Common Causes of Low Back Pain

I go back to normal after seeing him (Dr. Alex Jimenez) and I know I can go back to doing whatever I can. But I’m now more careful. I would recommend him. It’s hard to find someone that knows their job and has a love for their job. That’s why I always come back. If I’ve got pain, I’m gonna look for him. – Mike Melgoza

Low back pain is one of the most prevalent reasons why people visit the doctor’s office and miss days from work. Approximately 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some point throughout their lifetime. Low back pain can range from moderate to severe and it can be acute, short-term, or chronic, long-term. Because back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, the symptoms may also vary from one person to the other.

Most of the time, low back pain is more of an annoyance than anything else. If an individual’s low back pain becomes intense and persistent, it can be tremendously debilitating and it can ultimately make it a challenge to participate as well as engage in many everyday activities. It’s essential to seek immediate medical attention to receive a proper diagnosis and continue with the best treatment option for each patient’s specific health issue.

Causes of Low Back Pain

Many potential causes can result in low back pain. In our modern world, spinal misalignments, or subluxations, caused by poor posture, have become one of the most common causes for low back pain, probably due to the simple fact that more and more people work in sedentary desk jobs than ever before. Without the appropriate back support from an ergonomic desk chair, low back pain can easily occur as a result of poor posture and due to the limited mobility of the spine throughout the day.

Even people who are up on their feet the vast majority of the day might suffer from low back pain due to a lack of spinal and abdominal support as well as a lack of proper coordination of the back muscles. While lower back pain can’t always be prevented, it’s possible to reduce the risk of suffering from lower back pain by practicing proper posture throughout the day to support the spine.

For individual’s who sit behind a computer screen for extended periods of time, this might mean investing in an ergonomic desk chair. For the more active individuals, it may mean purchasing a good pair of athletic shoes which can provide them with the right level of back and foot support throughout the day. Low back pain can also develop due to a variety of injuries and/or conditions. Fortunately, many treatment options are available to help treat low back pain, including chiropractic care and physical therapeutics.

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Insight

The spine is made up of small bones, known as vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments and nerves. With several factors, however, including poor posture, trauma from an injury, or an aggravated condition, the spine can become misaligned, ultimately affecting the complex structures surrounding the spine and resulting in back pain. Low back pain is among the most common types of back pain, particularly due to its increased role in supporting the weight of the human body.

Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain

Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment option which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, including back pain. Seeking chiropractic care as treatment for lower back pain is always recommended before you opt to start taking any prescription drugs and/or medications.

Pain and anti-inflammatory drugs and/or medications can relieve your low back pain, however, the results are usually temporary and these may also bring about undesirable side effects. Chiropractic care is a non-invasive and drug-free strategy for low back pain relief. It’s recommended to seek alternative treatment options, including chiropractic care and physical therapeutics, before turning to the use of drugs and/or medications as well as surgical interventions.

A doctor of chiropractic, or chiropractor, will commonly use spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to carefully correct any spinal misalignments, or subluxations, which may be causing the patient’s low back pain. Moreover, a chiropractor may utilize passive and active treatments for low back pain and they often vary considerably in their techniques and methods. Passive and active treatments for low back pain are described as follows:

• Passive treatments depend upon techniques and methods to be performed on the person. This may include anything from applying ice or heat packs to the affected area to stimulating the affected region with controlled electricity. Other treatment modalities used here may comprise of ultrasonography, TENS units, and iontophoresis.
• Active treatments, on the other hand, describes measures that the patient will take, as instructed by a healthcare professional, to manage their low back pain. Typically, this comes from the type of stretches and exercises that are meant to reduce low back pain and minimize potential flare-ups too. Active treatments could include low-impact aerobic conditioning and back strengthening exercises. These may vary based upon the healthcare professional’s requirements.

Chiropractic care and physical therapeutics might be a wonderful solution for treating nearly any level of low back pain. Through the utilization of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, as well as a combination of active and passive physical therapeutics, you’re in a position to work towards reducing your stress and increasing your body’s natural capability to prevent future health issues.

Contact a healthcare professional today to find out more about how you can manage your low back pain.The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: Acute Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes for disability and missed days at work worldwide. As a matter of fact, back pain has been attributed as the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.

EXTRA IMPORTANT TOPIC: Lower Back Pain Management