Back 2 Balance Chiropractic Clinic

Low back pain and sciatica
We’ve all heard it before, somebody bends forward, either to brush their teeth or pick up a pencil and bam, there goes the back then a little while laterthe leg as well! As chiropractors low back pain is one of the most common complaints we see, followed by what is generally know as sciatica.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a broad based term which means pain in the sciatic nerve. There are many causes of this type of pain and possibly the most common is a disc prolapse. The discs are the cartilage like ‘jam donuts’ which are situated in between each of your spinal bones and are there for easy spinal movement and shock absorption. When too much pressure has been applied to a particular area of the disc, some of the disc material tears or bulges out. This then causes localised inflammation which then presses on the nerve root, and most commonly this nerve root will go on to form the sciatic nerve which supplies the muscles, joints and skin in your leg.
People tend to assume that because the pain surfaced after one particular movement, then that’s how long the problem has been there for. However that is a common misconception; disc’s bulge, due to repetitive faulty motion in the back over months or years. The mechanics around the area begin to de-​stabilise until that area can’t take any more pressure. Then that final (often very simple) movement is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
What about taking pain killers or muscle relaxants?
Pain killers and muscle relaxants can dull the pain, especially when the muscles around the affected area tighten up. However, these are not treating the actual problem. By not correcting the faulty mechanics or addressing the cause of the problem the actual spinal dysfunction remains. Ice is a great alternative to painkillers as it works locally on the area and has none of the unwanted side effects that many medications have.
Most disc and low back problems are easily corrected by chiropractic — by ensuring the local mechanics in the area are working properly the inflammation around the nerve root can be decreased relatively quickly. However, for the actual disc material to be heal back into the ‘jam donut’ takes a lot longer anywhere between 6 months to 2 years.
It is important to realise that the main cause of low back and sciatica are lifestyle choices the most common ones are poor posture especially when at a desk or doing a faulty movement pattern over a long period of time. These problems never happen suddenly. Therefore it is important to get a work place assessment or come to one of our health classes! Considering most people spend most of their lives at work nowadays it’s important to make sure that work place ergonomics are correct. Little changes here and there can make all the difference between being able to go to work or having to call in sick for a week because you’re back has ‘gone’. Regular spinal check-​ups are also a great way to ensure that your spinal mechanics are working properly.
Just one of the many symptoms treatable by chiropractic
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