Common Causes of Back Pain

Common Causes of Back Pain                                         

Presented by Health first Chiropractic


We suffer lower back pain because the lower back, or lumbar spine, bears most of the weight, making it vulnerable to injury and pain. The underlying cause of back pain is a misalignment or subluxation of the bony framework of the body. Much pressure, stress and  strain is exerted on this area and fortunately the lumbar spine is bigger and stronger to compensate. While it is not very easy to injure your low back, it does happen. Sometimes pain will start suddenly and for no apparent reason. However, in all likelihood, most lower back pain is caused by some type of trauma in the past, even years ago, which was never fixed and is now showing up.


Stresses and Strains

Weak, flabby, under-exercised muscles contribute greatly to low-back problems as do over-exercised muscles that are subjected to the same stresses and strains day after day. Stress takes a toll by keeping your muscles shortened, tense and tightened. When you are tired or emotionally drained, you are more prone to injury. Discomfort may indicate a problem within the structural elements of the back itself or it may be sounding an alarm for anther part of the body. If you suffer from low-back pain, a subluxated vertebra is usually the culprit. Common sense will tell you that you need not put up with back pain when it can be avoided with the help of your chiropractor. Your chiropractor can pinpoint the cause of your problem with an evaluation of the cause. This may include x-rays, scanning or other non-invasive tests.


Pinched Nerves

People will often say they have a 'pinched nerve' because that is what it feels like. Some of the preferred technical terms for this feeling are nerve impingement, nerve-meningeal tension or nerve irritation and is usually caused by a subluxation in the spine- a misalignment of a disc that is affecting the nerve or nerves around it and may become irritated, compressed or stretched. They may no longer be able to communicate with the brain and in turn may affect other tissues such as blood vessels, ligaments, joints, muscles, tendons and organs of your body.  In many cases, people with 'pinched nerves' may not be in much pain at all, especially in early subluxations. Because of the body's ability to adapt to a misalignment, they can be totally unaware of a problem. Only sensory nerves carry pain messages and if these are not badly damages then no discomfort may be felt, yet damage to other nerves and tissues may be occurring. In this case pain is a symptom that something is wrong and needs the attention of your chiropractor.


Slipped Discs

The term slipped disc is really a catch-all phrase for many back problems. This is not an accurate description as in fact a disc cannot slip. It is the vertebrae that can slip out of position putting pressure on the disc that causes the problem and contributes to its damage. It can be one of the most painful things that can happen to your back. At least 85 percent of people diagnosed with a 'slipped disc' respond readily to chiropractic adjustments. There can be instances of protruding discs that are misaligned directly against the nerves that may require medical intervention, but fortunately this is not a common occurrence. Even in these extreme occurrences, chiropractic care is extremely helpful.


Ruptured Discs

Fortunately, this condition is not a common occurrence. A ruptured disc can occur when the disc between two vertebrae breaks off and irritates nearby tissue, or a disc's soft center oozes into places where it should not be. Spinal misalignments caused by accidents, improper lifting or sprains may cause a disc to bulge, herniate or impinge upon a delicate spinal nerve. An impinged nerve can cause weakness in an organ that this particular nerve services, such as the colon. Constipation, colitis or other digestive problems may result right away or even after a longer period of time. Any impairment of the proper flow of energy through a nerve is usually  followed by a malfunction in the organ it serves.


Take Care of Your Back

If you neglect your body's signal of pain and allow an impingement or subluxation to become worse over time, arthritis or osteoarthritis can set in, if even a minor injury is left untreated. No one needs to live with pain. What it all boils down to is that our body is perfectly designed. All the bones, nerves and muscles are connected together in such a way that it works. It really works well if all systems are in the proper order and alignment, which is the sole purpose of regular chiropractic care.


References and Sources

This article has been excerpted with the kind permission of Dr. William Gandee from his amazing book-”Triumph Over Illness-What You Should Know About Chiropractic Care”

Edited by Sandra Taylor

Disclaimer: Information contained in the Wellness Express newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

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