Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common health complication that at some time affects more than 80% of human beings, making it second in commonality only to the common cold. Although many of us are aware that the common cold is due to a viral infection, back pain is often perplexing to its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving that mystery.

Anatomy

Knowledge of the anatomy of the spine is very important in understanding back pain. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are made of posterior joints called facets that connect vertebrae to one another and serve to dictate the movement of the spine. Inter-vertebral discs, made of dense cartilage, join the bodies of the vertebrae. This dense cartilage covers the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The primary function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also connect the vertebrae. The wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine is the sacrum and is joined to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. In a canal positioned between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

More often than not, back pain happens without a trauma, an accident, or a major injury prior to the onset. The cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, bad work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise, and other poor lifestyle-related factors create most back pain.  All of these factors create stresses and imbalances on the spine and eventually cause pain. This is why people can often injure their back merely by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already compromised and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this happens, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles around the spine can come about during and after prolonged sitting, particularly in a slouched position. After a while the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. Finally, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, letting the soft nucleus to bulge the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it creates the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. Sciatica develops when the disc presses on the spinal nerve. The symptoms of sciatica include pain, tingling, numbness, and often weakness in the lower extremities. Occasionally if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition is not managed correctly, surgery is needed to dispose of the herniated disc material. However, with the correct chiropractic adjustments and management, as well as postural exercises, most of these cases can healthfully recover. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms defined above, it is very important for you to seek chiropractic attention.

Spondylosis

Repetitive injury to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments may result in increased erosion and weight-bearing stress on the spine. Bone spurs are produced when the cartilage around the joints is adversely affected by stress that causes calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. These spurs can restrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This compression causes a form of arthritis, called Spondylosis, that can also occur as part of the aging process of the spine. However, influences such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management is extraordinarily helpful in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as aiding Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has assisted many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

Another common area of dysfunction or injury in the low back is in the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are usually very strong and stable. Damage from falls, sports injuries, or the lifting of heavy objects can cause the joints to become unstable and change to an abnormal position.  This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Pregnancy can also cause this condition. The imbalances in the lower extremities caused by sacroiliac subluxation can create a functional long and short leg. Individuals with this condition will feel pain specifically with prolonged standing and walking, or during or after physical activity. Many complain of lack of energy and exhaustion.  Many times this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and individuals can develop neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. Chiropractic adjustments establish the proper alignment of the joints and are extremely affective in eliminating sacroiliac problems. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can experience effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A commonplace disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. Subluxations are not only painful, but they can constrict the nerves as they exit the foramen (or spaces) between the vertebrae, causing paraesthesia. Paraesthesia is a variation of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities more often than notoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is commonly associated with nerve problemsin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also beassociated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best eliminated by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Damage such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can create over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine and lower back and produce extensive pain and immobility. In order to prevent long term disability or the development of any of the conditions listed above, chiropractic adjustments and treatment at the onset of symptoms is very important. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and highly competent treatment for any of the above-mentioned problems of the spine and lower back.