Treatment for Back Pain in Durham, NC
Back Pain
Whether you are sitting, lying down, standing, or walking, back pain can make life difficult. Dr. Palumbo at South Square Chiropractic treats a wide variety of health problems, including back pain. If you live in or near Durham, contact our team today to schedule a consultation.
Causes of Back Pain
● Strains: Lifting heavy objects the wrong way is a common culprit for back strain. Sudden and awkward movements, accidents, and any constant strain can injure your back as well.● Arthritis: Osteoarthritis often affects the lower back. Spinal stenosis is a condition where arthritis causes the space around the spinal cord to narrow causing nerve compression and back pain.● Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition in which the body loses or does not create enough bone, leaving it weak and porous. People with osteoporosis often experience fractures in the spine, causing a great degree of pain.● Ruptured or Bulging Discs: Spinal discs are cushions between the bones. Sometimes these discs rupture or bulge out. This can create pressure on a nerve, causing intense pain.
Potential Risk Factors for Back Pain
Some of the risk factors for back pain include the following:● Being overweight.● Arthritis, cancer, and other diseases.● Lifting with your back instead of your legs.● Smoking leads to decreased blood flow, more risk of osteoporosis, and herniated discs due to excess coughing.● Psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression.● Having a weak back and abdominal muscles due to a lack of exercise.● Age, pain often starts due to the wear and tear after age 30.
Preventing Back Pain
There is always the potential for an accident that is out of your control. However, you can take a few steps to avoid back pain:● Quit Smoking: Smoking can increase your risk for back pain along with a wide array of other health problems.● Lift Properly: Any time you have to lift something, do so with your legs. Lifting with your back can easily cause injuries.● Start Exercising: Exercise can help in numerous ways, like losing weight, building muscle, and strengthening your core. Even gentle exercises, such as walking, low-impact aerobics, and swimming, can go a long way!
Types of Back Pain
Upper back pain is a common problem that many people experience at some point in their lives. While the cause of upper back pain can vary, we offer a wide range of natural and non-invasive treatment options at South Square Chiropractic in Durham for effective relief.
What Is Upper Back Pain?
The pain is usually localized to the upper back but extends into the neck and shoulders. The pain associated with the upper back can vary from an aching sensation to a sharp or burning pain. It may also worsen when lifting objects, sneezing, coughing, or even turning your head.
Causes of Upper Back Pain
Any number of factors may cause upper back pain. Muscular sprains and strains are the most common cause of upper back pain. Some of the other common causes include:● Tendinitis.● Excessive weightlifting or heavy lifting.● Tension in shoulder, neck, or upper back muscles.● Poor posture when sitting at a desk or standing for long periods.● Sitting with a hunched posture.● Scoliosis.● Osteoarthritis.● Spinal stenosis.
Symptoms of Upper Back Pain
Symptoms of upper back pain can vary depending on the cause. However, some of the most common symptoms include:● Aching, throbbing, or sharp pain in the upper back or neck.● Pain that spreads from the upper back to the neck and shoulders.● Difficulty sitting, standing, lifting objects, or reaching behind your back.● Inability to rotate your neck.● Worsening of symptoms with sneezing, coughing, or turning your head.● Swelling of the arm.● Tingling or weakness in the arm.
Diagnosing Upper Back Pain
Our chiropractor can diagnose upper back pain based on a complete medical history and physical examination. While no laboratory tests are necessary, our chiropractor may order x-rays to rule out any underlying conditions that may be causing your pain. Once we understand the root cause of your upper back pain, our chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan for your unique needs.
Treating Upper Back Pain
There are several treatment options available for upper back pain. Some of the most common treatment options we offer for upper back pain include:● Chiropractic adjustments.● Physical therapy.● Hot or cold therapy.● Exercise and stretching routines for the upper back, neck, and shoulders.● Massage therapy.● Spinal manipulation.
Are you regularly suffering from middle back pain below your neck and above the bottom of your rib cage? Referred to as the thoracic spine, this is one of the most common areas to experience chronic pain and a common reason why patients seek treatment with a chiropractor. Here is what you need to know.
Symptoms of Middle Back Pain
The thoracic spine or middle back is composed of twelve bones called the T1 to T12 vertebrae. In between these bones are disks that protect the spinal cord and numerous muscles and nerves that can become injured or irritated.
So, how do you know you’re experiencing middle back pain? The most common symptoms include muscle stiffness, sharp pain, sudden achiness, or a burning sensation. In minor cases, you might feel a dull pain that never quite fully goes away.Causes of Middle Back Pain
Chronic middle back pain can be caused by something as simple as sleeping wrong or poor posture. Those who are overweight or live a sedentary lifestyle also seem to experience it more. Herniated disks, osteoarthritis, and joint fractures can all cause middle back pain. Severe injuries like falls, car accidents, sports injuries, and more can also be the culprit of severe thoracic spine pain.
Treatment of Middle Back Pain
So, how is middle back pain treated? Visiting your chiropractor is generally the first step in achieving relief. During the first appointment, they will generally evaluate your pain and take x-rays to ensure there are no fractures or visible damage to your spine.
In the case of degenerative disk disease or arthritis, there will be evidence on the scans and an appropriate course of treatment is prescribed. If it is simply muscular, your chiropractor will perform a manual adjustment and recommend special stretching exercises to improve posture, heat, or ice therapy at home, along with other treatments.
When you suffer from agonizing pain toward the base of your spine, you can't do physical labor or even manage many sedentary office tasks, much less enjoy a comfortable productive home life. The good news is that you don't have to let lower back pain keep you down, nor do you need surgery or painkiller to stop it. Natural treatment can help you conquer your lower back pain.
Causes Of Lower Back Pain
Pain in your lower back can have various causes, including muscle strains, ligament sprains, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and poor posture. It can also result from accidents, sports injuries, or underlying medical conditions.
Treatment for Lower Back Pain
A skilled chiropractor can identify any spinal alignment issues that might be causing or worsening your symptoms. Gentle, precise applications of force, either manually or through the use of instruments, can shift spinal components back into their proper position, releasing compressed nerves and taking the unnecessary strain off of muscles.
Our comprehensive treatment plans may also include a combination of spinal adjustments or manipulations, therapeutic exercises, soft tissue therapy, physical therapy, massage, lifestyle recommendations, and more.Diagnosing Lower Back Pain
We use a combination of physical examination, medical history review, and diagnostic imaging (such as X-rays or MRI scans) to assess the underlying cause of a patient's lower back pain. We also consider factors like lifestyle, occupation, and ergonomic habits.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
Chiropractic adjustments are generally considered safe when performed by a qualified and licensed chiropractor like Dr. Palumbo. He can safely and effectively diagnose you, develop a treatment plan for your specific needs, and put that treatment plan into motion to help you experience less pain and enjoy improved overall health.