When Back Pain Strikes!
By Sara Butler
It’s OK to admit that you’ve felt pain in your back as the result of something that seemed quite innocent. You may have been bending over to pick up something from the floor or you may have sneezed or coughed and ouch -- back pain strikes! The chiropractors at The Joint know that sometimes things that seem as if they shouldn’t cause you pain or discomfort, can. If you’ve ever wondered why your back hurts when you sneeze or a cough, here’s what you need to know!
Is it Lower Back Strain?
The bones in your spine, the vertebrae, are held together by a complex series of ligaments and muscles. When you participate in activities that place a strain on these structures, tiny tears in the tissue can result and that can impact their stability. When it happens in the lower back, it’s called lower back strain. Symptoms aren’t just limited to the lower back though, you can feel pain in your shoulders, chest, back, or buttocks too.
If you suffer from a lower back strain, then activities that use other parts of your body that seem unrelated to your lower back can cause problems. This is due to the fact that the nerves in your lower back are connected by intricate pathways of nerve fibers that run over your entire body. Lower back strain can cause pain during coughing and sneezing and can also cause:
- Muscle spasms
- Pain while yawning or stretching
- Pain in the groin or upper thighs
What You Should Do
When the pain in your lower back strikes after a cough, sneeze, or some other activity, it’s probably only temporary and will resolve on its own. But some of the symptoms of lower back strain can be very similar to more serious conditions, which is why they need evaluation by a medical professional just like the chiropractors at The Joint.
Treatments
Chiropractors treat lower back strain in a few ways. You should stop whatever activity you’re doing that is causing you pain until you can get an evaluation. You can also apply ice to the affected area. Your chiropractor may recommend a series of exercises or stretches that can help to strengthen your lower back and muscles that support your spine. They will also perform adjustments to help remove joint restrictions and dysfunctions that are contributing to your lower back issues.
Back pain when sneezing, coughing, or after some other task can mean you've got issues with the health of your spine. See your chiropractor at The Joint to help set you straight!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.