The lower back, which starts below the rib cage, is called the Lumbar Region or Lumbar Spine. Many factors can be responsible for lower back pain. Pain usually comes from inflammation or irritation. Causes of irritation include; poor footwear (yes slippers/flip flops are NOT good for your back), bad posture, lifting, bending, sitting and sleeping the wrong way.

Pain that lasts more than 3 months is considered chronic. Symptoms include the following:

• Movement that prevents standing or walking.
• Pain that moves around to the groin, buttock or upper thigh.
• Pain that tends to be achy and dull.
• Muscle spasms, which can be severe.
• Local soreness upon touch.

Misalignment, muscle, and ligament injuries are the most common causes of acute lower back pain. Lifting a heavy object, twisting, or a sudden movement can also cause low back pain and injury.

Chiropractic doctors often consult with neurologists, radiologists, and orthopedic specialists when designing care programs for patients. Chiropractic care is safer and often more effective than surgery. A Chiropractors’ approach is to help restore normal motion to the affected spinal bones and reduce pain and inflammation. If the lower back has a bulging or herniated disc, it can affect the spinal cord and/or a nearby nerve. This often results in numbness, tingling or pain. The benefits of Chiropractic Care have been documented in numerous research projects. Chiropractic has helped many patients eliminate their pain and live a pain free life.

So what can you do for your back pain? First of all, we can set up a Chiropractic Care program that may include specific spinal adjustments, exercise, nutritional advice or other conservative methods of care based on your health history, age, current condition and lifestyle.

Second, we would look at improving your sleep. According to an article from the National Sleep Foundation in March of 2016 it can be difficult for people with low back pain to get a good night’s sleep. Recommendations are to use a cervical pillow (we can get you a good one!) and sleep on your side or on your back. We do not recommend that you sleep on your stomach as it can cause neck problems. If your neck is turned fully to one side all night, it can cause pain and neck problems. If you sleep on your side, put a pillow between your knees. If you sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees to ease pressure on your back. If your mattress is old or soft it may be time to invest in a medium to medium-firm mattress. Be careful getting in and out of bed, especially in the morning as you may be less flexible then. We can show you safe ways to get in and out of bed to avoid injury.

Stretching helps reduce low back pain according to an April 2016 article in the Journal of Orthopedic Science. It has been proven that those who stretch on a regular basis experience less low back pain. Stretching is a great way to keep flexible, reduce pain and keep joints healthy. It can be combined with exercise and we can teach you specific stretches for low back pain reduction.

Sitting for long periods of time can be a cause of low back pain. It is a joke that “sitting is the new smoking” as more and more studies are published showing the problems associated with sitting. A March 2016 article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine sited the possibility that prolonged sitting may be responsible for over 430,000 deaths every year. If you must sit for long periods of time, please let us know as we can make recommendations to lessen the negative effects of sitting.

The statics are staggering, almost everyone has or will experience low back pain at some point during their life. Low back pain results in millions of dollars of lost work and untold suffering every day. Don’t let low back pain stop you from living your life to the fullest, come see us today!