How You Can Beat Lower Back Pain

Have you been struggling with lower back pain recently? Do you find it hard to move or go about your daily activities because of the ache in your back muscles?

Unfortunately, lower back pain is a common form of discomfort that every person will experience at one point in their lives. For some, this pain is a result of an injury or muscle strain. For others, lower back pain is a chronic condition.

But before you go any further in your search for back pain relief , you should understand the different types of lower back pain.

Types of lower back pain

When determining the type of back pain you may have, there are three different terms to be aware of: local, referred and radiating . A medical professional will typically classify your lower back pain as one of these three types.

Someone who has localized back pain will have discomfort in a particular part of the back, typically from a muscle spasm or herniated disc. This pain typically stays in one area and doesn’t travel to other parts of the body.

Conversely, referred pain refers to the discomfort in one area of your body being caused by a problem in another area. If somebody has referred pain in their lower back, this typically means the root of the problem is stemming from somewhere else. For instance, kidney stones or pancreatitis can often lead to lower back pain.

Radiating pain typically starts in one area of the body and then travels to another area. Radiating pain in the lower back is caused by nearby nerve or muscle damage, such as sciatica. This condition is usually the result of a herniated disc — and somebody with sciatica will usually feel a shooting pain that radiates from the nerve in their lower back down to their legs.

Understanding the different types of pain and which category your lower back pain might fall into is key to proper diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of lower back pain

While there are a few different types of lower back pain, the symptoms are generally the same across the board. Muscles aches and spasms are typical — and they might also be accompanied by a burning or shooting sensation. The pain can also move down your leg and become aggravated by movement.

Additional symptoms that require immediate attention are fever, bowel or bladder problems, weight loss and numbness in one or both of your legs. The symptoms of lower back pain are easily recognizable — but if you start to show any of the above, your pain may have a different cause.

Causes of lower back pain

Lower back pain is typically the result of either an acute or chronic condition. A muscle spasm or ruptured disc that happens during a fall or other injury is an example of the former. This type of lower back pain is easily recognizable and usually short-term.

Chronic conditions that may lead to lower back pain include osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Both of these degenerative disorders affect the stability of the spinal column and the vertebrae themselves. Each of these conditions usually lasts a person’s entire life and may even lead to further complications, such as nerve damage.

How upper cervical chiropractic care can help

While there are a variety of lower back pain treatments, such as medications and cortisone injections, you may want to consider a longer-term treatment plan. Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the upper cervical spine and the brain stem. The goal is to identify and remedy any misalignment in this area, which will in turn relieve radiating pain throughout the body and in the lower back.

Additionally, an upper cervical chiropractor will fully examine the spine to identify other areas of misalignment. Through manual manipulation and a variety of specific exercises for lower back pain , the chiropractor will gently realign the spine and take the pressure off the accompanying muscles and nerves.

You will also learn a variety of stretches for lower back pain that you can perform on your own time. The goal is the long-term management of your pain, rather than a band-aid solution.

Schedule an appointment today

At Kilian Upper Cervical Chiropractors, our certified chiropractors are ready to help you conquer your lower back pain! During your first consultation, you will meet with one of our chiropractors to create a personalized treatment plan that fits your goals. From there, you can begin treatment and start experiencing a pain-free lower back. Call us at 604-856-7781 , or visit our website to schedule your first appointment!