Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain?
Check out this video on how back pain is caused.
Understanding Back Pain Anatomy
Your "lumbar spine", or low back, is constructed and built from five bones that are stacked on top of each other with a shock-absorbing disc between each level.
Your low back is very much reliant on its surrounding muscles and ligaments for support. "Sprains" and "strains" are a direct result of these tissues being stretched too hard or too far, much in the same way that a rope frays when it is stretched beyond its normal capacity.
For those who experience pain with sitting or bending, the discs are often the cause of the pain. Especially in those who have pain without a traumatic event, these disc injuries frequently resolve with a few treatments, specific stretches based in the McKenzie Metod, and modification of movement or changing workstation ergonomics.
Stenosis is also a common cause of lower back pain. This is where the nerves in the lumbar spine can become pinched or experience reduced sliding and gliding within the vertebral foramen. Pain can be felt in the SI joint, buttock, or even into the thigh or leg.
A thorough examination helps us determine what is the cause of your low back pain and allows us to develop a treatment plan aimed at resolving your issue once and for all.
It Is Very Common To Experience Back Pain.
The majority of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lifetime.
Lumbar spine pain can often result from sudden or forceful movements like a fall, twist, lift, push, pull, direct blow, or quickly straightening up from a seated, crouched, or bent position. Most commonly, pain is not the result of any single event, but rather from repeated or sustained overloading.
The spine is very good at being able to manage small isolated stressors, but repetitive challenges often can lead to injury in much the same way that constantly bending a piece of copper wire will cause it to break. Examples of stress that can cause lower back pain include bad postures, sedentary lifestyles, poor-fitting workstations, repetitive movements, improper lifting, or being overweight.
The good news is that our services work wonders for most types of lower back pain so you can feel your best in just a few visits.
Understanding The Symptoms Of Back Pain.
Symptoms from back pain can begin very abruptly but in most cases will actually develop gradually.
Rest may relieve your symptoms in some cases but often leads to stiffness. The pain is generally localized in your lower back but can also spread towards your SI joints, hips, or thighs. In the most severe cases you may even feel pain that extends below your knee or into your foot.
Back Pain Needs Early & Appropriate Treatment
Back injuries can cause your normal healthy elastic tissue to be lost and replaced with less elastic "scar tissue."
This process can lead to an ongoing cycle of pain and even arthritis. Patients who elect to forego treatment and "just deal with it" are known to develop chronic low back pain in 60% of cases.
It is critical to seek early and appropriate treatment like the type we provide. Adjustments, dry needling, and specific rehabilitative exercises can allow your injury to heal properly so you can get back to your normal lifestyle.
Recovering From Lower Back Pain
Depending on how severe your lower back injury is, you may need to limit your activity for a period of time, but our goal is to make that time as short as possible.
Bed rest is not in your best interest. You should only allow yourself to return to normal activities as your symptoms allow.
The short-term use of a lumbar support belt may help reduce your symptoms, but can make your reliant on passive supports. Sitting for prolonged periods makes your back temporarily more vulnerable, so stand up and move around frequently. It may be wise to take "micro-breaks" from workstations for 10 seconds every 20 minutes. Following acute injuries, you can apply ice for 15-20 minutes each hour. Heat may also be helpful after several days or for more chronic origins of pain. Be sure to inform your doctor of your exact situation and to ask for specific ice/heat recommendations. Some patients report partial relief from sports creams, massage, or general stretching.
