“Ouch, my back is so messed up.” How many people have said or have heard this statement before? Way too many! Low back pain is one of the most common conditions that a chiropractor will see. Why is that? Around 84% of the population will experience some form of low back pain in their life. Most of you reading this have either felt low back pain or heard other people talk about their low back pain. Some of you will know EXACTLY what is causing your pain, while the majority will have no idea what is causing their pain.
“Why should I care about low back pain and its causes?” Well, it is the leading cause of disability in the US and impacts function in daily life and at work. None of us want to miss work or the FUN parts of life due to back pain! Knowing a little bit about the causes can help us to avoid future low back pain flare ups, ask the right questions and listen to our bodies.
Low back pain is multi-factorial, meaning it has many causes. Various tissues may be the main source of pain: nerves, nerve roots, muscles, bones, fascia, joint, discs, or organs in the abdomen. So how do we know? Well keeping track of WHEN, HOW and WHY low back pain symptoms appear can help determine which tissues are the source of the pain. Is it worse in the morning with coughing, bending over, and sitting for long periods of time? It is possibly a disc tissue injury and best treated with conservative care (like in the chiropractic office!). Is it associated with eating, stress levels, and lack of sleep? It may be an internal issue and better treated with nutritional changes and supplements. Start tracking your triggers today!
The most common causes of low back pain I see are “undetermined” or “unknown”. Now, just because I cannot put a direct name on what tissue is causing your pain, does NOT mean there is no hope for you. In fact, the opposite! Most cases of low back pain, no matter the cause, respond extremely well to mobility followed by stability and exercise. In other words? Chiropractic adjustments followed by targeted movement therapy and a change in overall daily movement habits. These general changes not only help your low back, but usually your overall health as well.
Please take the time to keep track of your low back pain! Learn your triggers and continue to listen to your body’s pain signal, no matter the cause. The rest of February will be more information about the lower back, so please follow the blog and wait for more great information and inspiration!
Sneak peeks of how some people “strained/sprained” their back or herniated discs: laundry, reaching to top shelves, and PLAYING with the dog! Ask around, someone has experienced these exact pictures. 🙂