Due to the frequent occurrence of lower back pain and its effect on the quality of life, chiropractors have developed considerable skill and experience in dealing with it. Since lumbar pain can be caused by several conditions, having a knowledgeable chiropractor is particularly important in order to choose the correct form of care and help to prevent recurrence.
The majority of lower back pain is due to the cumulative effects of our daily bad habits, usually through a combination of overuse, overloading (carrying or lifting heavy objects), poor posture and lack of exercise. Non-specific back pain is benign in that it is not caused by a structural problem in the spine, but can still be immensely painful and disabling for the time it takes the spine to heal.
Other causes of lower back pain may be more serious and longer-lasting. These include:
Scoliosis – improper curvature of the spine.
Facet syndrome – inflammation of the spinal facet joints. Facet joints protect the spine from excessive movement and can be damaged by sudden movement, leading to pain and stiffness. Spinal osteoarthritis (spondylosis) is an extreme case of facet syndrome caused by subluxation degeneration.
Herniated (slipped) discs – trauma or overloading may cause damage to the discs of cartilage between adjacent spinal vertebrae. As a result, the soft inner part of the disc may bulge through the fibrous outer covering, usually leading to much pain and inflammation.
Sacroiliac syndrome – inflammation in either the sacrum or iliac bones of the pelvis, causing acute lower back pain. Inflammation may be caused by either too little movement (hypomobility) or too much movement (hypermobility) in the sacroiliac joint. Hypomobility is usually the result of joint degeneration due to subluxation, whereas hypermobility occurs when the ligaments become overstretched and loose.
Pregnancy – lower back pain is common in pregnancy due the extra load placed on the spine.
More serious lumbar conditions are also known to respond well to chiropractic adjustments, and provide a good alternative to either long-term use of pain-killers or invasive surgery. In addition to adjusting the spine, chiropractors can offer a great deal of advice regarding exercise and lifestyle choices in order to keep your spine and nervous system as healthy as possible and prevent the distress of ongoing and recurrent injury.
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