Do You Have Back Pain?

low back pain relief with chiropractic care

If you are living with chronic back pain then chiropractic care in El Cerrito might be a good treatment option. Almost everyone will experience some form of back pain, ranging from slightly irritating to completely crippling, in their lifetime. Whatever the degree of pain you are experiencing and whether it is acute or has become chronic, at the very least you would probably rather live without it. In the most extreme cases in can be difficult to go on living with it. This article aims to help you to understand what causes lower back pain, and how chiropractic treatment can help you achieve lasting back health so that you can go on enjoying those walks in the park.


What Causes Back Pain?

Generally speaking, back pain is caused by an injury, poor posture or degenerative changes in the spine. A fall or automobile accident can damage bones in the spine or cause muscle strains; severe trauma can even tear muscles, tendons or ligaments. Improper lifting or bending, as well as sitting or standing in a slouched position can -- over time -- stress the spine and cause pain. As people age, the spine can degenerate from wear and tear, for example, poor posture or improper lifting techniques. Conditions like arthritis can also cause back pain.


Does Spinal Anatomy Affect Back Pain?

The spine is a marvel of flexibility and complexity. Between each of the 33 spinal bones (vertebrae) are spongy cushions of thick cartilage; these are the spine's shock absorbers. Each vertebra has a hole through the center to allow passage of the spinal cord, and the nerves that affect the body run from the spinal cord along the spine. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons support and stabilize the spine and allow it to bend, straighten, or rotate. This very flexibility makes it susceptible to injury if muscles are weak or there is dysfunction in any of the spinal structures.


How Can Chiropractic Help Back Pain?

Back pain is often the result of a spinal misalignment. Vertebrae can slide out of position, which puts stress on muscles, tendons, and ligaments. As the patient's posture changes in response to the misalignment, muscles may go into spasm. A chiropractic adjustment corrects the misalignment, allowing the muscles and spine to relax into a normal position. Chiropractors can also treat tense muscles directly or teach exercises to help strengthen and stretch muscles.


How Long Will It Take to Correct the Problem?

If the back pain is of short duration, a single treatment may bring relief. Some patients may deal with the pain for some time before they see a chiropractor. They have usually changed their gait or posture in response to the pain. As the stress on the back strains the muscles, they become shortened and tense. In these cases, several treatments may be necessary before the back stabilizes.


Back Pain in El Cerrito

The back is a broad term that covers a large area of the body. It is made up of many tendons, ligaments, discs, muscles, and bones. Without a solid understanding of these different parts, it can complicated to locate and address the source of the pain. The following explains some of the most common issues and their identifying features. It also explains how chiropractic medicine can help to resolve them. This is a general guideline to help you in your quest for effective treatment, but we highly recommend that you seek a professional opinion to properly diagnose these issues.


Disc Bulges and Herniations

Disc bulges and herniations are conditions in which the outer edges of the discs, located between the vertebrae, are damaged. This causes the jelly-like center to bulge or be pushed out. This is a surprisingly common issue and it is often, but not always, very painful. Many people who have this condition feel nothing at all. The quality and intensity of it, for those who experience pain, depends on the type and position of the herniation. If the damaged disc is irritating a surrounding nerve, shooting or stabbing pain along with weakness in the legs is often severe.

It is important that this issue is properly identified and promptly treated to avoid further damage. A chiropractor in El Cerrito will thoroughly assess your back to determine the extent of the issue and the appropriate treatment to prevent worsening of the herniation, and provide relief from the associated pain.


Subluxations

Subluxation is a medical term describing a misalignment in the vertebral column. There are a wide variety of causes, including physical stress, trauma, and toxins. Subluxations are often quite painful and can disrupt normal movement. Subluxations are one of the most commonly overlooked contributors to back pain. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct this issue using non-invasive adjustment techniques.


Muscular Sprains and Tendon or Ligament Strains

Strains and sprains most typically occur when we engage in tasks that our body is not accustomed to, or when we are involved in an accident. Lifting while twisting, or stretching past one's limits are common causes to strains and sprains of the back. These can be extremely painful, and are often accompanied by swelling and bruising of the surrounding area. Strains and sprains in the back tend to involve changes to the alignment of the spine and typically respond well to chiropractic care.


Stress and Back Pain

Chronic stress wreaks havoc on the body, and can eventually lead to hyper-tension and chronic back pain. The back pain is a result of tension and muscle spasms that occur when stress hormones are released. The tension will often accumulate in what are referred to as trigger points. These trigger points can be extremely painful and need professional attention to resolve. Chiropractors have the knowledge and tools to relieve stress from trigger points and to deal with underlying nervous system imbalances that may be keeping your body locked in patterns of stress and pain.


Other Issues that Cause Back Pain

Conditions such as obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections have been shown to cause symptoms of lower back pain. These are all serious issues that need to be identified and treated immediately to avoid long-term health issues. El Cerrito chiropractic doctors are trained to identify these issues and support you in getting the appropriate treatment. Many of these issues can have their source in spinal misalignments and respond well to chiropractic adjustments.

If you have questions about how our team at Smith Chiropractic can help you, please schedule a consultation today.
Thank you for reading this article by your El Cerrito chiropractor.

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Wednesday
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2:00pm - 5:00pm


Thursday
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Smith Chiropractic
6431 Fairmount Avenue #7
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 528-0378