Back Pain & Sciatica

All types of pain including back pain have a cause.  Back pain affects people of all ages, shapes and sizes.  Although trauma or over doing things can cause back pain to flare up, the underlying problem has often gone undetected for many years.  Many people mask the symptoms of back pain by taking medication rather than correcting the cause of pain.

The interlocking pairs of facet joints on each vertebrae are a common cause of back pain.  If these aren’t moving properly nerve irritation can occur causing painful symptoms.

The intervertebral discs can also be a cause of back pain.  The discs consist of rings of fibrous tissue surrounding a soft pulpy material and act as spacers and shock absorbers between each vertebrae.  Trauma or prolonged disfunction of the spine can cause a disc to bulge putting pressure on the nerves causing painful symptoms such as sciatica.

Once the cause of pain has been identified there are several options:

1. Bed rest

Research has shown that prolonged bed rest is ineffective and usually delays recovery.

2. Physical therapy

Exercising spinal joints which aren’t moving properly can aggravate the joints and the associated soft tissues leading to further inflammation and pain.

3. Medication

Drugs only provide temporary relief from symptoms, they do not correct the function of the joints.

4. Surgery

Spinal surgery is the last resort!  It is invasive, risky and in many cases ineffective.

5. Chiropractic care

Chiropractic adjustments are safe, non-invasive and natural. Chiropractic adjustments correct the underlying cause of problems by restoring spinal and neurological function helping your body to work to its best.