infections. In fact, it is estimated that low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year.
The susceptibility of the low back to injury and pain is due to the fact that it, like the neck, is an unstable part of the spine, unlike the thoracic spine, which is supported and stabilized by the rib cage. This instability allows us to have a great deal of mobility to tie our shoes or pick something off the ground, but the cost is increased risk of injury.
Functioning correctly, the low back can withstand tremendous forces. Professional weight lifters snatch several hundred pounds off the floor without a problem. But if the low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, lifting a bag of groceries out of the trunk of the car, picking something up off the floor, or simply bending down to pet the cat, can be debilitating.
Until recently, researchers believed that back pain would heal on its own. But recent studies have shown that, untreated, it may go away temporarily, but will most likely return. It is important to take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with recurring pain. Contact our chiropractor... we can help!
The Causes of Low Back Pain
Many different conditions can result in low back pain. These include sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured disks, trigger points and inflamed joints. While sports injuries or accidents can lead to injury, sometimes even the simplest movements, like picking a pencil off the floor, can have painful results. In addition, conditions such as arthritis, poor posture, obesity, psychological stress and even kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss can lead to pain.
Due to the diverse causes and potentially serious consequences of low back pain, it is important to seek professional help. Chiropractors are the experts at diagnosing the cause and determining the proper treatment for low back pain. Here are some of the most common causes.
Subluxations
A disruption in the normal movement or position of the vertebrae causes inflammation and pain. In the lumbar spine, the problem usually occurs at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum. Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain but are treatable, sometimes with immediate improvement.
Disc Herniations
A herniated disc does not automatically mean that you will suffer suffer from low back pain. One study found that almost half of all adults had at least one bulging or herniated disc, even though they did not suffer any pain from it. But herniated discs can also be a source of intense and debilitating pain. This pain can radiate to other areas of the body. Once a disc herniates, it will rarely heal completely, but further deterioration can be avoided through regular chiropractic care.
Sprains, Strains and Spasms
This is commonly the source of low back pain among the weekend warriors. You know, the person with very little physical activity during the week, but once the weekend arrives, they push themselves way too much. By the end of the weekend, they are lying flat on their back counting down the hours before they can get in to see their chiropractor. Overworking the muscles or ligaments of the low back can lead to small tears in the tissues, which then become painful, swollen and tight.
Stress
Whenever you become stressed, your body responds by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate, flooding your body with stress hormones and tightening up your muscles. When you are stressed all the time, the chronic tension causes your muscles to become sore, weak and loaded with trigger points. If you are stressed out all of the time and you have low back pain, it is important to do some relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, as well as to get regular exercise.
Treating Low Back Pain With Chiropractic
Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is usually pretty straightforward. Most commonly, it's simply a matter of adjusting the lower lumbar vertebrae and pelvis to re-establish normal motion and position of your bones and joints.
Chiropractic for the low back has been repeatedly shown to be the most effective treatment for low back pain.
In fact, major studies have shown that chiropractic care is more effective, cheaper and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment. This makes sense because chiropractic care is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine.
All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.
Chiropractic for the low back has been repeatedly shown to be the most effective treatment for low back pain.
In fact, major studies have shown that chiropractic care is more effective, cheaper and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment. This makes sense because chiropractic care is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine.
All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.