Low Back Pain

In the United States, 80% of people will suffer from low back pain at least once in their life, and 1 in 3 people will experience chronic low back pain this year.

Some of the most common causes of low back pain are as follows:

1. Muscle Strain: Sometimes, when people lift heavy things or twist their bodies awkwardly, it can strain the muscles and ligaments in their back, causing pain.

2. Poor Posture and Sitting: Sitting or standing in a bad position for a long time, like slouching or hunching over, can put stress on the lower back and lead to pain.

3. Aging and Degenerative Changes: As people get older, the spine can undergo changes like disc degeneration or arthritis, which can cause pain in the lower back.

4. Herniated Discs: The discs between the vertebrae can bulge or break, putting pressure on nearby nerves and resulting in back pain.

5. Obesity and Lack of Exercise: Being overweight or not staying active can strain the back muscles and lead to pain.

6. Injuries and Accidents: Things like falls, car accidents, or sports injuries can injure the back, causing pain either immediately or over time.

7. Medical Conditions: Conditions like osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, or scoliosis can contribute to chronic back pain in some people.

These causes can vary from person to person, and sometimes, it might be a combination of reasons that leads to back pain. Many causes of low back pain can be treated by rest, heat or ice, appropriate exercise, and over-the-counter medication. For cases that cannot resolve with these at-home care steps, consider chiropractic care to help resolve your symptoms.

Rarely, low back pain can indicate a medical emergency, and Dr. William is trained to detect these signs and refer to the appropriate medical doctors or emergency providers.

Almost all low back issues can be treated through one or more of the following procedures:

- Chiropractic Adjustments: Dr. William has been extensively trained to deliver gentle, precise adjustments, or spinal manipulations, that can restore correct function and alignment to the spine.

- Lifestyle Modifications: Many instances of low back pain can be improved through lifestyle modifications, such as improving posture and reducing agitating repetitive movements.

- Diet Modifications: The typical American diet is pro-inflammatory and can increase inflammation and pain throughout the body. Changing the diet to reduce inflammatory foods can result in a reduction of symptoms and an increase in healing.

- Soft Tissue Therapy and Exercise Programs: Dr. William offers multiple types of therapy, like stretching, muscle scraping, cupping, taping, cold laser and active exercise programs. These can help address the root cause of many low back pain issues.

Have you already been to a medical doctor and received a diagnosis for your low back pain? Here are some of the most common diagnoses related to low back pain and how chiropractic care can help.

Lumbar Sprain/Strain

Lumbar sprain and strain injuries involve damage to the ligaments, muscles, or tendons in the lower back. Here's a breakdown:

Common Causes:

1. Lumbar Sprain: This happens when ligaments (the tissues connecting bones) get overstretched or torn due to sudden movements or excessive force, like lifting heavy objects improperly or sudden twisting motions.

2. Lumbar Strain: This occurs when muscles or tendons (the tissues connecting muscles to bones) are stretched or torn, usually due to lifting something heavy or repetitive movements, like bending or twisting, especially with poor posture.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help:

1. Pain Relief: Dr. William use various techniques, including spinal adjustments to reduce pain by realigning the spine and reducing pressure on the affected areas.

2. Improving Mobility: Chiropractic care often involves exercises, stretches, and manual therapies aimed at enhancing flexibility, range of motion, and strength in the lower back.

3. Promoting Healing: Dr. William may suggest specific rehabilitation exercises and lifestyle modifications that aid in the healing process of the injured tissues.

4. Prevention: Dr. William can educate patients about proper lifting techniques, good posture, and ergonomic adjustments to reduce the risk of re-injury.

Lumbar Stenosis

Lumbar stenosis is a condition where the spaces within the spine narrow in the low back area, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This pressure can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs and low back.

Common Causes of Lumbar Stenosis:

1. Aging: Age is the single greatest contributor to spinal stenosis. Degeneration is inevitable, but the rate of degeneration can be altered through a variety of lifestyle changes. Over time, wear and tear on the spine, including conditions like osteoarthritis, can lead to the narrowing of the spinal canal, resulting in lumbar stenosis.

