Low Back Pain and You
By Sara Butler
If you suffer from low back pain, you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 31 million Americans suffer from lower back pain each year. It’s the No. 1 cause of missed work and disability in the United States today. Suffice to say, lower back pain is a pretty significant problem. But it’s a problem your chiropractor can help you to address.
The Causes of Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain comes in all shapes and sizes, but it is mostly caused by mechanics. If you’re suffering from back pain that isn’t the result of a disease process but is caused by damage to your spine, ligaments or muscles, then it was probably caused by a lower back injury such as:
- Ruptured disc in your back
- Spraining of a ligament or muscle
- Joints that are irritated
- Sports injuries
- Accidents
- Improper lifting technique
These are common problems and injuries, but you can also have back pain as the result of a disease process such as:
- Arthritis
- Bone loss
- Poor posture
- Kidney stones or infections
- Obesity
- Emotional or psychological distress
If you’re experiencing low back pain, it’s always important to have it checked out in order to make sure it’s not a more serious problem than just a pulled muscle.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
You chiropractor can help you to manage your back pain in several ways. At The Joint Chiropractic, your chiropractor will do an exam in order to determine if you have any joint restrictions or dysfunctions contributing to your symptoms. If you do, a manual adjustment can correct it, and the chiropractor may also try to help you determine if there are any lifestyle choices or habits that may be contributing to the problem.
Other things your chiropractor may recommend to help you deal with back pain include:
- Ice or heat therapy – The use of ice packs or heating pads can help to reduce inflammation (in the case of ice) and relax muscles (in the case of heat). This can help you to control your pain naturally.
- Massage – Your chiropractor may recommend a local massage therapist to help.
- Exercise – Exercise and stretches can help to relieve back pain. Contrary to what you may have heard, prolonged bed rest will probably not help but make the problem worse.
If you have questions about back pain you’re experiencing, discuss them with your chiropractor the next time you’re at The Joint.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.