Common Causes of Back Pain

If you are being slowed down by back pain in The Woodlands, then you’re not alone. Up to 80 percent of adults will have at least one experience with back pain in their lives, and for some people, the pain becomes chronic and debilitating. While some people turn to medications for pain relief, others want to ease their symptoms without the side effects associated with pain pills. The good news is that a chiropractor can help. Chiropractors can determine the cause of back pain and perform treatments on the spine to provide relief, without relying on medications for symptom management. When you visit a chiropractor, here are some of the causes of back pain he or she may evaluate.

Acute Injury

The spine is almost constantly under pressure, so it is not surprising that it is vulnerable to injury. Fractures, sprains, and ligament tears can all lead to back pain in both the short and long terms. Your chiropractor can diagnose your injury, provide treatments to encourage healing, and perform spinal adjustments to take pressure off of any nerve that is being impinged because of an injury. Your chiropractor may also teach you exercises you can do between appointments to promote healing and ways you can reduce your risk of another injury in the future.

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like inner cushion of one or more of the discs in your spine pushes out of its normal location and presses against a nerve. A herniated disc can occur as the result of an acute injury, but often it is the result of a prolonged period of wear and tear. With spinal adjustments, your chiropractor can coax the disc back into a healthy position to ease your pain.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, which can affect the spine, is caused by wear-and-tear and is associated with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, can also impact the spine. To control back pain caused by arthritis, regular appointments for chiropractic adjustments can be helpful, especially for managing symptoms without medications.