What Are The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments For Low Back Pain?

By Jimmy D McCaffs


The low back is the junction between the upper and lower portions of our frame. This results in the area carrying most of the weight of the body. Due to this, it is relatively easy to hurt the back when twisting, reaching, or lifting. Very few are immune to lower back pain and those who experience back pain understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments vary from one person to the next. This article will give more information about what contributes to this type of pain, how to identify it, and treatment methods including spinal manipulation.

Pain in the lower back can be noted anywhere from the top of the legs to below the ribcage. Health care specialists have not identified a single causation but recognize that anything from spinal problems to aging can be contributing factors. A sprain/strain, bulging disc, osteoarthritis, or compression fracture or other injury can cause onset of pain in the lower portion of the back. Even a physical organic illness can lead to low back pain that can persist if left untreated.

Symptoms commonly are dictated by the cause of the condition. Discomfort may be achy and dull, or sharp and concentrated in a localized area or spread diffusely over the lower back. Some people experience spasms of muscles when they have pain. The condition can affect the legs, causing tingling and numbness in the entire lower extremities. If nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord are compressed, a serious medical condition called cauda equina syndrome may occur.

Most pain in the lower back is acute, meaning short-term, so it will disappear on its own within a few weeks. However, people who are under severe stress or are depressed may experience chronic pain, which is long-lasting. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reports that patients with chronic pain in the lower back generally experience positive outcomes from chiropractic care and patients with acute pain recover even faster.

Whether back pain is acute or chronic, chiropractic care involving hands-on spinal manipulations performed by a chiropractic doctor can provide relief by aligning the structures of the spine and pelvis. This safe, low-cost treatment restores proper movement and mobility to the back. Maintenance treatments, stretching and strengthening exercise, and a healthy lifestyle should prolong the positive results.

Once a person experiences lower back pain, the condition is more likely to reoccur. Along with providing care and treatment, a chiropractic doctor will recommend preventative measures including not sleeping on the stomach, utilizing good posture, and avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time. By following a healthy style of life and seeking chiropractic treatment when needed, most anyone can avoid pain in the low back.




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