Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. In fact, it's often the number one reason that people miss work and go on disability. But not all lower back pain is caused by known conditions like arthritis or muscle spasms. In some cases, it can be due to a pinched nerve.
If you're experiencing lower back pain more often and disturbing than before, it's important to know how to assess whether or not a pinched nerve causes your symptoms in your spine before making an appointment with a doctor or chiropractor for some medication or Upper Cervical Chiropractic. That is because having an exam done too early could lead to unnecessary testing and treatment that are costly and does not help your problem.
Pinched nerves are a painful and often debilitating condition that a lot of people ignore most of the time. They occur when the spinal nerves are compressed or pinched, which can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the area affected. The most common type of nerve compression is a pinched sciatic nerve — the longest and widest nerve in the body—which runs from the lower back down through each leg.
For those who are hurt and suffering from chronic back pain, pinched nerves are a common cause. While you might be able to identify the source of your pinched nerve and treat it by yourself, many people will need the help of a doctor or chiropractor to fully address the issue. Some people experience pain in their lower backs as a result of poor posture or muscle imbalances due to injuries or accidents that caused damage to nerves. In these cases, medical professionals may recommend stronger painkillers or a strategic Upper Cervical Chiropractic plan for reduced pain and more lasting relief.
Pinching a nerve can happen in any part of your body. In fact, most pinched nerves occur in the neck, but about half of all people with low back pain have a pinched spinal nerve root (nerve roots are the small bundles of nerves that branch from your spinal cord).
It's important to know that not all pinched nerves cause pain. You might have a pinched nerve if you feel numbness or tingling in your leg or foot. But if you don't feel anything unusual, it doesn't mean that your nerve isn't pinched—it just means that your brain isn't sending signals to tell you about it!
The symptoms of a pinched nerve includes:
Many different things can cause pinched nerves, including:
This is a common cause of pinched nerves, but it's not the only one. Motorcycle accidents, sports injuries, and falls can also cause pinched nerves in your upper back or neck. Pinched nerves are the result of trauma to a nerve root as it passes through a narrow area such as the spinal canal.
The best way is to sleep on your back because sleeping on your stomach or side with a soft mattress can put pressure on the bottom of your spine, pinching a nerve. This is especially true if you have extra weight around your waist, which can make it more difficult for the vertebrae in this area to align properly and protect nerves that run through them.
If you sleep on your stomach, place a pillow between your knees to lift them slightly off the bed. If you’re used to sleeping on just one side, consider putting a pillow under that hip so that it lifts slightly off the mattress and doesn't bend inward as much.
Inactivity or sitting all day is one of the usual causes of pinched nerves. The pinched nerve pain is typically felt when you’re at rest but becomes worse when you perform activities like lifting objects or bending over. That is because when you stay in one position for too long, your body tends to tense up, leading to pain due to pressure on the lower back area of your spine, where many nerves pass through before they reach their destination points in other parts of the body.
You can get rid of these issues if you do a bit of stretching regularly or make time for some exercises at the gym or even in your home.
It's true! The body is an amazing machine, but sometimes things get out of alignment—and when they do, it can create serious problems. If your cervical spine is misaligned, it can cause pressure on the nerves that run through it. This pressure can cause pain, numbness, tingling sensations, and even weakness in your arms or legs, or any part of your body, especially your back, over time. That's where Upper Cervical Chiropractic comes in.
This form of chiropractic care works by adjusting the top vertebrae in your spine and removing any pressure on the nerve roots that run through the spine. This allows the nerves to function properly again, which reduces pain and other discomfort associated with pinched nerves. Instead of addressing only symptoms with drugs or surgery, we address the cause of those symptoms by fixing the alignment in your cervical spine—not just for today but for years to come.
A great way to find a good chiropractor for a quality Upper Cervical Chiropractic adjustment is to look at the Upper Cervical Awareness Doctors' Directory. You can use it to find qualified Upper Cervical specific chiropractors in your area who take care of pinched nerves in the lower back and other areas of the body.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
