Treating Lower Back Pain

The low back area plays a key role in our posture and movement. Pain in the area can come and go, but leaving it untreated can lead to more severe issues.

The low back – let’s define where it is. The lower part of your back is three inches above and below the belt when you are wearing one. Lower back issues extend well beyond that six-inch range. Patients can experience pain down the back of their legs and even in their toes.

An injury-free low back has a natural curve that bows toward the front of the body and allows for pain-free movement in bending, extending, and rotating.

Non-mechanical and mechanical are two forms of low back pain. Non-mechanical refers to when an internal organ causes low back pain. Think kidney infection, which can cause a low-grade, dull ache. A non-mechanical pain is unrelenting. No matter what position you’re in, it still hurts.

Mechanical pain is different in that it can be temporarily relieved by lying down, sitting, and limiting (or increasing) movement. Mechanical low back pain is where chiropractic care thrives. Spinal joints love motion, and no one gets a healthy back moving better than a chiropractor. Modern technology allows us to precisely measure the location of each joint.

If you do NOTHING about low back pain, it usually will go away on its own. But, that is one of the biggest problems with low back pain – it tends to come back more often for a longer duration and with more intensity.

The first time might be for a day or two. That pattern can last for months or years. At some point, it might be almost constant with periods of severe flare-ups. Treating the problem as soon as it is small is much easier than waiting for it to become deeply entrenched in your spinal cord.

It’s also critical to build strength in your lower back. To build strength in the back, consider yoga. Yoga provides several tangible benefits – there are typically good core poses and stress relief in controlled breathing.

As a chiropractor, I suggest getting treatment early to prevent any issues in the future. Seek professional help when pain:

• Comes more than once a month.
• Is greater than a 5 on a scale of 1-10.
• Lasts longer than three days.
• Travels to the legs.

Thrive Family Chiropractic helps patients live healthy lives. We offer free consultations for new patients. Schedule an appointment now!