Discover Life Chiropractic is one of the best Tacoma chiropractors to visit.

They have everything from qualified professionals to all of the equipment needed to make your journey of Chiropractic care comfortable and effective. 

What is Low Back Pain?

Lower back pain is one of the most common back/spinal-related illnesses that bring people to the doctor’s office. The lower back area, also known as the lumbar region, starts below the rib cage. Low back pain is something most people experience during their lifetime. Around 8 percent of all adults experience chronic back pain. Most lower back pain is usually a result of injuries, strains, or sprains in the muscles. These injuries are often a result of sudden movements or poor body mechanisms. Low back pain can also be caused by certain conditions or diseases such as:

• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Disks of the spinal cord being herniated or ruptured
• Kidney infections
• The spinal cord being infected

Acute Back Pain and Chronic Back Pain

Most of the various kinds of back pains can be classified into two categories; acute and chronic back pain. Lower body pain that comes suddenly is called acute low back pain, and if the pain lasts for longer than three months, it is classified as chronic pain. Acute back pain is the more common of the two, and it develops pretty suddenly. It’s usually a byproduct of some kind of stress. Chronic pain is the exact opposite and is a progressive ailment. It takes time to develop and, similarly, takes time to heal. Both can be effectively treated with chiropractic and spinal stretches.

Symptoms of Low Back Pain

The mildest symptom of low back pain is a dull ache in the lower back area. In moderate  cases it can be a sharp stabbing pain on certain movements.  In severe cases this ache might give the sensation of stabbing or shooting pain down one or both legs.  

Low Back Pain Causes

Lower back pain is often caused by muscle strain. Muscle strain can also be caused by fatigue overexertion, repetitive lifting or lifting heavy objects.

It might also be caused by disks of the vertebrae being pressured due to spinal misalignment. There are small jelly-filled disks between the backbone. The purpose of these disks is to provide protection to the backbone.

Whenever these disks are injured, it might result in the nerve nearby being compressed. When the nerve being irritated is the sciatic nerve, then this condition is called sciatica. In sciatica, the pain runs from the buttock down one or both  legs.

The process of riding a bike can put stress on the lower back area. This usually happens if the handlebars are too far away, and the cyclist needs to bend or stretch forward to reach the bars.

Jobs that involve lifting or moving around heavy objects might contribute to back pain. This can be a contributing factor especially if your back pain is located on the left side or right side.

On the other hand, sitting in a chair all day long without movement can also contribute to back pain.

A person’s posture is also a major contributor to their low back pain. The proper posture that provides support to your back can help avoid low back pain.

There are also other chronic conditions that might contribute to low back pain;

• Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain across the muscular and skeletal systems. It is often accompanied by fatigue and issues with sleep, memory, and mood.
• Ankylosing spondylitis; is an inflammatory disease that might cause the small bones of the vertebrae to fuse over time
• Spinal Stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the space between the spine. This might cause pressure to be put on the nerves within the spinal cord

Some more reasons for low back pain include:

• Being overweight
• Lack of movement
• Lifting and moving heavy objects
• Sports or other similar injuries
• Bad posture
• Pregnancy

For diagnosis of the exact kind of lower back pain that the patient might be suffering from, the chiropractor needs to run several different tests. This can include a history of pain, examination of the spine, computerized testing, and x-rays

Causes Of Acute Back Pain

The most common causes of acute back pain are strains or sprains in the soft tissue of the back. These tissues could be muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments. A sprain is an injury of the connective tissue that connects bones. In comparison, a strain is caused by an injury to the connective tissue that connects muscles to bones. Both strains and sprains can occur due to moving heavy objects, and improper posture, etc. muscle spasms can also be a cause of acute back pain.

Causes Of Chronic Back Pain

The skeletal system and the spine are all extremely complex. Things that affect these structures often play a role in causing chronic back pain. Some of the different conditions that can be contributors to chronic back pain include:

• Degenerative disc disease, also known as spondylosis, is often one of the most common causes of neck and back pain.
• Osteoarthritis that usually occurs after the age of 45.
• Herniated Disc
• Spinal Stenosis which is the narrowing of the spacing between the spine. It is a slow process that can be accelerated by injuries.
• Fractures
• Sciatica

Treatment for Acute and Chronic Back Pain

Minor cases of acute back pain tend to resolve quickly and on their own. In these situations, patients are often recommended to rest for a few days. This rest is suggested to be kept at 2 to 3 days. Prolonged rest can make the condition of acute back pain worse.

For further help, it is suggested that the patient visit a Chiropractor. 

They are also often referred to when dealing with acute back pain. They will examine, x-ray if

necessary and design a care program to help correct the affected area. These care programs

will include adjustments to correct misalignment, exercises to stretch and strengthen the

injured area and applications of heat and ice.

People over the age of 30 are most likely to have low back pain. This is because changes occurring to the body due to aging contribute to the development of low back pains. One of these changes being the reduction in the fluid between the vertebrae and the spine(degeneration). The reduction in the amount of this fluid can cause the discs of the vertebrae to shrink allowed unstable movement. Muscle tone loss, which can then make the body more prone to injuries, is most likely with aging. This is the reason that chiropractors recommend exercise is important, in order to strengthen the back muscles and making sure that the body has good mechanics. Both these things are helpful in the prevention of low back pain.

Chiropractic Care in Dealing With Back Pain

Depending on the patient and their pain, the treatment plan can vary with the amount of adjustments, stretching exercises and home care. The adjustment might include the use of hands, adjusting instruments, and drop tables. The purpose of applying this force is to improve the movement of the area. Chiropractic care aims to make sure that the function of the area is restored as well as preventing future injuries.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care has been considered to be a safe and effective treatments for decades. It has been shown to be very effective in terms of dealing with acute and chronic lower back pain. Patients often feel changes within a few visits and over 90% of people seeing a chiropractor will go back to one when needed.

Research has also indicated chiropractic care is effective in dealing with neck pain and headaches. Conditions like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia can also be treated through chiropractic care.

Choosing The Right Tacoma Chiropractor

Like any other medical professional, it is important to look for the right chiropractor when considering chiropractic care. Finding and visiting the right chiropractic center is important in the overall chiropractic care journey. There will be many of these chiropractic offices and clinics around you, so it is always important to do your research in this regard.

If you happen to live in the Tacoma area, then the Discover Life Chiropractic is one of the best places to visit in the area. They have everything from qualified professionals to all of the equipment needed to make your journey of chiropractic care comfortable and effective.  They have been in practice for over 30 years and have treated thousands of patients and developed a high level of expertise when it comes to assessing how to treat your lower back pain.