Low Back Pain: Is it Inevitable?

By Krista Elliott

There are certain things we accept as being normal parts of aging: Our vision starts to go, we have a harder time staying trim, and modern slang confuses the heck out of us (which is OK, because we look REALLY silly if we try using it). One thing that we often accept as a normal part of aging is lower back pain. We figure it's just one of those aches and pains that we have to live with. So we stock up on heating pads, painkillers, and pain relief ointment, and accept the fact that this is just something we have to deal with. 

Or is it? 

Is lower back pain just the price of a long life? Or could it be the sign of something else — something that can be treated with chiropractic care?

Why You Shouldn't Ignore Back Pain

Lower back pain is like that weird noise under your car's hood. You can ignore it for awhile, but it's probably not going away. And the longer you leave it, the worse the outcome usually is.

Low back pain can be a sign of a multitude of injuries or conditions such as: 

• Muscle strains
• Sciatica
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sacroilliac joint disease

These conditions are definitely not a "normal part of aging", and can be addressed with professional chiropractic treatment. 

How Chiropractic Treatment Helps

Chiropractic care is considered a safe and effective treatment for lower back pain, whether it is chronic or acute. Chiropractic doctors, such as you'll find at The Joint Chiropractic, will carefully assess and examine your back to determine the cause of pain and the best plan of treatment. 

Does it work, however? Interestingly, the National Institute of Health has gathered up some fascinating data about spinal manipulation:

A 2011 review of 26 clinical trials looked at the effectiveness of different treatments, including spinal manipulation, for chronic low-back pain. The authors concluded that spinal manipulation is as effective as other interventions for reducing pain and improving function.

The added bonus, however, is that chiropractic treatment is completely natural and drug-free. As we get older, most of us are on some form of medication or another. By choosing chiropractic treatment to handle your lower back pain, you don't have to worry about drug contraindications or your medications reacting poorly with each other or with your evening glass of wine. It's safe, natural, and effective. 

So, you may not be as young as you used to be (goodness knows none of us are), but you don't have to take back pain lying down ... unless you're lying down on a chiropractic treatment table at The Joint!