Chiropractor for Low Back Pain Treatment in Carrollton, TX
Low back pain (LBP) refers to discomfort or pain that occurs in the lower part of the back, typically below the ribs and above the hips. It can range from mild, occasional discomfort to severe, disabling pain. Low back pain is one of the most common health complaints, affecting a significant portion of the population at some point in their lives. The lower back, or lumbar spine, consists of five vertebrae (L1 to L5) that support the upper body and allow for various movements.
Causes of Low Back Pain:
1. Musculoskeletal Causes
Strains and Sprains: These are among the most common causes of low back pain. A strain involves overstretching or tearing of muscles or tendons, while a sprain involves injury to ligaments. These injuries often occur due to lifting something too heavy, improper movement, or sudden awkward motions.
Herniated or Bulging Discs: The intervertebral discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. A herniated disc happens when the soft inner core of a disc pushes through its outer shell, putting pressure on nearby nerves and causing pain, numbness, or weakness, often radiating down the leg (sciatica).
Degenerative Disc Disease: With aging, the intervertebral discs may lose water content and elasticity, leading to wear and tear. This can cause the discs to lose their cushioning ability, resulting in pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
Muscle Imbalance or Weakness: Weak core muscles (abdominal, back, and pelvic muscles) can contribute to poor posture and increased strain on the lower back, leading to pain over time.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal (the space around the spinal cord) can put pressure on the nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, legs, or buttocks.
2. Injuries and Trauma
Accidents or Falls: Sudden impacts or injuries from accidents (e.g., car accidents, sports injuries, or falls) can lead to muscle strains, fractures, or damage to the spine, resulting in low back pain.
Overuse or Repetitive Stress: Activities that involve repetitive movements (e.g., lifting, bending, or twisting) can strain the back over time, leading to chronic pain.
3. Structural and Anatomical Issues
Scoliosis: A condition where the spine curves abnormally to the side, which can lead to muscle imbalances and discomfort in the lower back.
Spondylolisthesis: This occurs when one vertebra slips forward over the vertebra below it, which can cause lower back pain and nerve compression.
Fractures: Compression fractures (often due to osteoporosis) or other bone fractures in the spine can result in severe back pain.
4. Low back pain can be caused by several conditions, most of which can be addressed at home or non-invasively by a chiropractor. A few of the causes include but are not limited to:
Symptoms of Low Back Pain:
The symptoms of low back pain can vary depending on the underlying cause. They may include:
Localized pain: Pain directly in the lower back, which can be dull, sharp, or throbbing.
Radiating pain: Pain that extends into the hips, buttocks, or legs (e.g., sciatica). This is common in cases of a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Stiffness: Difficulty moving or bending the back due to tight muscles or inflammation.
Numbness or tingling: In some cases, nerve compression can cause numbness or tingling in the legs or feet.
Weakness: Muscle weakness or a feeling of "giving way" in the legs, which can be caused by nerve irritation or compression.
Difficulty standing or sitting for long periods: Prolonged sitting or standing may exacerbate the pain, leading to discomfort or a need to change positions frequently.
How can Chiropractic Care help with Low Back Pain?
At Elevation, we utilize a wide variety of techniques and treatments to improve symptoms related to low back pain. Depending on the underlying cause of the low back pain indicates how to treat the symptoms. It's not a one-size fits all situation because each diagnosis is treated different and each person may present with unique compensation patterns that amplify symptoms. We utilize different soft tissue treatments such as manual therapy, dry needling, IASTM, cupping and shockwave therapy. We also use spinal manipulation or adjusting to improve range of motion and mobility through the lumbar spine effectively. We usually teach rehabilitation and strengthening exercises for the low back and surrounding regions as well to help ease and reduce symptoms long-term.
Try this Exercise for Low Back Pain
This modified version of a Pallof press is one of our favorite go-to exercises for back pain, hip pain, or even upper and lower extremity injuries. It helps to target rotational stability through the core, which is where a lot of us tend to struggle and lack strength. Having a properly functioning core system is crucial for injury prevention and injury recovery. This is typically where we start with this exercise and make modifications to make it more or less challenging depending on the person. We usually recommend starting with 3 sets of 8 reps with an 8-second hold a good starting point before progressing to a harder variation.
TESTIMONIALS
Joe G.
If you are looking for an excellent Chiropractor, as well as a specialist in Sports Medicine, physical therapy, dry needling, cupping, flexibility and so much more - this is the place to go. Dr. Ackerman is so knowledgeable and really cares about his patients. Great place and always a great experience.
