Chiropractic Adjustments Help Back Pain

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is second in commonality only to the common cold. It affects more than 80% of people. Although most people are aware that the common cold is due to a viral infection, back pain is often puzzling to its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving the problem.

Anatomy

To understand back pain, it is helpful to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are made of posterior joints called facets that link vertebrae to one another and serve to direct the action of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs join the bodies of the vertebrae and are made of a form of tough cartilage that surrounds a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also link the vertebrae. The 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 positioned 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

Most often, back pain happens without a trauma, an accident, or a major injury prior to the onset. The origin of most back pain is the cumulative effects of unhealthy sitting posture, harmful work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of healthy exercise and other poor lifestyle-related factors.  These cumulative factors create stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, some may injure their back simply by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already at risk and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the challenge. When this comes about, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Prolonged sitting, especially in a awkward position causes increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine. Eventually the lower spine loses its usual function and no longer can make room for the normal day-to-day stresses in ones life. In the end, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, allowing the soft nucleus to distend the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it causes the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. Sciatica develops when the disc presses on the spinal nerve. The symptoms of sciatica include pain, tingling, numbness, and often weakness in the lower extremities. Sadly, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition isn't managed properly, surgery may benecessary to clear away the herniated disc material. With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc complications, including sciatica, can be alleviated. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms defined above, it is essential for you to seek chiropractic assistance.

Spondylosis

Increased erosion and weight-bearing stress on the spine occurs when there is repetitive damage to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments. This stress can negatively affect the cartilage around the joints and induce calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae, forming bone spurs. These spurs can restrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This compression causes a form of arthritis, called Spondylosis, that can also occur as part of the aging process of the spine. Nevertheless, factors such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management is extremely beneficial in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as helping Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has helped many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

The sacroiliac joints are a general area of dysfunction or injury in the low back. These weight-bearing joints link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are normally very strong and stable. However with disturbances such as falls, sports injuries, or lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and change to an abnormal position.  This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Women may encounter this condition during or after their pregnancy. The imbalances in the lower extremities caused by sacroiliac subluxation can cause a functional long and short leg. Individuals with this syndrome will feel pain specifically with prolonged standing and walking, or during or after physical activity. Many complain of lack of energy and exhaustion.  Many times this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and individuals can develop neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. Chiropractic adjustments and treatment are extremely effective in ameliorating this problem by establishing proper alignment of the joints.. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can get effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A prevalent disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. Subluxations are not only painful, but they can compress the nerves as they exit the foramen (or spaces) between the vertebrae, creating paraesthesia. Paraesthesia is an alteration of sensation described as a tingling, burning or "funny feeling." Paraesthesia in the upper extremities more often than notoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is commonly associated with nerve problemsin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also beassociated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best corrected by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Trauma such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can cause damage to the spine and lower back. Often these traumas create over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine. When this happens a person can experience considerable pain and immobility. Proper chiropractic care at the onset of symptoms is vital in order to prevent long term disability and the development of any of the above conditions. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and highly competent treatment for any of the above-mentioned dysfunctions of the spine and lower back.