Lower Back Pain – When to See a Chiropractor

According to a study by the NCBI over 80% of people worldwide will experience lower back pain some time in their life. Lower back pain is the second most common cause of disability in the U.S. It is also one of the leading reasons people visit the doctor and miss days of work.

Most often when patients experience back pain the condition is benign and with proper care will resolve in a few months. In some cases, the pain will persist for longer than three months and become a chronic condition. For patients with chronic back pain, a more in-depth care plan is needed to ultimately improve the patient’s quality of life and restore their ability to perform and enjoy everyday activities.

Symptoms of lower back pain:

•         Muscle spasms
•         Shooting or sharp ache
•         Pain that increases with bending or lifting
•         Pain that radiates down through the hips to the legs
•         Weakness or numbness in the legs
•         Painful squeezing sensation
•         Inability to sit or stand comfortably

Chiropractors specialize in understanding the mechanical nature of the spine and the body. Whether your back pain is the result of everyday stressors, an injury, or a more serious underlying issue a chiropractor can help you get back to pain-free living with a natural and drug-free treatment plan.

Some common causes of lower back pain are:

•         Muscle and ligament strains
•         Spinal degeneration
•         Bulging or herniated discs
•         Osteoporosis
•         Arthritis
•         Skeletal irregularities
•         Stress

Being overweight, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, age, and smoking can all contribute to a higher risk of experiencing lower back pain. With such a broad range of risk factors, a chiropractor will work with their patient to not only perform spinal adjustments and massage therapies but a complete lifestyle assessment to address and improve their patient’s overall health now and in the future.

Chiropractic Treatment for Lower Back Pain

Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal ailments. Every patient’s treatment is different, but a chiropractor will generally perform a series of spinal manipulations combined with heat or cold therapies, massage, and a recommended stretching and exercise plan.

Common Chiropractic treatments for lower back pain:

•         Spinal Manipulation
•         Heat Therapy
•         Cold Therapy
•         Stretching and Exercise

In my office, I utilize the Thompson Drop-Table Technique for the treatment of lower back pain. This technique allows me to perform gentle adjustments to the lumbar spine, sacral, and pelvic area. After an adjustment is performed, I usually like to stretch the patient (if applicable) and possibly apply some cold laser therapy to break up inflammation. I will also instruct the patient to ice down when at home to prevent any soreness and to continue to decrease the inflammation

For my elderly patients with lower back pain, I may choose to utilize the Ultra -Align computerized adjusting technique. Due to the lack of mobility of some patients due to severe age-related arthritis, this is a nice alternative that requires little movement on their part.

An estimated 7.7 million Americans have visited a chiropractor in the last year for relief from their lower back pain.  At McKenna Family Chiropractic lower back pain treatment begins with a thorough physical examination, a lifestyle and wellness assessment, and an order for X-rays when required.