One of the most common reasons that patients visit our Sioux Falls chiropractic clinic is to try to find help with lower back pain. Lower back pain is a very common symptom and affects millions of Americans per year. Lower back pain can affect people of all ages from children to geriatrics but becomes more common with older age. Some instances of lower back pain may be mild but other cases can be severe and debilitating. Lower back pain can be localized and only present in the lower back. Other times, lower back pain may radiate down into the legs or feet as pain, tingling or numbness. In many cases, chiropractic care is able to help people that suffer from lower back pain.
Anatomy of the Lower Back
The lower back consists of five lumbar vertebra and the pelvis. The vertebrae are bones that protect the nerves that come off of the spinal cord and exit from the lower back to travel to the legs. The pelvic bones are connected in the front and the back. On the posterior (back side) the pelvis has a sacroiliac joint on either side that is freely moveable. Bones are connected by discs, muscles, ligaments among the soft tissues. Many of these tissues can play a role in lower back pain so it can be hard at times to determine what exactly is causing the pain. Muscle strains, vertebral subluxation (subluxations), disc bulges or herniations are all things that may cause lower back pain.
Lower Back Pain Causes in Sioux Falls
Common causes of lower back pain can include trauma such as a car accident or a lifting injury. Some cases may also result from poor posture when sitting or sleeping. Sometimes lower back pain may be due to a muscle strain and may go away after some rest. Other times lower back can be caused by a structural problem such as misalignment or a disc herniation and may not improve on its own. Chiropractic care, physical therapy, spinal injections, acupuncture, massage or surgery are all treatments that may help lower back pain. The best course of treatment may vary depending on the patient’s history and what tissues are damaged.
Chiropractic Care in Sioux Falls
As I mentioned above, chiropractic care is often able to help with lower back pain. When a patient comes in with that symptom, we will take a history that looks at where the pain is, any cause of the pain and what activities affect the pain. Next is a chiropractic evaluation that includes instrumentation and palpating the spine. In some cases, we may take x-rays of the spine or even recommend the patient get an MRI. For patients that are good candidates for chiropractic, care often consists of spinal adjustments, stretching/strengthening exercises and discussions of good posture. If you struggle with lower back pain, we welcome the opportunity to try to help you with chiropractic care. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our Sioux Falls chiropractors.