What causes low-back pain?
Most acute back pain is mechanical in nature. As people age, bone strength and muscle elasticity/tone tend to decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on one of the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from organs of the body to the brain. When these nerve roots becomecompressed or irritated, back pain results.
Low back pain may reflect nerve or muscle irritation or bone or disc lesions. Most low back pain follows injury or trauma to the back, but pain may also be caused by degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital abnormalities in the spine.
Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress, poor physical condition, posture inappropriate for the activity being performed, and poor sleeping position also may contribute to low back pain.
Additionally, scar tissue created when the injured back heals itself does not have the strength or flexibility of normal tissue. Buildup of scar tissue from repeated injuries eventually weakens the back and can lead to more serious injury.
Common Misconception:
A common misconception often cited is that 90% of back pain will go away on its own without treatment. However, a recent review published in the European Spine Journal in 2003, showed that the reported proportion of patients who still experienced pain after 12 months was 62% (range, 42-75%), dispelling the popular notion that up to 90% of low back pain episodes resolve spontaneously within 1 month.
There is also a large number of Americans who, after trying many standard treatments, are still left suffering with serious back pain. If you, friends, or family members have been told you have to learn to live with the pain, one of our clinic’s treatment options may be right for you. If you have tried exercises, physical therapy, acupuncture, drugs, and/or shots, and are now being told you need surgery, then Cherry Creek Spine and Sport Clinic may be just what you are looking for. Don’t you or your family members struggle with these debilitating conditions. Without treatment, often these conditions worsen with time.
Back pain stats:
Low back pain affects at least 80% of us sometime in our lives, mostly prevalent between ages 30-60.
Back Pain is the 2nd leading reason for visits to physicians and 1st in reason for missed work.
Back pain is the 2nd most common reason for hospitalizatioin, with Americans spending atleast $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability. Most cases of back pain are mechanical in nature, meaning it is not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
A gay chiropractor for gay Denver, Dr. Jason Markijohn, DC at Cherry Creek Spine & Sport Clinic has extensive knowledge of the cause and treatments of low back pain. Call 303-759-5575 to schedule an initial consultation.
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