Low back pain is a prevalent ailment we treat at our wellness center. Nearly everyone will suffer from lower back pain at some point. According to a recent study, lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Fortunately, it often improves on its own. If it does not, we can assist you with various helpful therapies. Some causes of lower back pain include:
- Sedentary lifestyle: people who spend a lot of time sitting and lying down are more prone to developing low back pain, as this position puts a lot of strain on the lower back muscles and joints.
- Poor posture: Poor posture, such as sitting with poor lumbar support, can lead to muscle imbalances and put excess strain on the lower back.
How The Muscles, Joints, Discs, and Nerves Contribute to Low Back Pain
- Muscles: The low back muscles help support the spine and assist with movement. Strains or sprains in these muscles can lead to low back pain.
- Discs: The discs in the spine act as shock absorbers and help cushion the vertebrae. When a disc becomes damaged or degenerated, it can herniate or bulge, putting pressure on nearby nerves and causing low back pain.
- Joints: The joints in the lower back, called facet joints, can become strained or injured, leading to pain. Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis can also affect the low back joints and cause pain.
- Nerves: the nerves in the lower back can be compressed or irritated, leading to pain. It can be caused by conditions such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Why It’s Important to Address Pain ASAP
- Early treatment can help prevent the pain from worsening: if low back pain is left untreated, it can lead to more chronic or severe pain. Addressing the pain early on can help prevent it from escalating and potentially causing more long-term damage.
- Low back pain can impact daily activities: low back pain can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, such as standing, walking, sitting, and lifting. Addressing the pain early on can help improve the quality of life and reduce the impact on daily activities.
- Low back pain can lead to other health problems: chronic low back pain can lead to other health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Addressing the pain early on can help prevent these additional health issues from developing.
- Early treatment can help reduce the risk of disability: low back pain left untreated can lead to disability, which can significantly impact a person’s ability to work and participate in daily activities. Addressing the pain early on can help reduce the risk of disability and improve the overall quality of life.
What Happens if You Don’t Care for Low Back Pain
Why a Chiropractor is the Best Option for Care
How We Treat Low Back Pain
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
We employ comprehensive consultations and examinations to obtain information about a patient’s condition and formulate a treatment plan. It often entails a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s medical history, a physical examination, and possibly diagnostic procedures such as x-rays or MRIs.
Specific Chiropractic Care
Spinal manipulation, which includes applying force to the spine to increase mobility and reduce pain, and spinal mobilization, which involves applying gentle, low-force movements to the spine to enhance mobility and reduce pain, are two typical treatments we employ to treat lower back pain. In addition, we employ various methods, including massage, stretches, and exercise, to lessen lower back discomfort.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
We create a therapeutic exercise program tailored to your unique needs and limits. A customized program can aid in strengthening the muscles that support the spine, enhancing flexibility and range of motion, and alleviating pain and discomfort.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression is a sort of treatment used to relieve lower back pain. This procedure is frequently used to address herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis.
Deep Tissue Laser
Deep tissue laser is a non-invasive treatment that uses laser energy to speed up healing and reduce inflammation in the deep tissue layers of the body. We sometimes use this method to treat lower back pain and other musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis.
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
Bulged Lumbar Discs
When a bulging lumbar disc presses on spinal nerves, it can cause lower back pain. The lower back discs (lumbar spine) have a soft, spongy center and a harder layer surrounding them. A bulging disc indicates the soft center has pushed through a crack or tear in the outer layer. It can cause the disc to press against adjacent nerves, resulting in lower back pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, and weakness in the legs.
Herniated Lumbar Discs
When a lumbar disc herniates, it can put pressure on the nerves in the lower back, which can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the lower back and legs. The severity of the pain can vary, depending on the size and location of the herniated disc and the amount of pressure it puts on the nerves.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is when the discs in the spine begin to degenerate and break down. The discs have a soft, gel-like interior encircled by a strong outer covering. They provide cushions between the spine’s bones, allowing the spine to move and bend while providing support. When the discs are damaged or degrade, they can no longer provide appropriate cushioning and support, resulting in lower back pain.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a spinal canal narrowing, including the spinal cord and nerve roots. This constriction can pressure the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing pain and other symptoms.
