Your Aching Back

By Dr. Steven Warfield

If you have ever overdone it playing tennis or golf, or even helped a friend move out one day only to experience a painful twinge the next morning as soon as you climb out of bed, then you know only too well what it is to have an aching back.  Once detected, this unwelcome visitor can cause you to change your schedule, cancel appointments, and spend the better part of a day or so lying in bed with an icepack.  Most people understand that as they age, the incidence and severity of back pain is likely to increase.  What they don’t know is the fact that more than 50% of all working Americans experience back pain every year.  In fact, it is the second most common reason that people visit a doctor.  What they also don’t realize is that properly diagnosed and treated, back pain doesn’t have to derail your life.

What Causes Back Pain?

The spine is one of the most complicated structures on the human body.  Composed of bones, joints, discs, ligament and muscles, it is not only responsible for movement, it also communicates with organs, affects 

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blood pressure and even controls respiration.  So when something goes awry in the spine, it can affect much more than merely movement.  Back problems have been indicated in everything from disease of the internal organs to kidney stones and blood clots. 

The spine is composed of three areas: The cervical, the thoracic and the lumbar areas. The cervical vertebrae begin at the base of the skull and extend down to the thoracic spine.  These vertebrae are the smallest in the spine and are stacked on top of one another with a cervical disc between each one.  This makes them the most prone to injury.  They also provide control for movement of the neck.  When any of the 7 cervical vertebrae are damaged or fractured, the spinal cord may be damaged.  If C1, C2, or C3 are damaged, this can also cause loss of control of the diaphragm, necessitating a ventilator to sustain breathing.  Aging can also play a role in the degeneration of the cervical spine, causing such conditions as bone spurs and herniated discs.

In addition to vertebrae, there are also eight nerves connected to the cervical spine, any of which if irritated or damaged can reduce mobility and cause pain. Controlling everything from movement of the head, to the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists and hands, pressure on or damage to these nerves are caused primarily by injury or degeneration of the cervical spine.

The bad news is that left untreated, surgery may eventually prove to be the only way to restore function and alleviate pain.  The good news is that in many cases, less drastic measures can prove effective in treating cervical issues.  Patients experiencing degenerated cervical discs due to aging will usually be put on a regimen of exercise and physical therapy to increase mobility and decrease discomfort.  Spinal manipulation used by chiropractors for more than a century has proven safe and effective for treating many types of back pain.  Other remedies such as weight loss, changes in lifestyle, switching to more comfortable and supportive shoes and even dietary considerations can all help to correct the underlying problems that can lead to back pain.  Fortunately chiropractors are also adept at creating a comprehensive plan that takes into consideration all the variables involved in treating back and neck pains of all kinds. 

If you or anyone you know is experiencing back pain, have them talk to a doctor of chiropractic in their area to discuss treatment options.  A number of chiropractic offices such as ours even offer a free initial consultation, examination and x-ray to make it possible for people of all income brackets to seek help, alleviate pain and avoid complications. 

Tips to Prevent Back Pain

• Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
• Remain active—under the supervision of your doctor of chiropractic.
• Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
• Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities, such as gardening.
• Maintain proper posture.
• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
• Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
•  Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
• Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
• Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your computer workstation is ergonomically correct.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/