Low Back Pain – What You Should Know

Low Back Pain.

Low Back Pain is one of the reasons the patients present in my office. Depending on the cause, low back pain can produce a range of symptoms. The pain may be achy, dull, sharp and associated with muscle spasms. Low Back Pain can also cause symptoms in the legs such as pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, or even burning sensation that can extend below the knees. If the Low Back Pain symptoms are not addressed properly, it is more likely to become chronic (long-lasting) problem.

The root of low back pain is not always in the Low Back.

In my practice, I have discovered that approximately 80% of Low Back Pain instances are the secondary symptoms that might be related to other causes such as hip imbalance (most common), hip joint pain, over-stimulated muscle of buttock region, tight hamstrings, and on a very rare occasion cancer. It is very important for a doctor to ask questions about your health, physical activities and family history prior performing a physical exam.

Not all low back pain treatment approaches are the same.

Many times, patients with acute and chronic Low Back Pain informed me that they went to numerous chiropractic and physical therapy sessions that had minimal effect, or took very prolonged time to relieve the symptoms of pain. In some instances, the symptoms of low back pain returned in a short period of time after the treatment was over. According to the patients’ clinical experience, treatment was focused on one specific area (low back). Electrical stimulation, ultrasound, cold laser, massage and manipulation were rendered to that area. This approach will have temporary effect, because the cause of the problem was not properly addressed. Even a slight misalignment of a hip joint might case severe Low Back Pain symptoms.

Hip imbalance – most common cause of low back pain.

There is a specific test I perform in my office to diagnose imbalanced hips. As soon as this imbalance is identified, I perform a combination of chiropractic and rehabilitation treatment to correct this problem. A patient achieves an incredible result in a short period of time. In addition to chiropractic treatment, specific muscle stretching of buttocks and hamstring region is very important to maintain flexibility. To reinforce proper alignment, I recommend four to five chiropractic visits.

In rare instances, when the symptoms are not relived or any improvement is noted within several visits, a doctor might refer a patient for additional radiographic studies such as X-Ray or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). X-Ray is performed to rule out any osseous pathology (misalignment, fracture, or any other structural damage). MRI is performed to visualize integrity of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons and meniscus).