Unfortunately, low back pain is extremely common in society. It is estimated that 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Studies show that 15-30% of adults experience low back pain in any given year.
Low back pain is so common due to several factors affecting spinal alignment, the nerves, discs, joints, muscles, and ligaments. Some of the most common conditions causing low back pain include:
- Bulged Lumbar Discs
- Herniated Lumbar Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Muscle Strain
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
- Facet Joint Dysfunction
- Subluxation
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How Our Low Back Pain Care Plan Works
1. Get To The Root Cause Of The Problem
We’re not interested in temporary solutions, we want to address the underlying issue for long-term relief. We’ll take the time to listen to your story and conduct a thorough exam to get to the root cause of the problem.
2. Receive A Plan Based On Your Goals And Our Findings
No two people experience the same issue in the same way. That’s why we use your health goals and our exam findings as the guideposts to design an action plan that is unique to you.
3. Live Your Best Life
Having control over your health will unleash your full potential. You’ll no longer be held back from doing what you need, want, and love to do. Without physical limitations or emotional worry, you can be the blessing to your friends and family.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain in Wheaton, IL
Imagine your lower back as a symphony orchestra, where each part plays a crucial role in creating harmonious music. Here’s how the muscles, ligaments, joints, and discs can be compared to different sections of this orchestra:
Muscles
Think of the muscles as the string section of the orchestra. They provide the strength and flexibility needed to produce the music. When the muscles are strong and well-tuned, they can support and move the spine smoothly, just like how a well-played string section supports the harmony of a piece. If the muscles are tight or weak, it’s like having out-of-tune strings—they can’t perform their role effectively, leading to discord and discomfort.
Ligaments
Ligaments are like the woodwinds in the orchestra. They connect the bones and provide stability, just as the woodwinds add texture and depth to the music. If the ligaments are overstretched or strained, it’s akin to woodwinds being out of sync or playing too loudly—they disrupt the balance and stability, leading to a lack of harmony in the overall performance.
Joints
The joints act as the percussion section. They are the points where movement happens and provide the rhythmic beat. Just like percussion instruments need to be in sync for a rhythmic performance, the joints need to move smoothly and correctly to maintain the spine’s proper alignment. When joints are stiff or misaligned, it’s like having a misfiring drum or cymbal—everything gets off-beat and can create a jarring sensation.
Discs
The discs in the spine are like the orchestra’s drums. They are situated between the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers, ensuring smooth transitions and harmony between different parts of the spine. If the discs become damaged or degenerated, it’s like having an off-beat drum—the whole orchestra (your back) can start to fall out of sync, causing pain and discomfort.
Nerves
If the nerves (conductor) are not effectively managing the performance, it can lead to issues like miscommunication between the brain and lower back components, resulting in pain or dysfunction. Thus, just as a skilled conductor is crucial for a successful orchestral performance, healthy and well-functioning nerves are essential for a well-coordinated and pain-free lower back. The nerves are the master control system that directs the entire body. If the nerves are misaligned, compressed, or under stress, no part of the body (orchestra) will work at 100% function.
Anatomical and Structural Factors
Spinal Alignment: The lower back (lumbar region) bears most of the body’s weight and is subject to increased stress when there is a loss of motion (subluxation) and abnormal posture. The lumbar spine’s alignment, including the bones, discs, muscles, and ligaments, is crucial, but the spine is susceptible to strain and degeneration when not correctly aligned.
Disc Degeneration: The discs act like shock absorbers or cushions between the bones. Loss of motion in your spine (subluxation) causes these discs to wear down over time. This process is called degeneration, which can lead to conditions such as herniation or bulging, which can be very painful.
Lifestyle Factors
Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity has a detrimental effect on the body. It weakens the lower back muscles, reduces flexibility, and increases the likelihood of lower back pain or injury in the future.
Poor Posture: Sitting or standing with poor posture places abnormal stress on the spine and increases muscle tension, leading to low back pain.
Occupational Factors
Heavy Lifting: Jobs that require frequent heavy lifting, especially at awkward angles or bending and lifting with the weight away from your body, can increase the risk of lower back injuries.
Repetitive Stress: Repetitive movements or prolonged periods of standing or sitting can stress the lower back muscles and spine.
Stress and Mental Health
Emotional stress increases tension in the entire body and can exacerbate physical pain, including low back pain. The body’s response to stress can increase tension in the lower back.
Genetic Predisposition
Certain genetic factors play a role in how the spine develops. Certain factors can increase the likelihood that someone will experience more back pain.
Environmental Factors
The environment of proper body posture where the spine is placed has more to do with how the spine develops and grows than genetic predisposition. If someone has poor posture, this will lead to abnormal stress on the body, such as increased muscle tension and degenerative disc disease. The spine was made to last a lifetime. Arthritis is never normal in the spine.
Bad Body Mechanics
Improper Lifting Techniques: Not lifting objects correctly can stress the lower back significantly.
Poor Ergonomics: An improper workspace setup at home or work can lead to back strain and increased muscle tension.
Pre-existing conditions
Conditions like osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other conditions can contribute to or exacerbate low back pain.
Lack of Education
Many people are unaware of how to care for their spine, how to use proper body mechanics, proper stretching, and proper ergonomics from a young age. Not knowing how to properly care for your spine can increase the risk of low back pain.
Health and Physical Conditions
Being Overweight: Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, places extra stress on the lower back. Research shows that every extra pound we carry is equivalent to 10 pounds of pressure on the discs, which act like shock absorbers in your lower back. When you carry extra weight, your shock absorbers will wear out faster. So, if you have 5 to 10 pounds to lose, that’s 50 to 100 extra pounds of pressure on your spine. Losing weight will have a direct benefit on the health of your lower back.
