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Low Back Pain
Millions of people suffer from low back pain on a daily basis. While some people have a specific injury which caused their pain, many people complain of back pain that began with no apparent injury. In many cases the pain gets better in time, but reoccurs over and over again for no apparent reason.
There are numerous causes of back pain, some related to specific injuries, and others related to degenerative processes or referred pain. Some of the origins of back pain include: overuse muscle injuries (strains), joint injury (sprains), disc injuries, subluxation, referred pain, fracture, cancers, urinary tract infections, abdominal aneurysms, degenerative joint and disc disease, and decompensation (loss of muscle tone) of supportive postural muscle and ligaments.
Although I see many individuals with acute back pain from lifting or twisting wrong, most of the patients that I see have chronic and recurring back pain from overuse and postural muscle decompensation. In the classic scenario, severe back pain will cause the injured person to avoid activities or movements that cause pain. This lack of mobility will extend the injury by limiting blood flow and allow scar tissue to heal the tissue without flexibility. In as few as 48 hours, the supportive muscles will begin to weaken from under-use or become further damaged from spasm while trying to protect the injured area. This situation leaves little hope for long term recovery. The scarred muscle and ligament will lack flexibility and strength, leaving the person with a high risk of re-injury.
The treatment for back pain must be individualized and safe for the patient's type of injury. A thorough history and examination are essential in order to make the correct diagnosis. The examination will assess the amount of damage done and the specific pain producing tissues. Finally a plan of care is designed for the individual. A typical treatment plan would include these basic points:
Although the body will heal the injury, it will only heal what it is presented with. If you don't move the injured area during scar tissue formation (acute phase), the tissue will heal inflexible. Whereas if you keep motion in the injured area during healing, the scar tissue will incorporate the flexibility. The most common reason for recurring back pain is lack of appropriate rehabilitation of the injured area during all of the three phases of healing.
My focus as a chiropractor is to design and implement a treatment and rehabilitation program that gives you the best chance at a full recovery.
If you have a new or old back pain injury, and you want to know if I can help you recover to your body's best ability, call for a free consultation or an examination. 608-437-3600.
If you have questions about a problem you are having, or have a condition that other treatment has not helped, call for a consultation or examination today. 608-437-3600.
For more information, e-mail us at info@kishchiropractic.com