Back Pain & Injuries
You Don’t Have To Live In Pain
Back Pain interferes with every aspect of your day. Don’t continue living a limited life.
Back Pain
The spine is one of the most important parts of our nervous system, but it takes a lot of abuse in our daily lives. Our spinal cord allows us to support our upright, bipedal posture. The way you sit at your desk, how you lift heavy objects, and more can affect your spine. Back pain can come from a variety of spinal and musculoskeletal strains or issues. A chiropractic assessment is a good way to help you find the relief your back needs.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a common ailment, and most people can expect to suffer some form of it at some point in their lives. Usually, it is triggered by everyday activities, but also can be aggravated by accidents. Typically, symptoms of lower back pain signal that the structure of your lower back (the muscles, joints, discs, and vertebrae) has weakened over time and has decreased in stability and functionality. This compromised structure cannot support your spine adequately, causing pain and loss of movement.
Sciatica and the Lower Back
Sciatica is nerve pain resulting from irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. Pain usually radiates from the lower back and buttock to behind the thigh and radiates below the knee. There are many reasons why the sciatic nerve can become irritated; most commonly, sciatica is the result of a lumbar disk herniation directly pressing on the nerve. Other causes of sciatica include irritation of the nerve from spasms, stenosis, and inflammation.
Chiropractic care can provide effective means of targeting the lower back. Chiropractic interventions that have proven effective include spinal manipulation, Cox Flexion-Distraction, Active Release Therapy, and the Graston technique.
Disc Herniations
A herniated, slipped, ruptured, or bulging disc refers to the damage to the tissue that separates the vertebral bones of the spinal column. These small, spongy, structures are natural shock absorbers for the spine but are vulnerable to strain and injury. When a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open, resulting in a herniated disc.
The herniated disc may create pressure against one or more of the spinal nerves. Generally, this leads to pain, weakness, or numbness in the area. The severity of symptoms generally depends on the location and size of the herniation. If the disc herniation is extremely large, it can press on spinal nerves on both sides of the body, resulting in severe pain and weakness of the lower extremities. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, but are most common in the lower back (lumbar spine). Some happen in the neck (cervical spine) and, more rarely, in the upper back (thoracic spine).
Spinal Stenosis and Degenerative Disc Disease
Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the central spinal canal. It is most commonly the result of degenerative arthritis of the discs between the vertebrae, which causes compression of the spinal cord, therefore, causing back and leg pain. This most commonly occurs in the lower back, but can also occur in the neck and less frequently in the upper back. Symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on the location of the irritated nerves. When stenosis occurs in the neck, it may cause unusual sensations. These can occur in the arms or legs, can affect mobility, and possibly lead to incontinence. When the lower back is affected, the classic symptom is pain. This pain will often radiate down both legs while walking and is alleviated with rest.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) refers to the gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae. It is part of the natural aging process, and can also occur as a result of injury. While generally painless in its early stages, degeneration of the disc tissue makes the disc more susceptible to herniation. This leads to spinal pain, muscle spasms, and inflammation in the affected area. Any level of the spine can undergo disc degeneration.
Effective conservative treatment options for both spinal stenosis and DDD include chiropractic interventions such as manual chiropractic treatments and Cox Flexion-Distraction. Rehabilitation such as isolated spinal stabilization can be especially helpful with regaining normal function and improving your ability to perform daily activities.
From head to toe, the human body consists of working parts that have the tendency to become injured, break down from overuse, cause pain, and require attention. These conditions may require attention including chiropractic care and rehabilitation which can be helpful in relieving these painful conditions.
