Lower Back Pain in Crandall
Unsurprisingly lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care. This type of discomfort can manifest in various ways, often accompanied by a radiation of pain down one or both legs. The pain may result in weakness, numbness, and tingling sensations. When the pain extends below the knee, it becomes sciatic, associated with the sciatic nerve traced back to the lower spine.
What Are the Causes?
There are many factors that contribute to low back pain, including muscle or ligament strain, disc injuries, arthritis, and spinal problems. Misalignments of the vertebrae can lead to nerve compression, muscle contractions, and subsequent pain.
What to Expect
First, Dr. Johnson will begin with a thorough evaluation, including an examination and X-ray to confirm the source of your pain. He’ll then perform adjustments to realign the vertebrae, alleviating nerve pressure and muscle tension, thus reducing pain.
In addition to chiropractic, we offer various therapies to complement adjustments. These include moist heat to increase blood flow and relax muscles, and interferential current to promote blood circulation and pain reduction. We also may use traction, which individually moves each vertebra, easing pressure on spinal nerves. For specific conditions like bulging discs or herniated discs, decompression, and cold laser therapies are used to target pain and inflammation.
How Long Does It Take to Feel Better?
Treatment frequency varies for each patient. Starting with a couple of sessions per week, adjustments are made based on your pain level. The goal is to progress from initial discomfort to minimal or no pain, usually achieved through about 12 visits spread over several weeks.
Homecare Recommendations
After an evaluation, Dr. Johnson recommends performing range of motion exercises regularly. Simple exercises are given, like flexing and extending the spine back and forth, laterally bending the spine to the left and right, and rotating the spine to the right and to the left. Each of these exercises is to be performed 20 times daily, every 3-4 hours throughout the day until the pain is gone.
Additionally, icing and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication may be recommended to manage inflammation.
Book an Appointment
If lower back pain has sidelined you from what you love in life, contact Johnson Chiropractic today to book an appointment.
