January 11th, 2022: Dr. Hoang Nguyen
Back Pain
Chiropractor
Back pain is one of the leading causes of disabilities in Australia. There are two types of back pain; specific and non specific back pain. Specific back pain is generally caused by trauma while non specific usually has an underlying pathological cause. There are currently multiple modalities and approaches which people take to help with back pain. The main treatment options are exercises, steroid injections, surgery, physiotherapy and/ or Chiropractic care.
Common causes
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Muscle strain and ligament sprain from lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, fall, poor posture, sport and work injuries.
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Lumbar herniated disc
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Degenerative disc disease
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Facet joint dysfunction
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Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
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Spinal stenosis.
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Spondylolisthesis.
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Osteoarthritis/Spondylosis/Degenerative Joint Disease.
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Scoliosis or Kyphosis
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Trauma
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Compression fracture
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Poor Posture
Less common causes
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Infection (can cause severe pain and is life threatening)
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Tumor
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Autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease and fibromyalgia.
What are the causes of back pain?
Depending on the severity and cause of pain, you may experience:
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Dull or achy pain, localized in the low back.
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Burning pain which can run to the backs of your thighs and/or into the lower legs or feet.
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Numbness or tingling.
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Muscle spasms and tightness.
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Prolonged sitting or standing aggravates the pain.
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Difficulty standing, or walking.
What symptoms may you experience?
Although there are multiple modalities in both Western and Traditional medicine, some of the more common approach include:
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Medication: muscle relaxants and painkillers may be prescribed by your Medical practitioner to assist in pain reduction. Although, studies have shown long term usage of medication may lead to complications to both mental and physical health.
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Surgery: If your back pain is severe and does not improve after 6 to 12 weeks of non-surgical conventions, you may consider surgery.
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Alternative modalities: You can also consider acupuncture, back braces and meditation an alternative treatment(s) to help reduce the pain.
What treatments are available?
How can Chiropractic care help?
Chiropractic care has been proven to be an effective modality to help with back pain of different causes. Depending on your condition, a qualified chiropractor may perform specific Chiropractic manual adjustments which aim to improve mobility and reduce pain. Massage therapy and muscle rehabilitation may also incorporated into your “Get Well” program to help maximize your body’s healing potential.
Risks and complications do exist in every treatment, and Chiropractic care is no different. Therefore, it is important to get diagnosed by a well-trained and qualified Chiropractor. The diagnostic procedure with Chiropractors from Spinal Health & Co. Chiropractic include:
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Thorough medical history
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Physical examinations: Range of motion, joint palpation and muscle testing.
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Neurological examinations
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Orthopaedic tests
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X-ray referral (if required)
Adverse effects associated with chiropractic adjustments are rare, but may include:
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Worsening of your current condition
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Strain or sprain
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Compression of nerves in the lumbar spine
Sources
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Coulter ID, Crawford C, Hurwitz EL, et al. Manipulation and mobilization for treating chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine J. 2018;18(5):866–879. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2018.01.013
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Eklund A, Jensen I, Lohela-Karlsson M, et al. The Nordic Maintenance Care program: Effectiveness of chiropractic maintenance care versus symptom-guided treatment for recurrent and persistent low back pain-A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2018;13(9):e0203029. Published 2018 Sep 12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203029
