Low Back Pain and You
Low back pain is a universal human experience – almost everyone has it at some point. Low back pain is one of the top causes of missed work and visits to the emergency room.
Fun Fact: your low back starts at the bottom of the rib cage, ends at the sacrum, and is called the lumbar spine. The pain most associated with issues in the lumbar spine range from a dull ache to a shooting or stabbing sensation. The pain may be local or may radiate down into the buttocks and into the legs. Acute back pain occurs suddenly, and often after an injury. Paint that lasts more than three months is considered chronic. In order to describe low back, we are going to explain some terms commonly associated with pain in the lower back.
- Sciatica is a term that is used most when someone experiences pain that radiates in to one or both legs. Sciatica usually has nothing to do with the actual leg itself. Disorders in the lumbar spine can cause mild-to-severe pain in the buttocks or legs. Numbness in the buttocks or legs is also a sign that the lumbar spine is not healthy.
- Subluxations, a condition in which one of the lumbar vertebrae are misaligned and put severe stress on the nerve roots, can lead to symptoms of pain and discomfort. Subluxations are cause by physical, chemical, and emotional/mental stress. If your job involves heavy lifting or requires you using your body for labor, it may lead to subluxations. However, sitting at a desk all day comes with risks of its own, especially if your chair is uncomfortable or you sit with poor posture. Due to the stress placed on your nervous system due to subluxations in the lumbar spine, low back issues can cause digestive, urinary, bowel, and reproductive symptoms.
Low back pain is a body signal – your body is telling you that you are not functioning well. Do not dismiss it. Listen to your body and get checked by a chiropractor whose sole focus is on the health and proper functioning of the spine and nervous system. Most wait for the pain to “go away on its own,” which can lead to future issues that can be worse for your health and well-being.
Low back pain should always be checked by a health care provider. The earlier care is provided the lesser the chance that acute pain could turn into a chronic problem. Injuries to the low back should always be checked as well, even if there are no apparent symptoms or the pain starts to get better on its own. Do not let low back pain interfere with your quality of life. Get checked by a chiropractor today.