If you are living with chronic pain then you know it’s no walk in the park. Almost everyone will experience some form of back, neck, or shoulder pain, ranging from slightly irritating to completely debilitating, in their lifetime. Whatever the degree of pain you are experiencing and whether it is acute or has become chronic, at the very least you would probably rather live without it and in the most extreme cases in can be difficult to go on living with it.
What causes lower back pain, should pain, and neck pain
The back, shoulders, and neck together cover a large area of the body, made up of many tendons, ligaments, discs, muscles, and bones. Without a solid understanding of these different parts, it can be complicated to locate and address the source of the pain. The following breakdown explains some of the most common issues, and their identifying features. It also explains how chiropractic care can help to resolve them. This is a general guideline to help you in your quest for effective treatment, but we highly recommend that you seek a professional opinion to properly diagnose these issues.
Disc Bulges and Herniated Disc
Disc bulges and herniation are conditions in which the outer edges of the discs, located between the vertebrae, are damaged. This causes the jelly like center to bulge or be pushed out. This is a surprisingly common issue and it is often, but not always, very painful. Many people who have this condition feel nothing at all. For those who experience pain from a disc injury, the quality and intensity of it depends on the type and position of the herniation. If the damaged disc is irritating a surrounding nerve, the shooting or stabbing pain and weakness in the legs is often severe.
It is important that this issue is properly identified and promptly treated to avoid further damage due to a bulging disc. A Chiropractor will thoroughly assess your back to determine the extent of the issue and the appropriate treatment to prevent advancement of the herniation, and provide relief from the associated pain.
Subluxations
Subluxation is a medical term describing a misalignment in the vertebral column. There are a wide variety of causes, including physical stress, trauma and toxins. Subluxations are often quite painful and can disrupt normal movement. Subluxations are one of the most commonly overlooked contributors to back pain. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct this issue using non-invasive adjustment techniques.
Muscular Sprains and Tendon or Ligament Strains
Strains and sprains most typically occur when we engage in tasks that our body is not accustomed to, or when we are involved in an accident. Lifting while twisting, or stretching past one’s limits are common causes to strains and sprains of the back. These can be extremely painful, and are often accompanied by swelling and bruising of the surrounding area. Strains and sprains in the back tend to involve changes to the alignment of the spine and therefore typically respond well to chiropractic care.
Stress and Back Pain
Chronic stress wreaks havoc on the body, and can eventually lead to hyper-tension and chronic back pain. The back pain is a result of tension and muscle spasms that occur when stress hormones are released. The tension will often accumulate in what are referred to as trigger points. These trigger points can be extremely painful, and need professional attention to resolve. Chiropractors have the knowledge and tools to relieve stress from the trigger points and to deal with underlying nervous system imbalances that may be keeping your body locked in patterns of stress and pain.
Other Issues that can Cause Back Pain
Conditions such as obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections have been shown to cause symptoms of low back pain. These are all serious issues that need to be identified and treated immediately to avoid long-term health issues. Chiropractors are trained to identify these issues and support you to get the appropriate treatment. Many of these issues can have their source in spinal misalignments and respond well to chiropractic adjustments.
If you have questions about how our team can help you, please schedule a consultation today.