What is Lower Back Pain?
Any condition that causes discomfort in the lower back is generally referred to as lower back pain. This is a common ailment affecting an estimated 31 million people in the United States alone. Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in adults in the U.S., and even mild cases of this symptom can make daily tasks difficult and impact the quality of life.
Lower back pain can be due to a muscle or ligament strain, herniated disc, arthritis, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis. Some of these conditions may be serious, degenerative diseases, so lower back pain symptoms should always be addressed with your health care provider.
Signs and Symptoms of Lower Back Pain
In mild cases, lower back pain may come in the form of soreness or discomfort in the lower back region. As a case gets worse, the pain may feel like a dull ache, or a patient may experience a throbbing pain. In more serious cases, people with lower back pain may experience shooting, stabbing, or burning sensations. Pain may be intermittent, or constant, and may radiate to the upper back, or down into the hips, buttocks, or legs. Some patients may experience numbness or tingling around the afflicted area, or in the extremities, and suffer from muscle fatigue.
Lower back pain may be acute (temporary), usually due to a recent injury. If it lasts more than four weeks, lower back pain is considered chronic. For some people, it can last a lifetime. Usually, doctors treat lower back pain with pain medication, physical therapy, or surgery. New research has shown promise in treating lower back pain by addressing the health of the upper cervical spine.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Lower Back Pain
The upper cervical spine begins at the base of the skull and runs down the neck. You may think this part of the spine has little to do with sensations in your lower back, but the upper cervical area is the most vulnerable part of the spine. Any problems in this area can have a domino effect.
The vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are responsible for supporting the weight of the head. The top two vertebrae (C1 and C2) make up the atlantoaxial joint; this joint is particularly important because it makes it possible for the head to swivel and move. This part of the spine is prone to injury from impact, jolts, or even just poor posture. Even the slightest misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae causes an unconscious shift in a posture to compensate so the head is held up straight. This shift puts undue stress on the joints, ligaments, and muscles going down the back.
A misalignment of the upper cervical spine can cause inflammation, nerve compression, and musculoskeletal disorders that contribute to lower back pain conditions.
How Our Lower Back Pain Treatment Works
Since the culprit of lower back pain is usually a misalignment of the upper cervical spine, our treatment seeks to get to the root of the problem. Our Dr. Bejian Shamloo is an upper cervical specialist who can assess and restore the health of the upper cervical spine.
Dr. Shamloo begins treatment using revolutionary technology to pinpoint exact areas of concern. With state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, such as advanced 3D imaging and infrared thermography, the doctor can locate and calculate any problem areas. This allows him to make more precise, more gentle corrections that hold longer.
Once the upper cervical spine is properly aligned, the correction facilitates the body's remarkable natural healing processes. The effects of this cascade down the rest of the back. Inflammation is relieved, swelling is reduced, nerves begin to function optimally, and the posture shifts back to the correct state reducing the excess pressure on other joints, ligaments, and muscles going down the back.
If you're suffering from back pain that gets in the way of your work, chores, or enjoyment of life, don't suffer longer than you have to. Contact Dr. Shamloo for an appointment to see if upper cervical care can help you. Dr. Shamloo provides upper cervical chiropractic treatment for patients in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, and Fountain City in Tennessee, as well as the surrounding areas.
