What You May Not Know About Back Pain
By Sara Butler
Low back pain is really common. In fact, you have an 80 percent chance of experiencing it at some point in your life, according to the American Chiropractic Association. When something is as common as back pain, it’s not unusual for information concerning it to get a little skewed. Since chiropractors feel education is one of the most important things they can provide for their patients, here are a few things you may not know about back pain -- but should.
Is Intense Back Pain an Emergency?
Many people think that if pain is incredibly intense, then it means it’s an emergency. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right, but there is evidence to show that most sources of back pain are manageable and don’t require you to go to the emergency room.
There will always be emergencies, and you should get help right away if you experience a loss of bladder or bowel control. But if that isn’t what is going on, then you should see a chiropractor as soon as you can to help you figure out what the cause of your pain is. If they determine you need to see another specialist or go to the emergency room, they’ll send you there!
Does a lot of Pain Mean a lot of Damage?
As mentioned, pain is your body’s warning system for your brain so it knows when something isn’t right. A chiropractor can help you find the source of the pain, which may not be where you’re feeling the pain at all. Your chiropractor can discover if the pain is coming from your joints, tendons, muscles, ligaments or nerves. Just remember, the intensity of the pain is not directly proportional to the damage done to a part of your body.
Do You Just Need to Stretch?
Stretching may not always be the right thing to do, which is why it’s important to see a chiropractor when you’re experiencing back pain. Some conditions can benefit from stretching, but some may put additional pressure on the discs in your back and cause damage if you stretch them. Rest assured that if stretches will help, your chiropractor can help get you on a stretching and exercise program to help.
If you’re experiencing back pain, don’t hold off on getting help for it. The sooner you discover the root cause with the help of your chiropractor, the sooner you can begin to heal and recover.