Hidden Truth About Lower Back Pain
Here at Grovetown Chiropractic, we have a common saying you might have seen: “It’s about more than back pain.”
While we firmly believe chiropractic care is about getting to the root of an issue rather than simply addressing the pain you’re feeling, for the 1 in 5 Americans looking for relief from lower back pain or sciatica, it can be all about back pain.
In our experience, back pain is often more likely to become chronic and typically gets worse before it gets better. Millions of people have learned to live with their pain and cope with the discomfort.
So what’s true and what’s just urban legend with lower back pain? Here are five key myths you need to be able to recognize.
Severe Back Pain Only Comes From Traumatic Injury
In terms of low back pain myths, this one falls somewhere right in the middle.
While traumatic events like car accidents or a slip-and-fall absolutely has the potential to trigger long-lasting, sometimes chronic back pain, they aren’t the only reason back pain or sciatica occurs.
In reality, there are a number of sometimes deeply hidden causes that could be triggering your discomfort. These are just a few of the most common reasons a patient might come to us with pain:
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A slipped or herniated disk.
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Inflammation in the sacroiliac joint.
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Degenerative disc disease.
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Postural stress including sleeping or sitting too long in uncomfortable positions.
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A pinched nerve.
Even though whiplash and other severe accidents often lead to back pain, they aren’t the only cause. Even regularly sitting in an office chair lacking the right support could make you feel as bad (or worse) as someone who’s back pain was brought on by any of these other provocations.
Rest Is The Key To Recovery
Another widespread misperception. If you’re experiencing the kind of back pain that tends to last for days on end, resting or lying down for more than an hour or two is rarely helpful.
Instead, it’s more likely that spending too much time in bed or resting a “bad back” could make the pain even worse.
Not only are regular exercises and stretching key habits for preventing back pain in the first place, we often recommend exercising even after our patients have triggered inflammation in their lower backs.
Gentle movements are key to using exercise to help alleviate discomfort. During an adjustment, we typically start with the movement(s) that cause the most pain and work backward from there. If flexing back is uncomfortable, we don’t want to recommend “toughing through it.”
Instead, something as simple as toe-touches or crunches can make a world of difference in loosening up the damaged muscles or joints and are far more effective than staying in bed.
Being Overweight Is Causing My Pain
Again, the truth behind this “myth” falls somewhere right in the middle.
It’s not entirely untrue that gaining extra weight in a short period or being overweight are risk factors with back pain. What that doesn’t mean is that losing weight will cure your discomfort or lower the chances that you could experience a flare up in the future.
Postural stress is one of the most common causes of back pain, and if you aren’t making a conscious effort to adjust the way you’re sitting, sleeping, standing, or even working out, you could be putting your body at risk regardless of body size.
It may seem simple, but if you’re reading this on your phone right now and your shoulders and back are hunched over in what’s commonly referred to as “text neck,” you’re probably exposing your body to painful posture.
Chiropractic Care Won’t Create Lasting Pain Relief
This isn’t our bias talking; scientific research shows chiropractic adjustments are more effective than conventional pain relief remedies (like painkillers or injections) on their own.
Whether it’s with treatment with an activator or the traditional adjustment style (our favorite), chiropractic care isn’t just safe, it works at creating healthy alignment in the spine and long-term pain relief.
You’ve heard us say “it’s more than just back pain,” and that’s because chiropractic care is about more than treating symptoms. Spinal manipulation helps your doctor pinpoint the root cause of back pain and establish a treatment plan that attacks the problem head-on rather than scratching the surface of symptoms.
“Dr. Seals is a very patient practitioner. He’s taken the time to listen to my ailments and address them systematically. Based on his numerous recommendations, I can confidently say he’s helped to transform my life over the course of 2 months.” – Sam W. via Google
I’m Stuck With With My Bad Back Forever
Almost everyone you know experiences some form of back pain, and while it can be worse for some than others, it’s easy to feel like your bad back is stopping you from doing the things you love.
Just because your experience with back pain may feel constant and ongoing doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it forever.
A personalized combination of pain management techniques and healthy prevention measures can help you stay active and overcome pain that may feel and act chronic.
In order to get there, you need to start with understanding what’s causing your pain, and recognize the triggers other people experience may not necessarily apply to you. Back pain is a nearly universal experience, but the causes of back pain aren’t.
Ready to Beat Bad Back Pain For Good?
At Grovetown Chiropractic, our mission is always to help you get things moving and working again with healthy, long-term pain solutions you can employ in everyday life. It’s a joint effort that starts with you.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Seals, call 706-400-4333, or book right from our website by visiting the home page and selecting the date and time that work best for you!