Low Back Pain, Discs, and Sciatica
• At any given time 1/3 of the world's population has low back pain.
• 80% of Americans will experience disabling low back pain that requires them to miss work.
• Low back pain is the number one reason why people seek a doctor.
Low back pain…
• Most heavily innervated tissues with sensory fibers are the facet joint, their capsules, the outer 1/3 of the discs and the nerve roots.
• There is only a poultry amount of sensory nerve fibers in muscles compared to joints.
• Causes of low back pain include birth, repeated childhood falls, sport activities, car accidents, repeated heavy lifting, awkward sleeping positions, leg length inequality, and many other activities.
• The primary cause of low back pain is Subluxation!
Common Conditions…
• Disc Degeneration:
• Discs degenerate from the vertebra above and below misaligned, causing excessive wear and tear.
• Discs are like a donut with jelly in the center, sometimes the wear and tear causes the jelly to protrude and push on a nerve.
• Did you know that subluxations left uncorrected long term are the primary reasons our discs degenerate?
• Sciatica:
• Pain extending down the back of the leg. The farther the pain runs down the leg, the more serious.
• Foot drop or weakness of the big toe is a chronic sign.
• Common during pregnancy, traumas, progressive arthritic conditions not stabilized.
• Chiropractic is one of the leading treatments for Sciatica.
Top Ten Ways To Improve Your Low Back
- Sit less
- Practice good posture
- Check your mattress for sag
- Don't sleep on your stomach
- Lift correctly
- Morning exercise ritual
- Evaluate your activities
- Check your shoes, feet, knees, and hips
- Don't put up with pain
- Get a chiropractic check-up and adjustment
Research
• There are numerous studies done on low back pain proving spinal manipulations as the most effective form of treatment by far. For example, the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research stated that spinal manipulation by chiropractors was the most effective form of treatment for low back pain.
