If you suffer from lower back pain, you’re definitely not alone. Back pain, especially lower back pain, is one of the most common complaints at doctors’ offices and hospitals across the nation. The cause of any particular case of back pain can be difficult to determine, but chiropractors are well-equipped to help ease your pain with a number of drug-free, noninvasive techniques. In addition to the obvious sources of pain from acute injuries, your lower back pain could be caused by a number of issues you haven’t even considered such as stress, uncomfortable furniture or segmental dysfunctions. Read on to learn more.
Stress is a very common cause of lower back pain. Most Americans today are stressed out—juggling responsibilities such as working, managing households, and raising kids can cause tension and anxiety. Many adults under significant amounts of pressure do not take steps to alleviate their stress, which can manifest in damaging, sometimes serious health complications. According to WebMD, 43% of adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. However, chiropractic care can alleviate some of the negative effects of stress, such as backaches and muscle pain. Stress-related back pain is very real, and the physical pain incurred from a stress-ridden life can only exacerbate the problem.
Another cause of lower back pain is sub-par furniture, such as sagging or lumpy mattresses. While you may save money by using a second-hand or older mattress, you certainly aren’t doing your back any favors. An old mattress has lost support over years of use and now may sag and fail to properly support your spine and keep it aligned during sleep, which leads to lower back pain. It is very important to maintain a natural or neutral alignment in the hips and spinal column when resting or sleeping. Lumpy mattresses, like sagging mattresses, can cause back and neck pain by allowing your spine to bend, which strains your muscles, joints and ligaments. The support of a good mattress will allow the hips and spine to recover from daily abuses and gravity.
Lastly, segmental dysfunctions, also known as subluxations, cause many lower back problems. Segmental dysfunctions are problem areas of the spine that can negatively affect the entire nervous system. These problem areas are essentially mechanical problems of the individual joints and related ligaments and muscles that link the spinal bones. Segmental dysfunction is what results from the vertebrae of the spine not moving properly or being malpositioned, which in turn causes pressure and stress on spinal nerves, blood vessels, and the surrounding muscles.
When you can’t think of a specific injury or action that brought on your back pain, realize that there are many sources of back pain which are cumulative and not sudden. Your chiropractor can help you find the root cause of the pain so it can be eliminated and help you feel better now.