Does Your Lower Back Hurt?
Oh, the agony of lower back pain! It can be minor and temporary, from occasional overuse, or it can come from a more complex condition that has worsened over time and now refers pain to your upper and/or lower extremities. Either way, there are many causes of lower back pain.
Back Pain Severely Limits Your Life
A study published in JAMA Network Open estimates that “low back pain is among the top 10 diseases and injuries that account for the highest number of DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years, or years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death) worldwide. A sore back is not only common, but it can affect every area of your life.
Common Symptoms and Causes of Back Pain
Back pain can present itself in many ways. You may have a dull, aching pain in your lumbar region, which may also include muscle spasms. When pain radiates to your hips and pelvis, it may become impossible to walk. Perhaps you have lower back pain and stiffness when getting out of bed in the morning or after sitting for extended periods.
Maybe your discomfort cannot be described other than to say you are miserable.
We understand that lower back soreness can seriously limit your freedom and we’d like to help you. Today, the lower back pain experts at Fargo Spine Clinic will discuss a few of the common causes of lower back pain.
1. Sprains and Strains
If you have a weakened lower back due to a sedentary lifestyle or previous injury, then you are more prone to pulled muscles, sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries. A sprain injury results from overextending a muscle, while a strain is caused by an overstretched tendon.
These conditions can be equally painful and may develop over time as the result of aging or repetitive motion, or come on at once, due to an accident, heavy lifting, or sudden movement. Seek the help of an experienced chiropractor right away to ensure fast, effective healing of sprains and strains.
2. Lumbar Herniated Discs
Your spine was created with soft, jelly-filled discs that are aligned between the vertebrae. These intervertebral discs act as cushions which enable your spine to move and twist. An accident or even normal use over time, can cause a disc to become misaligned, and bulge or herniate out of the spinal column.
If this herniated disc presses against a nearby nerve or nerve bundle, you can experience severe discomfort. Catching a slipped or bulging disc early can make all the difference in how quickly your body heals, which is why regular chiropractic care is so vital to spine health.
3. Spinal Stenosis
Your spinal column is built to protect the canal at its center, which acts as a pathway or corridor for nerves. This pathway is referred to as the “spinal canal” and the nerves that travel through it as the “spinal cord.” The spinal canal may narrow in one or more places for any number of reasons, including age, overuse, osteoarthritis, tumors, spinal fractures, etc.
This narrowing may put pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing debilitating back and/or chronic neck pain, or numbness, tingling and weakness in your arms and legs. Visit a chiropractor if you are having any of these indicators. He or she will help you get to the root of your issues, rather than simply treating your symptoms.
4. Muscle Imbalances
Poor posture may lead to muscle imbalances in the body. These imbalances may result from overworking or underworking the muscles. This is another instance where the pain may present itself in one area, while the problem really stems from another area of the body.
As muscles lose their ability to function properly, you may experience neck pain, frozen shoulder and lower back discomfort. Regular chiropractic visits will help you maintain good posture and develop even muscle tone, which will help you live a pain-free life!
Get Relief When Your Back is Hurting
At Fargo Spine Clinic, our goal is to pinpoint the source of your lower back pain and create a chiropractic treatment plan that is non-invasive and pharmaceutical-free. We want to help you drastically lower or eliminate your chronic pain so you do not have to resort to drug therapies, muscle relaxants, or surgery, both of which provide short-term, limited benefits. If you live in the Fargo, ND area and are experiencing lower back pain, please call our office to learn how we can help you!