Low Back Pain: Causes and Solutions

The lower back comprises the lumbar spine and the variety of muscles in the back, including the latissimus dorsi. Other supporting structures within the lower back are the tendons and ligaments connecting the muscles to the bones and the sacral bone where the sciatic nerve branches out. Stains and injuries within these areas result in low back pain.

Around 80% of Americans will experience low back pain at some point in their lives, which is one of the most common health issues in the world. Low back pain can be caused by a number of different things from an injury to arthritis and more. In this article, we’ll explore what low back pain is, how you can identify if you have it, and what your next steps should be.

Low back pain symptoms:

• Dull and aching pain. This can also be described as an ongoing throbbing of the area. It can be more chronic in nature.
• Sharp or shooting pain.  This pain can be described as “take your breath away” pain.  Symptoms can also include radiation of pain, numbness, or tingling sensations into the legs or feet.
• Weakness. Symptoms in the low back can also be a weakness that limits a person’s ability to lift, carry, or be active.

Causes of Low Back Pain:

Low back pain can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild low back pain commonly is described as a low level of pain for only a limited time period of the day. Moderate pain is described as a mid-level of pain that can last for a portion of the day. Severe low back pain is a high level of symptoms and can last throughout the day.

The most common causes of low back pain include the following.

• An excessive amount of physical activity 
• Bending, lifting, and bending repeatedly can lead to back problems
• A bad sitting posture
• Overweight/obesity
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Being sedentary
• Lifting heavy stuff on the job
• Injury (like a fracture or strain)
• An infection

Low Back Pain: Who Is at Risk?

Back pain is most commonly experienced during the 30s and increases with age. It is also likely to occur more frequently with aging. 

Diagnosing Low Back Pain

If you have low back pain, send in specific details about how it started, what symptoms you were experiencing, and any chronic conditions you have had in the past.  The doctor will probably not need to perform X-rays, CT scans or MRI scans before beginning treatment.

Low Back Pain at Home: Home Remedies

• Bed rest
• Yoga
• Spinal manipulation
• Massage Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Medications
• Surgery
• Physical Therapy
• Strengthening the Back

Chiropractic techniques for low back pain

According to research, manual therapies such as chiropractic adjustments for low back pain are effective for the treatment of lower back pain. Chiropractic procedures are targeted towards spinal manipulation and alignment to reduce pain and relieve pressure in the affected area. With the help of this technique, the body’s natural healing process is stimulated.

How to Prevent Low Back Pain?

As you age, you can take steps to reduce your risk of back pain such as;

• Keep a healthy weight.
• Maintain an active lifestyle.
• Leg lifts are better than back lifts.
• Ensure that your workstation doesn’t contribute to your pain.

Low back pain can affect a lot of people, especially in advanced ages. If you are experiencing low back pain, there are many ways to help your body heal and prevent future episodes of this debilitating condition. Our chiropractors at N8 Family Chiropractic can provide an individualized treatment plan specific to your needs – without drugs or surgery. Schedule a consultation with us today!

Let us know in the comments below what has been your experience with treating Low Back Pain? 

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References:

https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/ss/slideshow-low-back-pain-overview

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7936-lower-back-pain#:~:text=Lower%20 back%20pain%20is%20 very,rest%2C%20physical%20therapy%20and%20 medication.

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/lower-back-pain-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906