Did you know that 80% of all the people in the world suffer from various degrees of back pain at some point? Back pain stands just behind upper respiratory tract infections as the number 2 most common reason to visit a doctor. The lower back is very susceptible to pain and injury because it is an unstable member of the spine. This instability is what grants us a good deal of mobility and allows us to tie our shoes into a knot or pick something up from the ground.
The lower back can withstand a great deal of force as long as it is healthy and in the right alignment. Power lifters picking up a few hundred pounds of weight without back injuries is an example of this sustainability. When the lower back is out of alignment however, the simple task of carrying a bag of groceries or bending down to pet your dog can lead to a serious lower back injury.
It is important to know that back pain does not go away on its own. The symptoms may decrease after a while but that is just temporary relief. The symptoms will eventually come back usually more painful than ever. When this happens, your best choice is to contact us for a professional chiropractic care. We can help you alleviate that recurring pain and get your life back on track!
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain can come from many different physical conditions such as ruptured disks, inflamed joints, and sprained ligament or muscles. It can also arise from medical conditions such as obesity, stress, arthritis, and poor posture. It is not uncommon to have lower back pain when you have kidney problems and bone density issues as well.
Subluxations
This is caused by an abnormal position in the vertebrae, which leads to inflammation and a painful back. Normal movement becomes excruciating, as this condition affects the lumbar spine, transitioning between the sacrum and the lower spine. Fortunately, subluxations can easily be fixed and there is often an immediate alleviation of discomfort after treatment is administered.
A herniated disc does not necessarily translate to lower back pain. Beware though, as herniated discs often cause extreme pain that will radiate to other parts of your body. Unfortunately, when a disc herniates it rarely goes back to normal. Preventive chiropractic care can be scheduled to avoid further deterioration.
Spasms, Strains and Sprains
The common enemy of weekend warriors. Overworking the muscles and ligaments that are rarely exercised during the weekdays can cause the tissue to develop small contusions, which leads to swelling, tightness and pain.
Stress
Stress in the body causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, tightening up the muscles and flooding you with stress hormones. Stress is not meant to be constantly present within our bodies. Chronic tension from stress wears down the muscles until they become weak, sore, and laden with trigger points. For those who have constant lower back pain and are stressed all the time, physicians recommend regular exercise and deep breathing as a relaxing break.
"I was referred to Dr. Schneider by my son-in-law due to severe low back and leg pain. Prior to my first visit, I was skeptical and reluctant to go. However, after my initial consultation, I immediately felt comfortable and confident about my care. I was placed on a treatment plan that included spinal adjustments and spinal decompression.
By the end of my treatment plan, I was pain free! I can now “do pretty much anything that I want to do.” I am now able to golf, fish, work in the yard, walk, and play with my dog without pain! I am so happy to know that I have avoided heavy pain medication and surgery.
My experience at Schneider Clinic has been great. Dr. Schneider takes a personal interest in his patients and completely explains his findings from the x-rays taken and how he is going to treat your problem. His staff and nurses are all very proficient and friendly.
I am currently now on a maintenance treatment plan which means that I have my spine checked once a month. Dr. Schneider checks my spine and works on any areas that need adjusting. He is keeping me healthy and feeling good! I am a chiropractic patient for life!"
~Jon
Causes of Upper Back and Neck Pain
When you are experiencing any of the causes presented above, don't hesitate to contact us for an immediate professional chiropractic consultation. Chiropractic treatment is a safe and straightforward process that adjusts your pelvis and lower lumbar vertebrae to bring back the normal range of motion and reestablish the original position of your joints and bones. Chiropractic care has been proven to be very effective in treating lower back pain, and it provides more long-term success than any other treatment. Other methods such as pain killers and muscle relaxants can temporarily alleviate pain but do not address the root cause of the lower back pain.
We don’t always realize how much we move our necks until it becomes painful for us to do it. The neck's amazing flexibility coupled with only a few muscles for stabilization and for carrying your head makes it susceptible to various injuries. Imagine a heavy bowling bowl balanced by a few elastic bands, a delicate balance would be needed.
The spine runs through spacing in the vertebrae and sends millions of nerve impulses around the body. In between the cervical vertebrae are large nerve bundles that run down to the arms and on the upper back. Aches and strain in the arm might translate to a neck problem in this manner. Some of the symptoms you might experience are numbness, "pins and needles", and tingling sensations. This can sometimes lead to a case of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The neck and the upper back are often considered one unit because the muscles that make up the neck and the upper back are all connected together. These muscles are the cervical paraspinal muscles, scalenes, levator scapulae, trapezius, and other minor ones.
Neck and upper back pain can come from many common causes such as poor posture, stress, disc problems, injury and chiropractic subluxations.
Injuries
Whiplash injuries make up most of the common neck and upper back problems. Whiplash is when the head moves suddenly in any direction- forward, sideways, or backward and causes damage to the muscles, tissues, and ligaments that connect the upper back and the neck. These types of life-threatening injuries should never be taken lightly, and the symptoms may take a while to manifest. If you have been in a similar situation such as a motor accident, have your neck checked by a professional chiropractor for an expert diagnosis.
Poor posture is very common in today's world since most people sit down for a prolonged period of time. It is easy to forget about good posture when you are engrossed in browsing the web or reading your favorite book. A good practice to keep in mind is not to hunch or bend your back, or sit in one position for a long time. Keep your head at a neutral position whenever possible.
Subluxations
Subluxations are actually understandably common since there is constant stress being applied to holding up the head while keeping it balanced in the cervical spine area. You can self-check for signs of subluxations when you look in the mirror. Your head or shoulder tilted slightly more to one side than the other is a common sign. You may also notice this when a sleeve is slightly longer than the other. FHP, or forward head posture, occurs in people who spend all day stooped in front of their computers. Subluxations should be treated as soon as they are identified to keep them from getting any worse.
Stress
People unconsciously contract their muscles whenever they are stressed. The muscle-guarding action is actually a defense against a perceived threat. The first muscle groups that tense are the muscles on the lower and upper back, and the neck. The trapezius muscle is particularly vulnerable when stress strikes, developing trigger points and invariably becoming tight. Reduce the effects of physical stress by taking up regular exercise and finding time for deep breathing sessions. You will find that this immensely helps in reducing pain and tightness in your neck and upper back.
The discs in the cervical spine may bulge or herniate as pressure is put on the nerve area. There is a lesser chance of cervical discs experiencing herniation as compared to lumbar discs, but it does happen, especially in whiplash events.
A lot of times the lower back will bother you because you have overused the muscles of the lower back, possibly you have sprained the muscles of the lower back, or maybe strained the muscles of the lower back. Sometimes that's from overuse and repetitive motion.
The discs make up the fluid-filled sac between the bones of your spine and those discs can sometimes tear, leak the fluid out onto the nerve, or sometimes herniate out of the side of their capsule and end up pinching the nerve that is coming out between your vertebrae.
Unfortunately, most people in their lifetime will actually have a problem with their lower back. It is the number one reason that people miss work. It is also a very common, not just in the United States, but worldwide.
People may think that poor posture is the cause of their back problems. That is not the case with the patients that I see. Most of the time, they have poor posture because of their back problem. They can not be comfortable in standing normal, standing erect, or in keeping their head positioned right, their shoulders pulled back.
It just simply isn't comfortable for them to do have good posture because of the back problem that they are having.
REMEMBER! It is important to know that lower back pain does not go away on its own. Although you may have some temporary relief from time to time, the pain will almost always come back and when it does it is usually much worse than before. When that happens you know it's time to give us a call. We'd be happy to take care of you.