There are millions of people in Canada who have chronic and on-going back pain. It is the number one cause of disabilities in people who are 45 and younger. Back pain typically occurs due to the way your spinal joints, muscles, discs, and nerves fit and move together. There are many factors that can cause spine-related problems, our SW Calgary chiropractic clinic covers this information for you below.
Spine-Related Issues
Herniated (or slipped) discs: the soft tissue found in your spinal discs between your joints has been pushed out of place. This is usually due to wear and tear over time and can cause pain in the lower back or hips. This is due to the nerves being pressed in these areas.
Bulging discs: these types of discs protrude, but not as prominently as herniated discs. Typically, there are no symptoms associating with bulging discs. You will only feel it if it is pushing on the root of a nerve.
Degenerative disc disease: This disease is characterized by the discs between your spine’s vertebrae, that serve as shock absorbers, shrink or tear. This causes the bone to run together as a result. Typically, middle-aged and senior people will experience this condition.
Spinal stenosis: This involves your spinal canal becoming narrow and adds pressures to your spine and nerves as a result. A side effect of this spinal issue is that your legs and shoulders tend to feel numb. This typically occurs in people aged 60 and older.
Cervical radiculopathy: This is a pinched nerve, which is due to a bone spur or herniated disc in the spine.
Spondylolisthesis: This is caused by a bone in the spinal cord slipping forward and out of position. This typically occurs in the lower back. The degenerative form of this spinal issue is arthritis. Arthritis weakens a person’s joints and ligaments, which assist in keeping the spine aligned.
Inflammation and wear of the sacroiliac joint: This joint is positioned where your spine and pelvis meet. It assists in moving the load of the upper body to the lower body. Swelling and wearing of this joint can occur after an injury, as a side effect of arthritis, infection, or even due to pregnancy.
Accidents and Injuries
Accidents and injuries such as car accidents falls, muscle sprains, strains, and fractures can result in physical problems and chronic back pain. Our SW Calgary chiropractor has provided some examples of the spinal issues that occur due to accidents or injuries:
Spine or vertebral fractures: this is characterized by a break in your spine due to a hard hit to the back, a fall, or as a result of osteoporosis, which weakens your bones.
Sprains and strains: suffering from injuries to ligaments, muscles, and tendons that are supportive of the spine and its joints can result in back pain. This is often due to a person lifting something and twisting simultaneously. This can also occur after car accidents and serious sports injuries.
Spasms: Spasms occur when muscles and tendons have become torn in the lower back. They typically happen when a person is weightlifting or playing sports and is overexerting themselves or compromising their form.
Lifestyle Triggers
Back pain does not have to be caused by serious injuries or accidents. It can even be brought on due to the choices you make in your day to day life. This includes some of the following:
- Bad posture or slouching at a desk
- Lifting heavy objects
- Lack of exercise
- Being overweight
- Wearing high heels
If you suffer from chronic back pain and have not made time to look into how you can remedy or reverse damage to your spine and back, contact our SW Calgary chiropractic clinic. We are pro-education and information when it comes to explaining the importance of chiropractic care to our patients.