Back pain is arguably one of the most prevalent conditions around the world. It is also among the most frequent reasons for missing days at work, leading cause of disability, and regular hospital visits. Indeed there is some serious reason why it is so common nowadays. What might be causing most people’s back pain? Is back pain on the same level of danger as heart conditions or spinal fractures? A handful of diseases or disorders usually cause a majority of back pain cases.
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Here are some reasons why back pain happens. Let’s take a look:
It would occur due to a narrowing of the central spinal canal. Thus, it can put pressure on the nerve roots and the spinal cord itself. Further, it can cause severe pain, numbness, and weakness over time.
The strain of the muscles in the back is one of the most frequent reasons for back pain. Pressure and stress can happen due to injury, overuse, poor posture, improper lifting technique, sitting for prolonged periods, and various other reasons.
Pregnant women often complain of low back pain problems. It can happen because a woman’s body changes to get ready for the growing baby.
The sciatic nerve is composed of the branches of nerve roots in the lower back. It is the longest and largest nerve in the body. Also, it courses from your lower back through your buttocks, hip, and the backside of each leg. It continues down to the feet and toes. For this reason, people with sciatica experience low back pain and other problems anywhere along the sciatic nerve path.
A disc herniation, bulge, or rupture can be extremely painful. It can occur when the disc's outer rings become weak (due to wear and tear or injury) and the inner nucleus punches through the disc. The back pain that stems from this can be intense, and depending on where the affected disc originates, the pain may also spread down one of the arms or legs.
The spine, when viewed from front to back, should be aligned straight from up and down. Any deviation of the spine from this view is called scoliosis. It does not cause any pain. However, it can cause problems with the organs' function, especially when the curvature is more pronounced or severe.
When we observe the spine from the side, there are normal curvatures in place. Frequently, the neck's natural curve becomes lost, and it becomes straight, or the natural curve becomes reversed. The mid-back also has a natural curvature. However, it can become accentuated due to poor posture. Thus, it would result in a dowager's hump or hunchback appearance.
It is a broad term that means degeneration of the vertebrae, ligaments, and spine cartilage. This kind of deterioration is known as an arthritic change. When the ligaments and joints lose their integrity, it can also cause pain and nerve irritation.
Spondylolisthesis frequently happens in the lower back. It involves a vertebra that slips forward and out of its normal position. When this happens, it can pinch the nerves that branch off of the spinal cord. As a result, it would lead to numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness.
People with fibromyalgia frequently suffer from severe back and neck pain and the other usual symptoms of this chronic and painful condition. Other symptoms include sleep problems, extreme fatigue, and other cognitive changes.
The atlas and axis vertebrae are at the top of the spinal column. These topmost bones are responsible for keeping the alignment of the rest of the spine below them. When the atlas or axis bone misaligns, it would trigger compensations throughout the rest of the spine and hinder the normal nervous system functions.
There are two main reasons why it is critical to take care of your spine. The first reason is to maintain the quality of your daily life. The second one is to feel good and maintain your overall health. The spine houses both the spinal cord and brainstem. The brainstem's critical function is to connect the brain above to all the body parts below the upper cervical spine or neck.
Irritated nerves can cause pain, discomfort, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. Also, they can trigger various health issues that your body can typically self-regulate.
Medications might help deal with back pain, but only temporarily. To find lasting or permanent relief, you will need to deal with a problem's underlying cause. Frequently, back pain originates at the topmost part of the spine, specifically at the most freely moving parts. The atlas and axis vertebrae are two of the most flexible and most essential elements of the spine. They bear the weight of the head and allow it the flexibility of moving in many directions. A misalignment in the upper cervical spine will cause a chain reaction of compensations all through the rest of the spine.
Most people who suffer from long-term back pain also have problems with their posture. If you are one of those, chances are you can observe yourself in front of a mirror and see what has occurred. Your head may have a tilt to the left or right side. You may notice that your shoulders don't look symmetrical. Also, one side of your hip may be higher than the other. These are examples of compensations that your spine does automatically to adjust for the misalignment in your neck. These compensations trigger an unequal tension and pressure on one side of your spine compared to the other side. Over time, these spinal compensations would cause degeneration and tissue injury and further health problems.
Upper cervical chiropractors address the underlying reasons for health problems. We do not chase after mere symptoms. We tackle the problem by focusing on where it matters most: the root cause. Therefore we go straight to the heart of the problem. Once misalignments are corrected, our patients benefit immensely. We give them a natural, safe, and non-invasive procedure that produces lasting results.
Upper cervical adjustments are custom made for each patient, giving them the best possible opportunity to maintain their proper spinal alignment intact. It allows the body the time it requires to heal and repair damaged tissues fully. Finally, a properly aligned spine restores better function and a better quality of life free from pain.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
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.
