Here's why you may be experiencing back pain and how to treat it
If you're struggling with chronic back pain, you're not alone. Millions of people around the country end up missing work, having limited mobility and even temporarily becoming disabled due to back pain.
Your back is a complex part of the body, consisting of the spinal cord and millions of nerve endings. The spinal cord consists of a series of vertebrae connected by discs. If any imbalance occurs in this system, you may experience back pain and require treatment. The good news is that many forms of back pain can be treated using chiropractic techniques. Medication and surgery are rarely necessary to treat lower back pain unless the problem has become increasingly complex.
Here are some of the most common causes of back pain and how a chiropractor comes in handy.
1. Herniated disc
A herniated disc is one of the most common causes of back pain. It happens when a disc in between your vertebrae slips out of position, causing a compression of nearby nerve endings.
A herniated disc causes chronic pain in the lower back region, and it can affect your level of activity on a daily basis. It typically occurs due to the disc becoming worn out or damaged as a result of heavy impact (such as a fall or a car accident).
How chiropractic treatment can help
A chiropractor can treat a herniated disc in many different ways. Treatment plans include easing the symptoms of your condition and attempting to reposition the disc that is out of place. Gentle spinal manipulation exercises can be used to ease discomfort and re-sort the position of your nerves.
2. A constricted spinal cord
For your spinal cord to move freely, it needs to have enough space for all vertebrae and nerve endings. In some cases, you may have a fractured bone, heavy bone density or other deformities that limit the amount of room near your spinal cord. This leads to a constricted spinal canal that can cause back pain.
How chiropractic treatment can help
A chiropractor can design a customised treatment plan to help you prevent spinal canal constriction. This may include manual therapy to adjust bone positioning and other techniques that may be aimed at easing pain and discomfort. Medical treatment may also be necessary to fix a fractured bone if it's causing the constriction.
3. Injury to nerve endings
There are millions of nerve endings along your back. If any of these nerves are constricted or damaged as a result of bulging discs of fractured vertebrae, you may experience chronic back pain.
How chiropractic treatment can help
A chiropractor canexamine your entire spinal cord to identify the damaged nerve endings that are causing discomfort (and recommend an appropriate treatment plan).
