As a chiropractor for lower back pain relief in Farmington, MI, I’ve dealt with almost every kind of complaint from patients with lower back pain. What I’ve noticed is that it becomes more and more regular as a person grows older. To put it in perspective, half of the people aged 60 are those most commonly affected by this condition.
This raises a frequently-asked question: how does back pain occur? To explain it further, we’ll delve deeper into the types of back pain, the structure of the spinal column, and a form of lower back pain relief to alleviate the symptoms for a long time.
This article should help you understand lower back pain better, especially if you or a loved one is dealing with it. After reading this, you should be more informed about it and how you can find natural lower back pain relief through upper cervical chiropractic care.
The bones that make up the spinal column are called the vertebrae. A thin cartilage covers and cushions these bones with shock-absorbing discs made from a jelly-like tissue. Ligaments and muscles hold these discs and the vertebrae in place while giving them the flexibility to move.
Two erector spinal muscles run along the vertebrae, and several short paraspinal muscles also support the spine and back These muscles are responsible for providing stability to the spine, with the support of the abdominal muscles and other muscles.
Inside the spinal column is the spinal cord, which consists of various nerves that branch out to all areas of the body. A spinal nerve root is the part of the nerve that’s closest to the spinal cord. And because of this positioning, spinal nerve roots are squeezable and compressible during injury, and this is something that can lead to back pain.
The lumbar spine of the lower back connects to the chest, pelvis, and legs. It enables the body to twist, bend, and turn. The lumbar spine also provides a solid base for lifting, standing, and walking. It is responsible for every activity you do during the day.
This is pain felt in a location different from the actual cause of discomfort. An excellent example of which is the pain in the left arm felt during a heart attack.
As for lower back pain, the discomfort is often deep and aching. The location is usually tricky to pinpoint. Sometimes the pain is difficult to locate because a broad area has been affected (as can be the case with muscle strain) or because the lower back pain is referred pain (coming from one area but spreading out to a larger area).
This type of pain is usually dull and travels from the lower back down to the leg. It is generally accompanied by sharp, intense pain on one side of the back of the leg.
The cause of this type of pain could be a compression of a nerve root due to a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, or spinal stenosis. The aches worsen while coughing, bending over, straining, and sneezing.
Muscle weakness also occurs, along with a pins-and-needles sensation and loss of feeling. In some cases, there is also loss of bowel and bladder control.
Local pain is the most common type of back pain, which happens in a specific spot. Common causes are sports injuries, sprains, or muscle strains. The pain is either relieved or aggravated by positional changes, and the lower back may feel sore to the touch. Muscle spasms commonly occur.
In finding effective lower back pain relief techniques, it's helpful to know the root cause of your condition. Most patients report that their lower back stems from sprains or muscle strains after rigorous exercising or heavy lifting. Incidents that cause the body to move an unexpected or awkward way like an accident or sports injury are also common causes.
Sports, in general, may cause back pain through activities like swinging a golf club or swinging a baseball bat. But other common back pain causes include fibromyalgia, compression fractures, sciatica, and osteoarthritis. Other reasons include a ruptured or herniated disc or lumbar spinal stenosis.
But there also are rare causes of back pain, such as spinal infections and tumors, digestive disorders like diverticulitis and pancreatitis, as well as urinary tract disorders. Other reasons could be an aneurysm in the large artery of the abdomen, shingles, and disorders of the pelvis such as ectopic pregnancy, and even cancer of the ovaries.
Think of the vertebrae of the spine as a set of dominoes placed close to each other. Once you tip one over, the rest likely follow. Similarly, if a problem arises in one area of the spine, the other parts are affected shortly thereafter. That usually happens when the top two bones in the neck (otherwise known as the C1 and C2 vertebrae) go out of alignment.
When it comes to such situations, upper cervical chiropractic care is your best bet.
Upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to adjust the C1 and C2 vertebrae using gentle and precise techniques. Here at Premier Family Wellness and Spinal Care, I treat every patient as an individual and create a care plan to address each person’s specific health needs.
After receiving an adjustment to the C1 or C2, a person’s body goes through a process of undoing all the ways that the spine, hips, and shoulders had compensated for the misalignment at the top of the spine. As a result, the body’s natural healing response takes over, and lower back pain often resolves itself. Visit our testimonials page to see how upper cervical chiropractic care has helped my patients find freedom and experience lasting lower back pain relief.
So, if you happen to be looking for a low back pain doctor near Farmington MI, contact us to schedule an appointment. For any questions, call (248) 478-6203.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins for lower back pain relief, call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Dr. Perkins grew up in Novi, Michigan and attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He received his Doctorate Magna Cum Laude with a focus on Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. Chris is well known in the community for his public speaking and holds a number of professional certifications. We are proud to say that Dr. Perkins and Perkins Family Wellness has been recognized by Hour Magazine as one of the Top Chiropractors in Metro Detroit for 3 years in row.