Muscle Strain
When the lower back muscles are stressed, they can become inflamed and sore. Depending on the intensity of the strain, this can result in mild to severe lower back pain. The discomfort could be acute and restricted to the damaged muscle or more diffuse and spread across the lower back.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
The SI joint connects the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine) to the ileum (a pelvic bone). SI joint dysfunction can cause low back pain because it transmits tension between the upper and lower extremities.
Inflammation, muscle imbalances, and anatomical abnormalities cause SI joint dysfunction. SI joint
Facet Joint Dysfunction
Facet joint dysfunction occurs when the facet joints, which are tiny joints positioned between the vertebrae in the spine, become inflamed or injured. It can result in several lower back issues, such as pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.
Subluxation
A misalignment or partial dislocation of a vertebra in the spine is referred to as a subluxation. This misalignment can cause pain and discomfort in the lower back and other body parts.
FAQs
When Should I Be Worried About Lower Back Pain?
If you experience any soreness in your lower back, you should seek emergency medical attention. Low back discomfort is your body’s warning system that something is amiss. Pain is usually the last thing to occur and the first thing to leave; therefore, we want to deal with it as soon as it appears to avoid becoming a chronic condition.
What Can I Do to Relieve My Lower Back Pain?
We addressed how to relieve lower back pain above, but the best thing to do is contact us so that we can assess the source of your pain and provide more precise treatment choices.
How Do I Know if My Back Pain Is Serious?
With a competent medical evaluation, determining whether your back discomfort is serious might be easy. However, some general guidelines might help you assess whether your back pain is serious:
Seek medical assistance if your back pain is severe, has lasted more than a few days, or is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Standing or walking difficulties
- Difficulties urinating or passing stools
- Numbness or tingling in the legs
- A high fever
- Unanticipated weight loss
- A cancer history
If your back pain is causing you substantial discomfort or interfering with your normal activities, you should seek medical assistance.
If any of the following red-flag symptoms accompany your back discomfort, contact your healthcare provider:
- Acute, excruciating pain
- Radiating pain down your legs
- Pain that worsens as you lie down
- Fever, nausea, or vomiting in addition to pain
What Causes Lower Back Pain?
As discussed above, lower back pain is a common complaint with many causes. Some of the most common causes of lower back pain include muscular strains or sprains, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, facet joint dysfunction, and degenerative disc disease, among many others. It is always a good idea to consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
How Should I Sleep With Lower Back Pain?
You can try the following at home remedies to help relieve lower back pain while sleeping:
- Use a supportive mattress: A firm mattress can help relieve lower back pain.
- Use a pillow to support your knees: Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees can help keep your spine in a neutral position and reduce strain on your lower back.
- Sleeping on your back with a pillow between your knees can also help relieve pressure on your lower back.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach: Sleeping on your stomach puts strain on your lower back and may aggravate your pain.
- Stretching your back and hips before bed will help release tight muscles and improve your sleep posture.
If your lower back pain persists or becomes severe, you should see a doctor for a correct diagnosis and treatment.
How Do I Tell if Lower Back Pain Is Muscle or Disc-Related?
With a good examination and diagnostic procedures, determining the exact reason for lower back pain might be easier. However, several general characteristics may indicate that a muscle or a disc causes the pain:
Lower back pain caused by muscle:
- You might feel achy and sore.
- Movement may help you feel better.
- Muscle strains or spasms may cause it.
- It may be relieved by Heat, massages, and over-the-counter pain drugs
Lower back pain caused by disc:
- It could feel sharp or stabbing.
- Movement may make you feel worse.
- A herniated disc or degenerative disc disease may be to blame.
- It may be relieved by rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications
If you are having lower back discomfort, it is critical to get medical attention for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. They will be able to discover the source of your discomfort and advise you on the best way to manage it.
Can a Chiropractor Help With Lower Back Pain?
Our primary area of expertise is in detecting and treating neuromuscular problems, particularly through spinal manipulation and adjustment. Our chiropractic services can help alleviate your lower back pain.
If you are in need of top-notch chiropractic services, schedule a meeting with us. We shall respond to any of your needs.