Muscle Weakness: A weak core decreases the strength and stability of your lower back.
Previous injury: If left uncorrected, past injuries can make the back more susceptible to injuries in the future.
The Effects of Low Back Pain in Wheaton, IL
Untreated low back pain can have a wide range of effects on the body, impacting both physical health and overall well-being. Here’s a breakdown of how back pain can affect different aspects of your body:
Musculoskeletal System
Muscle Imbalance and Weakness: To compensate for back pain, you might unconsciously alter your posture or movement patterns, leading to muscle imbalances. Over time, this can weaken certain muscles while overworking others, exacerbating pain or leading to new injuries.
Joint Stress: Altered movement patterns can place extra stress on other joints and muscles, leading to additional pain or discomfort in the hips, knees, or shoulders.
Nervous System
Chronic Pain Sensitization: Prolonged pain changes how the nervous system processes pain signals, potentially making you more sensitive to pain or causing pain to persist even after the original issue has been resolved.
Nerve Damage: In some cases, untreated back pain may involve conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis that can compress or irritate nerves, leading to radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs or feet.
Posture and Mobility
Poor Posture: Persistent back pain often leads to poor posture as you try to avoid back pain by hunching over or shifting your weight. Poor posture can lead to further complications and exacerbate the initial pain.
Reduced Mobility: Chronic back pain can limit your range of motion and flexibility, making everyday activities like bending, lifting, or walking more difficult. This can further impact your quality of life and independence.
Psychological Impact
Mental Health Issues: Chronic back pain can contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression. The ongoing discomfort and limitations can affect your mood, sleep patterns, and overall mental health.
Reduced Quality of Life: Persistent pain can lead to reduced engagement in social, recreational, or work activities, impacting your overall quality of life and well-being.
Lifestyle and Physical Activity
Decreased Physical Activity: Chronic back pain may lead you to avoid physical activity, which can contribute to weight gain and overall physical deconditioning. This, in turn, can increase your risk of developing other health issues such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Increased Risk of Injuries: Limited mobility and muscle imbalances can increase the risk of falls and other injuries.
Sleep Disruptions
Sleep Problems: Back pain can interfere with your ability to find a comfortable position or stay asleep, leading to sleep deprivation, further exacerbating pain and your overall health.
Organ Function
Pressure on the nervous system doesn’t just cause neck and back pain. It can also lead to organ malfunction, disease development, and organs shutting down faster.
Energy
Most people who have low back pain have a decrease in energy. They don’t have as much energy as they used to, nor do they have the capacity to keep going as long as they would like in certain tasks. Pain zaps the energy in the body, leading to decreased performance.
Brain Shrinkage
Yes, you read that correctly. Several studies have shown that there is a connection between chronic low back pain and brain changes, including brain shrinkage. They have found that there is evidence showing that chronic conditions, including lower back pain, are associated with structural brain changes, such as reductions in gray matter volume. These changes are linked to altered brain function and increased pain sensitivity.
Job Performance
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses assessed how chronic low back pain affects job performance. The study found that chronic low back pain significantly impacts job performance, including reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and impaired work function.
Athletic Performance
Several studies have shown the connection between low back pain and decreased athletic performance, increased injury risk, and impaired training and competition. This can lead to long-term impacts on their sports career. We have worked with Olympic athletes to help them get effective strategies to prevent back problems and maintain peak performance levels.
Emotional Relationships
Back pain can significantly impact relationships in various ways, affecting both personal and social interactions. Pain can influence relationships by increasing emotional strain due to increased frustration and irritability, reducing physical interaction and intimacy, and increasing dependence. This creates undue stress on friends and family, triggering role changes by having one partner take on more responsibilities and social withdrawal from friends and extended family. Chronic pain can also lead to financial strain due to increased medical expenses or potential loss of income.
In summary, untreated low back pain can have a cascading effect on various aspects of your body and life. Just like a car that starts to malfunction, if not fixed quickly, it can lead to more costly repairs because something small wasn’t fixed. The same thing can happen with the low back. The longer the problem goes undetected and uncorrected, the more likely it is that you will experience more problems causing the body to break down and malfunction – leading to further physical complications, psychological distress, and lifestyle limitations. Addressing low back pain early and comprehensively can help prevent these broader impacts and improve overall health and quality of life.
Check Out Our Location Near You
2150 Manchester Rd. Ste. 100, Wheaton, IL 60187
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be worried about lower back pain?
Pain is common but never normal. Pain is our body’s alarm system, alerting us to a problem that needs our attention. When a function issue arises in our body, pain is the last symptom to manifest itself and the first to go away. That means that when we’re in pain, our body has been malfunctioning for a while. It’s important to act swiftly to avoid a minor issue snowballing into something more significant.
What can I do to relieve my lower back pain in Wheaton, IL?
Chiropractic care is the best medicine for low back pain. At Wheaton Family Chiropractic, we take a holistic approach to care, identifying and correcting the root cause of the problem rather than only addressing symptoms for temporary relief. If your back pain results from a structural issue with your spine, only a structural solution will be successful.
How can you tell if your spine is out of alignment?
A misaligned spine interferes with proper nervous system function. When our brain and body can’t communicate, we experience dysfunction in our cells, muscles, joints, organs, and body systems. This breakdown as well as chronic pain is a good indication that our spine needs to be assessed.
What causes lower back pain?
The most common causes of low back pain are:
- Bulged Lumbar Discs
- Herniated Lumbar Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Muscle Strain
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
- Facet Joint Dysfunction
- Subluxation
Why won’t my lower back pain go away?
You didn’t address the root cause of the problem. Pain medication may temporarily relieve the pain, but unless you address the source of that pain, once the medication wears off, the pain will return.