What Does a Chiropractor Do for Lower Back Pain?

Chiropractic Care for Lower Back Pain?

It’s estimated that up to 84% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. While it’s comforting to know that you’re not alone, this doesn’t solve the discomfort and disruption to day to day life that lower back pain can cause. 

Luckily, help is available and you don’t have to suffer in silence. Chiropractic treatment can be highly effective at relieving the symptoms of lower back pain, as well as identifying any underlying causes. So, if you want to discover what causes lower back pain, identify lower back pain symptoms and how chiropractic treatment can help, read on to find out more. 

What causes lower back pain?

Lower back pain can have many causes, however the underlying root of the problem isn’t always obvious. Common causes of lower back pain include:

• A pulled or strained muscle – this is often caused by playing sports or activities that involve a lot of bending down (like gardening). 
• A medical condition like a slipped disc – this is where a soft cushion of tissue between the bones in your spine pushes out of place. Lower back pain is a very common symptom, alongside neck pain and difficulty bending. 
• Sciatica – this occurs when the sciatic nerve (which runs from your lower back to your feet) is irritated or compressed.
• A serious health problem like cancer or an infection (please be aware that this is very rare).

In most cases, lower back pain will go away on its own after a few weeks. However, if the pain is severe, long lasting, or keeps coming back, it’s worth making an appointment with your doctor, physiotherapist or chiropractor to help relieve the symptoms. 

Lower back pain symptoms

The symptoms of lower back pain may vary depending on your age and general health, the severity of the pain and the underlying cause of your lower back pain. You may experience just one, or a combination of, the following common symptoms:

• Dull, aching pain – lower back pain is often described as a steady, dull ache, rather than a pain that is burning, stinging or sharp. 
• Pain that spreads to the buttocks, legs and feet – this symptom usually occurs if the lower back pain is caused by sciatica.
• Pain that gets worse after long periods of inactivity – you may find that lower back pain is at its worst when you first wake up, or after a prolonged period of sitting. 
• Pain that improves with movement – changing positions or gentle movement often helps to relieve lower back pain. 

Again, if your symptoms are very severe, long lasting or preventing you from completing everyday activities, we would recommend seeking treatment and advice from a health professional. It’s also important to seek immediate care if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside lower back pain:

• Loss of bladder/bowel control
• Recent weight loss (that isn’t related to lifestyle changes)
• Fever and chills
• Severe pain in the abdomen. 

The above can signal a serious underlying medical condition or a major trauma (e.g an injury caused by a car accident). 

How can a chiropractor help?

The good news is that lower back pain can be treated! Most lower back pain will get better within a few weeks, but there’s plenty that can be done in the meantime to relieve symptoms and reduce the chances of the pain returning. A chiropractor can offer treatment for both short and long term lower back pain, as well as lower back pain caused by sciatica. 

Chiropractic treatment involves spinal manipulation, which can help to relieve the symptoms of lower back pain and improve your overall mobility. Chiropractic treatment also aims to pinpoint the underlying cause of any back pain, to reduce the chances of it reoccurring. At the first appointment, your chiropractor will want to discuss your overall health, any medical conditions you may have and your general lifestyle, before performing a physical examination. They may also recommend further tests, like an x-ray or MRI scan, to identify the underlying cause of your lower back pain. 

Chiropractic treatment for lower back pain

The most common chiropractic treatment for lower back pain is called manipulation. This skilled technique sees chiropractors using their hands to deliver precise, controlled movements or ‘thrusts’ to the spine. You may hear a cracking or popping sound during this treatment, but this is completely normal! Your chiropractor may also use additional techniques, like massage or stretching of the muscles and joints, to help improve your mobility. 

After your first session, you should be given a treatment plan with an outline of how many sessions you’re likely to need. The number of sessions will depend on several factors (including the severity of your lower back pain and any other health conditions), but most people begin with one or two sessions a week for the first few weeks. These sessions can then be gradually reduced as your symptoms start to improve. 

Book a consultation at Kasa Chiropractic today 

If you’re looking for chiropractic services to help relieve lower back pain, get in touch with Kasa Chiropractic today! To make an appointment with one of our skilled chiropractors in Bristol, or to manage an existing appointment, click here to use our online booking system. We look forward to welcoming you to our Southville or Clifton chiropractic clinic very soon!