Back Pain
Why do I have back pain?
Your spinal column is made up of 24 flexible vertebrae which are stacked up like a pile of donuts. Running through this column is a cable of nerves which is called your spinal cord. The nerves which come out of your spinal cord transmit messages between your brain and the rest of your body. If these nerves become compressed or irritated, the message they transmit is “pain”.
Between each vertebrae is a disc which acts like a shock absorber. If a disc flattens or bulges it can irritate the nerve. This is often referred to as a herniated or “slipped” disc.
Another possible source of back pain is the facet joint of the vertabrae. They allow for proper spinal motion. If these joints are not moving correctly, symptoms can occur.
People with chronic back pain tend to utilize their muscles differently, substituting the wrong muscles for lifting tasks. This can accelerate spinal degeneration or create wear and tear.
Health Fact: “Pain is a warning that something is wrong. Treat the cause, not the pain.”
Will I Have To Live With It?
Pain is a warning sign. Like the piercing sound from a smoke alarm, the alarm isn’t the problem. The alarm has a cause, just like every ache or pain has a cause. Some people choose to cover up the pain instead of correcting the cause. What’s your approach?
The nerve-rich facet joints on the back side of each spinal bone are a common cause of back pain. If these pairs of interlocking “fingers” aren’t moving right, they can cause painful symptoms.
The discs between spinal bones can be a source of back pain, too. These rings of fibrous tissues act as spacers, connectors and “shock absorbers” for the spine. Trauma can cause the soft, pulpy material in the middle to bulge or herniate, putting pressure on delicate nearby nerves
Health Fact: “Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in adults aged 30 to 50”
Treatment Options
Bed Rest: Once you know the cause, you have several choices. One approach is bed rest. But research shows that prolonged bed rest can actually delay recovery and make the problem worse! Studies show that bed rest alone does not improve back pain and may hinder recovery.
Drugs: Drugs may offer temporary relief from the pain but they do not treat the underlying cause. While drugs can offer temporary relief, they can’t correct functional problems of affected spinal joints.
Surgery: Surgery is the most drastic measure. Although, necessary in some cases, many surgeries do not relieve the pain or the pain reoccurs within a few years of the operation. A laminectomy cuts off the offending facet joints, leaving the spinal cord exposed! A spinal fusion cuts out the disc tissue and immobilizes the joint. While there may be times when surgery makes sense, it’s expensive, risky and more than half of all back surgeries fail.
Chiropractic: Chiropractic offers a safe, effective treatment for back pain, directed towards the source of the pain and not just the symptoms. Many studies have proven the effectiveness of chiropractic for back pain and patients often report a higher degree of satisfaction with their chiropractic treatment.
The gentle, precise adjustments made by chiropractors work better than traditional physicians’ treatment for most back pain. More and more people are choosing chiropractic care first, Specific chiropractic adjustments can help improve spinal function. Better yet, chiropractic care is safe. Chiropractic is natural. And chiropractic looks to correct the underlying cause of the problem.
“But I never injured my back!”
Attributing your back pain to a single accident or injury is easy but for most of us our back pain is due to an accumulation of small, unnoticed “traumas”. These smaller injuries add up and can lead to the “straw-that-broke-the-camel’s back” effect.
Improper posture, lifting or bending as well as overexertion can have damaging effects. Some of us may have a genetic pre-disposition to spinal abnormalities and early degeneration.
Your back pain may be due to the cumulative effect of small “traumas”.
How can I avoid back pain?
Along with treating your current condition, your chiropractor can offer you solutions which may help you avoid future back pain.
Stretches and Exercises: Your chiropractor can show you specific stretches and exercises to increase the flexibility and stretch of your back, which can relieve pain and increase stability.
Posture: Proper posture for sitting, lifting and sleeping can dramatically affect back pain. Your chiropractor can show you the correct positioning and may offer advice on seat supports, back braces, pillows and mattresses.
Orthotics and Insoles: Custom foot orthotics may be warranted for individuals with “collapsed” arches or arch imbalances. Others may benefit from insoles, which reduce the impact on the spine.
Back Packs: How we carry our daily load can greatly reduce strain and fatigue to our spine. Ergonomically designed bags can reduce the strain and evenly distribute heavy loads. It is recommended, to not carry in excess of 15% of your body weight.
References:
Stary O., The concept of research of vertebrogenic disease CSSR. Acta Univ Carolina (Med) Suppl., 1965
Salminen J.J., Erkintalo M.O., Pentti J., et al., Recurrent LBP and early disc degeneration in the young. Spine, 1999
Rosenberg S., Delval C., Rezvani Y., et al., Bed rest or normal activity for patients with acute low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Spine, 2002
Gurreiro R.C., Rawani M., Gray E., et al., A retrospective study of the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation of low back pain patients in a multidisciplinary setting. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 1999
Acute low back pain problems in adults. Clinical Practice Guidelines U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994
Manga P., Angus D., Papadopoulos C., Swan W., The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic management of low back pain. University of Ottawa, Canada: Pran Manga and Associates, 1993 (Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health)
Patient Media, Inc.