WHAT CAUSES LOWER BACK PAIN?
There are various reasons as to why you may be experiencing lower back pain. Sitting at your computer for prolonged periods of time, personal injury or car accidents, poor posture, overuse of the back muscles, and working out too much without stretching are common causes of lower back pain. Women may also experience lower back pain during their monthly menstrual cycle.
WHAT ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF LOWER BACK PAIN?
Symptoms of lower back pain include tight/taught muscles, tenderness, aching, burning, sharp, and pins-and-needles type pain. The type of pain you are experiencing will help your doctor to determine the root issue. If your muscles are feeling tight and tender to the touch, you may have a strain/sprain of your latissimus, longissimus, or oblique muscles. This can be caused from overuse of the muscles. If you have a deep pain starting in the lower back and shooting down the leg, you may have sciatica.
WHAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ARE PERFORMED TO DIAGNOSE?
The first test that your doctor will likely order is an X-ray, which is a scan that uses electromagnetic energy to create images of internal tissues, bones, and organs. An X-ray will allow your doctor to see what is really going on within your vertebral column. If your X-ray seems to be normal, but you are not getting better after chiropractic treatments, your doctor may order an MRI. If your X-ray comes back severely abnormal, your doctor will likely order an MRI. An MRI is a scan that uses radio waves and a magnetic field to obtain more detailed pictures of your spine, the surrounding tissues, and organs.
WHAT ARE POSSIBLE DIAGNOSES OF LOWER BACK PAIN?
Subluxation/segmental dysfunction, Lumbar spondylosis, Lumbar Spondylolithesis (Anterolisthesis or posterior listhesis), Lumbar Degenerative disc disease, Lumbar disc herniation/radiculopathy, Lumbar Canal stenosis), scoliosis, and pinched nerves are a few common diagnoses of lower back pain. Other possible diagnoses include, sciatica, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoporosis, lupus, and lung cancer.
WHAT ARE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR TREATING LOWER BACK PAIN?
Based on an examination by your chiropractor, treatment plans may include a variety of treatment options. First and foremost, receiving chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis is the most effective holistic treatment. Your chiropractor will realign your spine and remove the kinks in your nervous system, just like removing the kinks in a garden hose. These spinal adjustments allow your nervous system to flow properly, which reduces pain and inflammation naturally. Your doctor will determine whether you should apply ice or heat to the affected area, which may be combined with electric muscle stimulation therapy. Ultrasound and/or laser therapy may also be suggested, as both of these passive modalities heal the tissues deep within. Physical rehabilitation combined with chiropractic care is the best option for most patients suffering with lower back pain. Physical rehabilitation may include stretching, strengthening, and stabilizing the body through exercises tailored to fit your specific needs by your chiropractor. Manual massage, cupping, and scraping therapies may all help to release the lactic build up within your lower back muscles. If the previously mentioned therapies do not create positive results or unintentionally cause your symptoms to worsen, pain management will likely be the next best option. Pain management includes the use of medications prescribed by a medical doctor, such as pain killers and muscle relaxers, which may be accompanied by steroid injections. Using certain medications can put some patients at risk for becoming addicted, so it is extremely important to take your prescribed medication as directed and to pay attention to the way your body reacts to it. If unavoidable, the last resort for a patient would be surgical options. Depending on your diagnosis, the most common surgical procedures of the lower back are spinal fusion, laminectomy or discectomy. Other procedures may include: foraminotomy, disc replacement, interlaminar implant, microdiscectomy, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) and Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS TLIF) and percutaneous instrumentation.
For more information please visit us at one of our convenient ZENITH Injury Relief & Wellness Clinic locations. Call 972-210-0033 to schedule today!