2. Herniated Discs: Discs acting as cushions between the spinal bones can bulge out and press against the spinal cord or nerves, contributing to stenosis.

3. Bone Spurs: Extra bone growth, often due to arthritis, can cause the spinal canal to narrow, leading to stenosis.

How can Chiropractic help?

Chiropractic care involves adjustments of the spine to improve its alignment and function. While it's important to note that chiropractic care might not reverse the narrowing of the spine, it can sometimes help manage symptoms associated with lumbar stenosis:

1. Pain Management: Chiropractors can use various techniques to alleviate pain, such as spinal manipulation to reduce pressure on the nerves, improving mobility and reducing discomfort.

2. Improved Functionality: By restoring better alignment and mobility of the spine, chiropractic care may help patients move more easily and perform daily activities with less pain.

3. Individualized Care: Chiropractors often create personalized treatment plans that may include exercises, stretches, and lifestyle recommendations to improve strength, flexibility, and overall spine health.

Lumbar Facet Syndrome

The lumbar facet joints, also known as zygapophysial joints or simply facet joints, are small joints located at the back of the spine in the lumbar (lower back) region. These joints play an essential role in the movement and stability of the spine.

Each vertebra in the spine has two facet joints on the back side, one on each side, connecting it to the vertebra above and below. They help in guiding and controlling the motion of the spine, allowing for bending, twisting, and other movements while providing stability to the spine.

Issues such as arthritis, wear and tear, injuries, or degeneration can cause inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the facet joints, leading to conditions like lumbar facet syndrome or facet joint arthritis. Problems with these joints can result in discomfort, limited mobility, and sometimes radiating pain into the legs or other areas of the body.

Lumbar facet syndrome refers to pain and discomfort in the lower back due to issues with the facet joints in the spine. Here's an overview:

Causes:

1. Degeneration: Wear and tear over time can lead to degeneration of the facet joints in the lumbar spine. This can cause inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

2. Injury: Accidents, falls, or sudden impacts can damage the facet joints, leading to lumbar facet syndrome.

3. Repetitive Movements: Continuous bending, twisting, or heavy lifting over time can strain the facet joints, causing pain and irritation.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help:

1. Chiropractic Adjustments: Dr. William can perform targeted adjustments to the affected facet joints to improve their alignment and reduce inflammation, which can alleviate pain and improve mobility.

2. Soft Tissue Techniques: Dr. William may use soft tissue techniques like myofascial abrasion, cupping, or stretching to help relax the muscles around the affected area and reduce tension.

3. Exercise and Rehabilitation: Dr. William will often recommend specific exercises and rehabilitation programs to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine and improve overall flexibility, which can help reduce the strain on the facet joints.

4. Posture and Lifestyle Recommendations: Sometimes the key to reducing symptoms can be in good posture management and lifestyle changes.

Lumbar Disc Herniations

Lumbar disc herniation occurs when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc in the lower back pushes through a tear in the tough, outer layer of the disc. This can cause various symptoms due to pressure on nearby nerves. Here's an overview:

Symptoms of Lumbar Disc Herniation:

1. Lower Back Pain: Pain in the lower back is common, which might intensify with movements like bending, lifting, or sitting for a long time.

2. Leg Pain (Sciatica): Herniated discs can press on nerves, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that radiates down the buttocks and into one or both legs. This condition is often referred to as sciatica.

3. Muscle Weakness: You might experience weakness in certain muscles, particularly those connected to the affected nerves.

4. Numbness or Tingling: Sensations of numbness or tingling might be felt in the lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help:

1. Spinal Adjustments: Dr. William uses gentle, specific adjustments to realign the spine and reduce pressure on the affected disc and nerves, alleviating pain and improving mobility.

2. Spinal Decompression: Techniques like spinal decompression therapy can create space between vertebrae, potentially relieving pressure on the herniated disc and reducing symptoms.

3. Soft Tissue Therapy: Dr. William may use soft tissue techniques like massage or stretching to relax muscles, reduce tension, and improve circulation in the affected area.

4. Exercise and Rehabilitation: Dr. William often recommend specific exercises and rehabilitation programs to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, improve flexibility, and support the healing process.