Back Pain/Sciatica Q & A
What causes back pain?
Back pain can typically be classified into 4 different categories:
- Mechanical - these types of conditions involve a mechanical problem with how the bones of the spine move or bend
- Injuries / Trauma - fractures of the bones or strains of muscles of the back can result from physical trauma, like falls or accidents
- Conditions / Diseases - various medical conditions (including disc herniations, arthritis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, kidney problems, urinary tract infections, etc.) can result in back pain
- Infections / Tumors - infections or tumors in and around the spine can produce pain in the back
While there are additional potential causes for back pain, it is important that individuals with back pain enlist the help of a medical professional in determining the true cause of their back problem.
What are disc bulges and herniations?
Discs are the “rubber pads” that sit between the bones of the spine and act like shock absorbers. If the outside edge of the disc becomes damaged, the jelly-like center can cause the disc to bulge or herniate. This is a surprisingly common condition. Many people with this issue suffer with pain, while others feel nothing at all. The quality and intensity of the pain depends on the type and position of the herniation. If the damaged disc irritates a nearby nerve, individuals can experience shooting or stabbing pains, tingling, numbness or weakness into the buttocks and legs.
Injuries to the discs of the spine can result from prolonged poor posture, repetitive use injuries, trauma or accidents, and chronic misalignment of the spine. It is important that these types of issues are identified and promptly treated to avoid further damage.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica, also known as sciatic neuralgia, is a term to describe the condition of pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness into the buttocks and legs that results from irritation of the sciatic nerve. In some instances, sciatic problems can extend down to the knee and, at times, even progress to the foot. This can make sitting, standing or walking for long periods extremely difficult.
A number of different factors that can lead to sciatica. Irritation of the sciatic nerve can result from a disc herniation, bony overgrowth, impinging muscles, subluxation/misalignment, or in rare cases, a cyst or tumor. Sciatic problems are often accompanied by lower back pain as this nerve originates from the lower spine.
Sciatica can come and go throughout a person’s lifetime and can make it difficult to perform even the simplest of daily tasks. If left untreated, sciatic problems will generally become worse and can potentially result in permanent injury of the nerve.
How can chiropractic care help with back pain and sciatica?
Chiropractic treatment is a natural, holistic and non-invasive practice that addresses the structural causes that lead to a large majority of back pain problems. After a thorough assessment to determine the specific cause of your back pain or sciatica, a unique care plan will be developed for you to address the cause, provide relief, and get you back to living your life as you should.
Using specific, gentle and non-invasive techniques, Dr. Christian Stack can provide relief and restore long-term health. Chiropractic adjustments do not need to be forceful or involve “cracking” to be effective. Adjustments, along with targeted stretching and exercises, allow the body and spine to recover their natural alignment.
Some people respond very quickly, while others may take more time to recover. The main factors include the condition of your spine and the length of time the problem has been present. The great news is that it typically takes less time to fix an issue than it took to create it.
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