Back Pain and Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain

Back pain can be classified by its location such as:

• Upper back - seven neck (cervical) vertebrae (known as C1-C7),
• Middle back - 12 upper back (thoracic) vertebrae (known as T1-T12),
• Lower back - five lower back (lumbar) vertebrae (known as L1-L5),
• Coccydynia - pain of the tailbone, sacrum and coccyx, a group of bones fused together at the base of the spine.
• Sciatica - a condition in which a herniated disc presses on the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body that extends down the spinal column to its exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibers to the leg.

Pain in the Upper Back

• Poor posture
• Back injury
• Whiplash
• Back strain
• Exertion
• Incorrect bending or lifting
• Large breasts
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal disc disease
• Ruptured spinal disc
• Referred back pain
• Heart disease

Pain in the Middle Back

• Back injury
• Back strain
• Strained ligaments
• Strained back muscles
• Excessive exertion
• Excessive lifting

• Arthritis
• Spinal arthritis
• Scoliosis

• Pregnancy
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart disease
• Aneurysm
• Lung Disorders
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcers
• Kidney infections

Lower Back Pain

The lumbar region of the back, where most of the pain is felt, carries the weight of the upper body.

It is the second most common health ailment in the United States, after headaches, and it is the most common cause of job-related disability leading to missed work.

Pain in the lower back is also the most common cause of disability in people under the age 50. Here billions of dollars are spent on its treatment, with more than half that money being spent on surgical treatment.

Pain that is progressive and persists for more than 3 months is considered chronic pain. Acute pain usually lasts for shorter periods. The pain can range from a mild ache to excruciating agony. Many of the causes stem from stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support your spine.

The pain can range from a mild ache to excruciating agony. Many of the causes stem from stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support your spine.

Pain in the back could be caused by any one of the following medical conditions:

Back injuries such as:

• Entire Back strain
• Strained ligaments
• Injury to back muscles
• Strained individual back muscles
• Back muscle spasm
• Excessive exertion
• Excessive lifting
• Slipped disc
• Whiplash

Nerve Disorder such as neuritis which is the inflammation of nerve.

Spinal Disorders such as:

• Arthritis (joint inflammation)
• Osteoarthritis
• Scoliosis - a musculoskeletal disorder causing a sideways curvature of the spine, or backbone.
• Osteoporosis - where the bones thin and weaken from calcium depletion. Common among women and men over 60.
• Cervical spondylosis
• Rickets - bone disease in children, caused by a vitamin D deficiency
• Osteomalacia - bone disease in adults, caused a vitamin D deficiency
• Spinal cancer

Referred pain of the back from internal organ disorders

• Abdominal disorders
• Back tumor
• Pancreatitis
• Ulcers
• Crohn’s disease

Referred pain of the back common to women:

• Period pain
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Uterus malposition
• Endometriosis
• Cervix, Ovarian and Uterine Cancers

Tuberculosis

Treatment for Back Pain (lower, middle and upper)

1. Over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce pain and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation.
2. Spinal manipulation - a "hands-on" approach.

When pain does not respond to the above two treatments then the option of surgery may need to be considered.

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic treatment does not prescribe drugs nor use surgery in the treatment process.

In addition to spinal adjustments the chiropractic treatment may also include ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and exercise.

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