Lower Back Pain

Pain in the lower back is one of the most common complaints seen in a chiropractic clinic. Symptoms include: Muscle ache, shooting or stabbing pain, pain that radiates down your leg and pain with bending, lifting standing or walking.

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down either leg. The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating pain.

Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disc or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain, and often some numbness in the affected leg. Sciatica is treated successfully with chiropractic adjustments paired with Mckenzie therapy to take pressure off the injured disc and nerve

Lumbar (lower back) muscle strains and sprains are common causes of low back pain. Lower back muscles and ligaments support the weight of the upper body and are involved in moving, twisting, and bending. A lumbar muscle strain is caused when muscle fibers are abnormally stretched or torn.

Lumbar sprain is caused when ligaments (the tough bands of tissue that hold bones together) are torn from their attachments. Both of these can result from a sudden injury or from gradual overuse. Often seen after bending and lifting. Chiropractic adjustments and stretching will reduce muscle and joint tissue to speed up recovery.

Most herniated discs occur in the lower back, although they can also occur in the neck. Signs and symptoms depend on where the disc is situated and whether the disc is pressing on a nerve. They usually affect one side of the body. Symptoms include arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, and/or weakness. A bulging disc is an enlarged, but intact disc. A herniated disc refers to when the inner nucleus of a vertebral disc protrudes to its outer layer.

A disc injury may happen as a result of a great amount of pressure being placed on the disc, or if the disc has degenerated from age and other factors. Just because a disc injury has occurred doesn't mean there will be any bulging disc symptoms; it is only when it comes in contact with surrounding tissues or nerves that it begins causing problems. Disc injuries most often do not require surgery. Chiropractors are trained in specific adjustments and therapies to reduce disc pressure and reduce pain.

Degenerative arthritis is a term synonymous with osteoarthritis, a chronic disorder that damages the cartilage and tissues surrounding a joint. It is sometimes called “degenerative joint disease” or “wear and tear” arthritis. Symptoms usually begin in select joints and are most common in the weight-bearing joints low back, hips, and knees.

There can be pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joint that is worse in the morning and following periods of inactivity. Although arthritis cannot be reversed (as seen on an x-ray) but the area can become pain-free and more mobile with conservative care from a chiropractor.