What You Should Know About Back Pain

Back pain is a debilitating and uncomfortable pain that can affect anyone regardless of their age or occupation. Our backs are made up of segments that work together in supporting our body and helping us to move. These are; disks, bones, ligaments, complex muscle structures, and tendons.

Types of Back Pain

• Upper back pain. It is caused by inflammation of the spine, tumors inside the chest, or a disorder of the aorta.
• Lower back pain occurs due to problems on the; lower back muscles, vertebrae discs, internal organs of the abdomen and pelvis, or ligaments around the discs and spine.
• Acute back pain starts suddenly but does not last for more than six weeks.
• Chronic back pain develops over time and persists for over three months.

Causes of Back Pain

• Strain of back muscles or spinal ligaments. This strain occurs when you; lift something too heavy, lift something in the wrong manner or make awkward abrupt movements.
• Poor posture while carrying out everyday activities. This may be;
  • Straining the neck forward while driving or using a computer
  • Bending, sitting, or standing for a long time
  • Using a mattress that gives no support to your body or keeps your spine straight
• Small fractures in the vertebrae known as compression fractures caused by osteoporosis which is the thinning of the spine’s vertebrae resulting in loss of the bone’s density.
• Ruptured and bulging disks in the vertebrae, which add pressure to the nerves causing back pain.
• Spinal Stenosis. This is the narrowing of the space surrounding the spinal cord resulting in distress in the lower back and hip joints.
• Kidney infections and kidney stones
• Cancer of the spine
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Bladder infections
• Cauda equine syndrome. This is a loss of nerve function at the lower spinal cord.

Symptoms of Back pain

• A dull ache at your lower back that may be accompanied by swelling or inflammation
• Weakness, numbness, and a tingling sensation in one or both legs
• Shooting/stabbing pain that radiates down the leg to your foot
• Throbbing sensation in the abdomen
• Fever
• Pain in the back when standing straight
• Inability to control the bowels or bladder
• Weight loss
• Constant pain that intensifies at night
• Numbness around the anus, genitals, or buttocks

Back Pain Management

When you go for back pain treatment near you, the doctor will first diagnose your back pain. Diagnosis is made by asking questions about the symptoms, taking imaging scans, or carrying out a physical exam. Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will recommend either of these treatments:

• Home-based treatment, which may include over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, rest, or applying hot or cold compresses on the aching area
• Medical treatments like prescribed medication and Cortisone injections
• Surgery to remove and replace disks and vertebrae to relieve pain
• Alternative medicine, which includes therapy, relaxation techniques, and chiropractic treatment. These are natural approaches that do not require drugs to relieve back pain.

Chiropractic treatment at Diversified Chiropractic is a back pain treating method that involves hands-on manipulation of the spine, among other treatments and techniques. It aims at; relieving back pain, restoring function, and preventing further injury. A chiropractor improves the patient’s range and quality of motion by using controlled, sudden force. Our chiropractor in 49686 incorporates rehabilitation, exercise, and nutritional counseling into the treatment plan. If you are looking for a chiropractor near you, make a stop at our medical clinic.

There are several types of chiropractic adjustments and techniques. They are;

• The activator method. A small spring-loaded device called an activator is used to change the tone of the nervous system. Its gentle impulsive force restores motion to the targeted joint or spinal vertebrae.
• Soft tissue therapy treatment. This is a clinical massage that helps toxins to be released and improve blood circulation. The chiropractor mainly focuses on the body’s soft tissues like tendons, muscles, connective tissue, and joints.
• The diversified technique. A chiropractor restores the patient’s spinal alignment and increases the motion range. This is done by applying rapid thrusts to different areas of the spine at a time using the hands.
• Flexion-distraction treatments. This treatment relieves pressure off injured or dysfunctional spinal nerves.
• Logan basic treatment. It’s an adjustment technique that requires the chiropractor to apply pressure on a spot on the sacral bone. It relieves tension from the back muscles.
• Thompson drop-table technique. Normal nerve function, pain relief, increased body function, and reduced stress are some benefits of this technique.