If you are suffering from low back pain you are far from alone. At some point in their lives nearly 90% of the populations will suffer from low back pain that interferes with daily activities, recreation, or work. This condition is the most common cause of work related disability and more than $50 billon is spent each and every year for treatment. Low back pain is second only to headache on the list of most common neurological afflictions.
Understanding Low Back Pain
There are two terms used when describing the length or duration of any condition and they are:
- Acute – Short-term which has a duration from a few days to a few weeks
- Chronic – A condition that lasts for more than 3 months
Acute pain is usually the result of a trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis and is more often than not mechanical in nature. This may be the result of a sudden jolt as a result of an auto accident, working around the house, or a sports related injury. Symptoms might include limited range of motion and flexibility, the inability to stand up straight, muscle aches, or even shooting or stabbing pain.
Chronic low back pain may have any or all of the symptoms associated with acute pain but the duration is significantly longer. The cause of chronic pain is often more difficult to determine and is often progressive.
Treatment of Low Back Pain
Treatment of low back pain can be administered by a chiropractor at a chiropractic facility. The first step would be a series of x-rays to determine if the pain is a result of a fracture or other condition that would require treatment by a surgeon.
A chiropractic facility treats lower back pain in a safe and non-invasive manner without the use of drugs. There are a number of treatment methods that might be used to relieve pain.
- Chiropractic or Spinal AdjustmentThe benefits of spinal adjustment include pain relief and long term wellness. Spinal manipulation has been documented as far back as the Egyptians and Hippocrates.
- AcupressureAcupressure is traditional Chinese medicine and was developed from its cousin acupuncture. In essence acupressure is exactly the same as acupuncture …without the needles. The needles are replaced with pressure by the fingers, hand, elbow, or devices.
- BiofeedbackThis method of low back pain treatment raises the patients awareness of quantifiable bodily functions such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, muscle tension, etc. and teaches the patient to gain control of the physical processes.
- TractionTraction is a treatment method that uses weights to apply constant force to gently and gradually move the skeletal structure back into proper alignment.
- TENSTranscutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a treatment that is administered using mild electrical pulses along the nerve fibers to block pain signals sent to the brain..
- UltrasoundUltrasound is used to warm the internal tissues of the body causing muscles to relax and thus ease pain.
All of these procedures and methods are safe, non-invasive, and drug free. Chiropractors specialize in and are successful at treating low back pain and other conditions
Spinal Care Australia is the premier chiropractic care facility in Brisbane and has been successfully relieving pain and treating clients for more than 5 years. Isn’t it about time you got some relief from low back pain?