Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatment In Glen Carbon
Any sort of ache or pain can be extremely uncomfortable and unenjoyable to deal with, but the lower back area can be one of the worst areas of the body to experience pain.
Speak to any chiropractor in Edwardsville, and they will agree that low back pain is one of the most common issues that people deal with in the modern day, thanks to the sedentary lifestyles that many of us lead.
The Prevalence of Low Back Pain in Younger and Older Adults in Glen Carbon
It used to be that only older adults experienced pain in the lower back, mainly due to age-related health issues. For example, weakening of muscles and muscle loss (sarcopenia), joint health issues (such as arthritis), and weakening of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis) are common age-related problems that increase the risk of low back pain.
However, fast forward to the modern day, and people of all ages are experiencing low back pain and need a chiropractor in Glen Carbon or a chiropractic center in Edwardsville for expert help. Nowadays, it’s relatively common to hear somebody complaining about aches and pains in the lower back region by people of all ages and backgrounds. Sadly, low back pain it’s just one of the many health concerns that are now impacting young people just as much as seniors.
What Are the Common Causes of Low Back Pain?
There are lots of different things that increase the risk of low back pain. Here are some of the most common causes to be aware of:
- Anterior pelvic tilt
- Deformities
- Herniated spinal discs (slipped discs)
- Injury to the muscles or tendons in the area
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Poor posture
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Spinal compression
- Spinal fractures
- Spinal stenosis
Some of these issues are preventable or reversible, while others or medical conditions that may be out of an individual’s control. However, managing any chronic medical conditions or injuries that somebody might have is key to relieving their low back pain. Remember to always seek professional advice from doctors and physical therapists before they make any significant changes to their lifestyle.
5 Top Ways to Effectively Manage Low Back Pain
If somebody is experiencing severe back pain, they don’t need to suffer in silence. There are plenty of things that they can do to relieve their symptoms and increase their comfort.
Of course, they could head to an upper cervical chiropractor center in Edwardsville for professional advice and help with their low back pain. However, there are also plenty of things that they can do at home if they want to try and manage the pain conservatively.
Here are five great ways to manage low back pain and improve quality of life.
1. Improve posture
As simple as it might sound, improving posture could completely eliminate low back pain.
One of the most common causes of pain in the upper and lower back is poor posture. The modern-day lifestyle means that many of us are hunched over computer screens all day and slouched on the sofa all evening. We are staring down at our phones constantly, and we very rarely think about our neck and spine position.
When somebody is sitting down all day in an unsupportive chair, it can cause excess strain to be placed on the muscles and ligaments in the lower back area. Sitting with poor posture for several hours a day came quickly need to ongoing pains.
By improving posture when standing and sitting, an individual can see significant improvements in lower back pain. If they are unsure of the most optimal posture, speak to a family upper cervical chiropractor in Glen Carbon.
2. Take pain-relieving medications
Whether the lower back pain is acute or chronic, pain-relieving medications can be helpful in providing immediate comfort. Taking pain-relieving medication enables a person to return to work and social activities without being negatively impacted by their pain.
Speaking to a doctor makes it easier to determine which analgesics are the most suitable for a person’s unique needs. There is a wide range of medications out there that can be used to treat pain, so it’s important to get expert advice to ensure they find the right one.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Another common cause of low back pain is obesity. When there is excess adipose tissue in the lower back region, it can place a lot of excess strain and pressure on the surrounding muscles and tendons, leading to aches and pains.
Taking steps to achieve a healthy body weight and body fat percentage could help to relieve some of the pain and will also improve a person’s health in a number of other aspects.
4. Avoid any heavy lifting
If somebody’s job involves a lot of heavy lifting, it can cause a lot of strain on the muscles in the lower back. As a result, they can start to develop chronic pain in this area of their body over the years.
If they are experiencing ongoing pains in their lower back, they may need to talk to their boss and see if there is a way for them to continue working without any heavy lifting. This arrangement may only be temporary to give their lower back muscles a break. In some cases, they may need to refrain from heavy lifting for the foreseeable future.
5. Wear comfortable and supportive shoes
Believe it or not, wearing unsupportive shoes could be the primary cause of somebody’s lower back pain. It makes sense when they think about it more closely. Their ankles, knees, and hips are all closely linked, and poor movement in one of these areas will directly impact the movement patterns in the other joints.
Wearing the wrong types of shoes causes the feet to move suboptimally, which then causes the knees and hips to move differently. This can place a lot of stress and strain on the hips and spine, resulting in dull, aching pain.
Simply switching shoes and finding comfortable yet supportive shoes could do the trick to alleviate lower back pain.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday
8:00am - 11:30am
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday
By Appointment
Wednesday
8:30am - 11:30am
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Thursday
By Appointment
Friday
8:30am - 11:30am
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Saturday
9:00am - 11:00am
Upper Cervical Health Centers
20 Ginger Creek Parkway
Glen Carbon, IL 62034
(618) 692-6992