Chiropractic Adjustments Help Back Pain

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Chiropractic Adjustments Help Back Pain

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common health challenge that at some time affects more than 80% of human beings, making it second in commonality only to the common cold. Although many of us are aware that the common cold is due to a viral infection, back pain is often perplexing to its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving the puzzle.

Anatomy

To understand back pain, it is useful to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back consist of posterior joints called facets that join vertebrae to one another and serve to guide the motion of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs join the bodies of the vertebrae and are made of a form of strong cartilage that covers a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The principal function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also connect the vertebrae. The wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine is the sacrum and is joined to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. The spinal cord is situated between the facets of the vertebrae. The spinal nerves go out from the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

Most back pain sufferers have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The origin of most back pain is the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of healthy exercise and other poor lifestyle-related factors. These cumulative factors cause stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, individuals may injure their back merely by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The instability of the spine makes it vulnerable to even the most simple movements, such as bending. When this happens, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles around the spine can happen during and after prolonged sitting, specifically in a unsuitable position. Over time the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. Finally, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, permitting the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, a person can develop sciatica, which is defined as pain, tingling, numbness, and sometimes weakness in the lower extremities. Sadly, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition isn’t managed properly, surgery may beneeded to dispose of the herniated disc material. Nonetheless, with the correct chiropractic adjustments and management, as well as postural exercises, most of these cases can healthfully recover. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms defined above, it is essential for you to seek chiropractic treatment.

Spondylosis

Repetitive damage to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments may result in increased wear and tear and weight-bearing stress on the spine. Bone spurs are created when the cartilage around the joints is negatively affected by stress that induces calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. These spurs can compress adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This constriction causes a form of arthritis, called Spondylosis, that can also occur as part of the aging process of the spine. But|However, determinants such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic treatment and overall chiropractic management is very effective in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as helping Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has helped many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

Another general area of dysfunction or injury in the low back is in the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints connect the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are innately very strong and stable. However with trauma such as falls, sports injuries, or lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and relocate to an abnormal position. This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Pregnancy can also cause this condition. The imbalances in the lower extremities caused by sacroiliac subluxation can produce a functional long and short leg. Pain happens particularly with prolonged standing and walking, or during and after physical activity, and the individual may experience a lack of energy and feeling tired easily. Other symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches, can move further up the spine. Chiropractic adjustments establish the proper alignment of the joints and are extremely affective in eliminating sacroiliac problems. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can receive effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A commonplace disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can prevail on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. They not only create pain, but they can also compromise the spinal nerves as they exit the foramen or spaces between the vertebrae, and produce nerve compression, known as paraethesia. Paraesthesia is a variation of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities more often than notoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is most often associated with nerve challengesin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also becorrelated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best eliminated by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Injury such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can cause trauma to the spine and lower back. Many times these traumas cause over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine. When this happens a person can encounter considerable pain and immobility. In order to escape long term disability or the development of any of the conditions listed above, chiropractic adjustments and treatment at the onset of symptoms is very important. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and highly competent treatment for any of the above-mentioned conditions of the spine and lower back.

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