Welcome to the #1 pain complaint! 85% of Americans will experience back pain ofsome sort in their lifetime. The fact is, there are over 30 million Americans that are experiencing back pain at this moment.
Chiropractors are at the forefront in treating back pain. The causes for low back pain are injuries, accidents, repetitive stressful movements, heavy lifting, and chronic misalignments of the spine and pelvis.
Though not intentionally, we put our backs through some pretty rigorous workouts! We carry loads that are too heavy, our posture may not be the best, and we take on tasks without even thinking about how hard it is on our backs. These actions lead to pain because we’ve put too much stress on our muscles, as well as the tendons, ligaments, discs, the cartilage that lines the joints and the capsules that hold our joints together. When you think of all the parts working together, it’s no wonder we hurt.
Disc bulges or herniations. Perhaps the most common and certainly the most painful cause of low back pain is a disc bulge or herniation. Most of the patients seen in the Family Chiropractic office have lumbar disc degeneration, a bulging of the disc, or a herniation of the disc. Sometimes they have all three. Discs can wear out because the vertebrae are not aligned properly (much like the tires of your car being out of alignment and wearing out prematurely). As the disc wears out, it will start to narrow and bulge. As the discs bulge, the fibers on the outside of the disc can rupture, spilling their contents onto the nerves and spinal cord. When that happens, the patient feels intense and severe pain.
Left uncorrected, the central part of the disc will herniate (or spill) outside the disc, frequently causing direct compression of the spinal nerve, the spinal cord, or both. The pain for all of these conditions can be severe – with pain radiating either up the spine, across the pelvis, or down the leg towards the foot. Sometimes the leg and foot go numb. It is not possible to put the herniation back into the disc, but by correcting the alignment of the spine, we can relieve the pressure on the nerve, and the symptoms can decrease. This spinal manipulation allows patients to return to normal activities. Even more important, chiropractic treatment has been shown to prevent further herniation and wear on the discs – relieving patients of the associated pain. If you feel you have a problem with a disc, contact the Family Chiropractic Center and let us help get you back on your feet.
Lumbar joint pain (Facet Syndrome). Another cause of low back pain happens as discs wear out and become narrower. The vertebrae can become rotated or tilted out of position, creating wear and tear on the joints of the lumbar spine. (These are called the facet joints). When facet joints are injured, intense pain can be created throughout the middle and low back. Symptoms of lumbar or facet joint pain include pain when walking, standing or sitting that is relieved by bending forward or lying down. As the cartilage in our discs wears out, it does not grow back. Therefore, it is imperative that the structure and function of the spine is addressed regularly. Regular treatment not only addresses the original pain, but helps to prevent degeneration and the return of pain.
Chiropractic subluxations. Chiropractic subluxations occur when two vertebrae of the spine are not aligned properly. This misalignment or dysfunctional movement of a joint, particularly in the spine, can interfere with nerve function and overall health. This misalignment decreases normal movement, increases muscle spasm, and creates a compression on the spinal nerve which will decrease the function of all of our organs.
Lumbar sprains and strains. Lumbar sprains occur when there is injury to the ligaments, which hold the bones of our spines together. Strains are injury to the muscles or their tendons. Both sprains and strains can arise from mild trauma, such as repetitive light lifting or standing in a slightly flexed posture (such as brushing your teeth or washing dishes). Mild repetitive moments can also include running, walking, elliptical, biking, gardening and swimming – particularly when these activities are overdone or not performed properly. The pain from sprains and strains develops slowly, with a gradual increase in pain that disrupts your life. The most common cause of sprain/strain injuries is lifting something heavy – frequently coupled with twisting, reaching and leaning. The pain is immediate and debilitating.
As an expert in both soft tissues and the bones of your spine, Dr. Staley can help with that acute pain, correcting structural problems, and helping you modify activities that cause pain.
