Chronic Lower Back Pain
Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain
Patient's Concerns
Patients suffering from chronic lower back pain have trouble bending down forward. It can be tough to get in and out of your car or stand up straight after sitting for some time because you'll experience a sudden pain in your lower back.
Some patients also find it difficult to cough, sneeze or laugh without feeling an increased tension in the lower back. It can be tough to get yourself moving in the morning as your lower back feels stiff and sore.
Patient's Experience
Patients with chronic lower back pain feel physically restricted because of tightness in their lower back. Every patient experiences these symptoms differently, so it can be challenging to describe it accurately.
Some patients find they are unable to look after themselves properly, unable to move around as they wish and unable to go to the toilet to do their business comfortably. Often times chronic lower back pain can be quite embarrassing and affect a patient's self-esteem.
Chronic Lower Back Pain Causes
Chronic pain is usually caused by prolonged stress on your nerves. Stress can come in many forms, and is typically dependant on your environment, lifestyle and habits.
For chronic lower back pain, here are some common causes:
- Heavy lifting
- Awkward movements
- Genetics (bone shape)
- Pregnancy
- Excess weight
- Wear and tear (age related)
Chronic Lower Back Pain Facts
Misconceptions about Chronic Lower Back Pain
Most people think that chronic lower back pain is caused by old age or getting older. This may be true for some, but it's important to ask yourself why others don't develop lower back pain in their later years of life.
Another mistake people make is to assume you've got to have an injury to start having chronic lower back pain. Clearly this isn't true as 60-70% of people experience lower back pain at some point in their life and they can't all have started from a lower back injury!
Conditions Associated with Chronic Lower Back Pain
- Disc bulge (herniation)
- Sciatica
- Lower back muscle imbalance
- Lower back arthritis
Solutions for Chronic Lower Back Pain
Chronic Pain is a Nerve Problem
Traditionally, patients with lower back pain address their chronic pain with quick-fix solutions. These include applying heat, ice, stretching, massaging the painful area and pain medication.
However, because chronic pain is different from normal pain, these solutions only address the "tip of the iceberg". Chiropractic on the other hand addresses the "whole of the iceberg", allowing for natural chronic pain relief by addressing the patient's nerves.