Dr Cole Explains What Causes Low Back Pain

Is your low back pain driving you nuts? You and everyone else in Tulsa. Low back pain is the fifth most common reason for visits to the doctor in the U.S. and is the most common reason people under the age of 45 have to limit their activities.

When someone suffers from a case of intense low back pain, they often worry that it could be a result of something really serious; it sure feels like it is.  However, the fact is that most causes of low back pain are mechanical, meaning that they are not caused by such conditions as inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis), infection, fracture or cancer.

So what does cause low back pain?  

As we get older our bones lose their strength, our ligaments aren't able to stretch like they did when we were younger and our muscles get weaker.  

The discs in our backs are the shock absorbers of the spine.  As a result of wear and tear due to injury, age and overall use, they begin to dehydrate and lose their flexibility. This limits the discs' ability to cushion the vertebrae. A person may lift something too heavy, or overstretch their low backs, which can cause a light sprain or spasm in muscles or ligaments.  If overly strained, a disc may actually become injured and herniate or bulge outward. This is commonly called a "slipped disc". The bulge that results may put pressure on any one of the 50 sensitive nerves, restricting movement, affecting function and causing pain.  

As this back injury heals, scar tissue is created and it doesn't have the flexibility or even the strength the normal tissue had. As a result of the accumulation of this scar tissue from repeated injuries, the back is eventually weakened and that can lead to a more serious injury.

Of course other factors have a part to play in this process; such as weight, smoking, pregnancy, posture and even poor sleeping positions.

Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is uniquely suited for the care of these conditions because chiropractic works to restore joint function and mobility, break up scar tissue, and reduce inflammation. It is a mechanical solution for a mechanical problem. 

Occasionally, back pain can be caused by something more serious, so it is very important that you get a thorough chiropractic exam to rule out any serious complications.

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