Common Causes of Low Back Pain

 

Back pain can make everyday life exhausting — sitting, sleeping, driving and even walking become difficult. At Tygerberg Chiropractic we treat a wide range of spinal conditions including acute back pain, sciatica, stiffness and slipped discs. Treatment is tailored to the individual using gentle chiropractic techniques, decompression therapy and rehabilitation advice.

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1.  Joint Problems - Misalignment or Facet Syndrome 

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The most common cause of low back pain is a problem with the facet joints. These are the joints that interlock or connect the vertebrae of the spine together. There are 48 facet joints, any of which can misalign (also called a subluxation). Manipulation of these joints is the main reason patients visit Chiropractors.
 

Common Symptoms of Facet Syndrome:
Joint pain, stiffness, muscle spasms, chronic muscle knots, difficulty with movement, discomfort when arising from sitting and sleeping as well as referred symptoms to the leg and foot - numbness, pain, tingling, etc.

 

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2. Spinal Disc Problems

If you sit for many hours, over many years, the discs (cartilage pads between the vertebrae) can stiffen and lose their flexibility. Over many years, they start to bulge, thin or degenerate. This results in chronic stiffness. Over time, this sets you up for pain, pinched nerves and disc herniation. Treatment for slipped discs is a combination of 'spinal decompression' (on a special table) and regular exercise.

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3. Muscular problem 

There are three primary problems we see with muscles and the other soft tissues like tendons and ligaments:
 

• Too weak causing strain on joints

• Too stiff and tight causing tension on joints

• Inflammation due to stress, injury or imbalance

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If you sit for many hours and don't exercise enough, your weight bearing muscles will become weak. This adds to the pressure on joints and discs and is a significant cause of spinal pain. As we age, muscles weaken and we need to make the effort to stay strong or risk premature aging.

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Treatment 

Depending on your condition, a treatment plan will be recommended. Misaligned facet joints respond very well to spinal manipulation (adjustment or alignment). Degenerative or worn discs respond well to decompression techniques using a specialized table to stretch the discs and joints. Muscle testing can help identify weaknesses and appropriate exercises can be recommended.

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  * We try to find what works for you - patients may prefer one form of treatment over the other.
  * Severe cases – may require referral for x-rays, MRI scans, facet joint injection or surgical evaluation.

 

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