Back pain is one of the most common causes of lost time at work, and one of the primary reasons people seek chiropractic care. Back pain can range in severity, to the point where it interferes with our everyday lives, from gardening to walking to picking up our children. The good news is that back pain chiropractors can alleviate the pain and correct the underlying issue that’s causing it.
What is back pain?
Back pain can be anything from a constant, mild ache, to throbbing pain, to pain that radiates down the legs or arms. It can make even simple movements such as rolling over in bed extremely difficult. Depending on its cause and location, back pain can be chronic and increase in severity over time, or it might come on suddenly after an injury or sudden strenuous movement.
What causes back pain?
The back is an intricate network of bones, muscles, nerves, tendons, and discs, and because of the way they work together, there’s a wide range of causes. It can occur because of aging, poor physical fitness or being overweight.
Back pain can have genetic factors. Ankylosing spondylitis, for example, is a type of arthritis that is partly hereditary. Physical exertion, whether it’s a continuous movement over a period of time – such as a job that requires bending and living – or a sudden movement during sport or another physical activity, can cause back pain.
Other causes are cancer, arthritis or other diseases. Smoking also can contribute to back pain.
What are the symptoms of back pain?
Back pain can present itself as everything from a mild, dull ache, to muscle spasms to sharp radiating pain. Sometimes the area can be sore to the touch.
How is back pain treated?
Rest is one of the most common treatments of back pain as it allows the affected nerve roots and tissues to heal.
Applying heat and ice to the affected area can help ease the pain by reducing inflammation.
Back pain chiropractors in West Bloomfield, MI., will do a full examination to determine any imbalance that is causing the pain, and then will apply spinal manipulation, which is a gentle, effective and non-invasive treatment to realign the spine. Your chiropractor will apply controlled force that can improve your range of motion and restore function to your spine to relieve the pain.
Francis Burns is an avid writer from Louisiana. With a Bachelor’s in English and a background in journalism, Francis has been writing for a variety of media outlets for the last five years. He specializes in stories about the local culture and loves to fill his work with inspiring words. When not writing, Francis enjoys exploring the outdoors of Louisiana and photographing nature.
