Anatomy

To understand back pain it is important to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back consist of posterior joints called facets that link vertebrae to one another and serve to guide the motion of the spine. The Intervertebral discs connect the bodies of the vertebrae. They are composed of a form of tough cartilage that encases a soft material in the center called the nucleus. The primary function of the disc is a shock absorber and a spacer between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also connect the vertebrae. The bottom wedge shaped bone at the bottom of the spine is the sacrum and is joined to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. In a canal located between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

The majority of back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cause of most back pain is the cumulative affect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. All of these factors cause stress and imbalances on the spine and, eventually, pain. This is why people often injure their back: the spine was already compromised and merely bending or stretching set off the problem. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Prolonged sitting, especially in a slouched position, causes increased pressure upon the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine. Eventually the lower spine loses its normal function and can no longer accommodate the normal day-to-day stresses. Ultimately, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, allowing the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes upon sensitive tissues one feels pain and this is often referred to as a slipped disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, sciatica can develop, which is defined as pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in their lower extremities. Sometimes, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and is not managed correctly, surgery is required to remove the herniated disc material. However, with the correct chiropractic adjustments and management, most of these cases can recover.

Spondylosis

Repetitive injury to the disc, the facet joints, and the surrounding ligaments may result in increased wear and tear and weight-bearing stress on the spine. This stress can negatively affect the cartilage around the joints and causes calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae, forming bone spurs. These spurs can compress adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain, numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This condition, known as spondylosis, is part of the normal ageing process of the spine. It is a form of arthritis that affects everyone at some point in life. However, factors such as previous trauma, lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influences the time of onset in life. Chiropractic adjustments and management is very effective in helping spondylosis sufferers manage their condition.

Sacroiliac Problems

Another common area of dysfunction in the low back is the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are normally very strong and stable. With trauma such as falls, sports injuries and lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and move to an abnormal position. This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Sacroiliac subluxation causes imbalances in the lower extremities creating a functional long and short leg. People with this condition will feel pain with prolonged standing, walking or periods of physical activity. This pain is often accompanied by a lack of energy and fatigue. Often this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and people can develop neck and shoulder pain as well as headaches. Women may get this condition during or after their pregnancy. Chiropractic adjustments and treatment are extremely affective in correcting this problem by establishing proper alignment of the joints.

Spinal Subluxation

A very common disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated facet joints. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and spondylosis. They can cause pain, as well as compromise to the spinal nerves, as they exit the foramen, or spaces between the vertebrae. A symptom often associated with nerve compression is paresthesia, which is an alternating sensation of tingling and burning. Paresthesia in the upper extremities usually originates from nerve problems in the neck, while paresthesia in the lower extremities is most often associated with nerve problems in the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also be associated with spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best corrected with chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma such as a fall, car accident or sports injury can also cause injury to the spine and lower back. Often these traumas cause over-stretching or tearing of any of the tissues of the spine. When this happens a person can feel considerable pain and immobility. Proper chiropractic management at the onset of symptoms is very important in order to avoid long-term disability and the development of any of the above conditions.

Our doctors provide state of the art diagnosis and treatment for problems associated with any of the above mentioned conditions of the back.

Please send me the Lower Back Pain Report.

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