Understanding Low Back Pain

For the estimated 50 million Americans with chronic low back pain from osteoarthritis, it is usually diagnosed by radiographic (x-ray) films. 

Fact: there is not a definitive correlation between pain and radiographic findings.  Why do so many of us have low back pain but have no signs of degeneration while other people have horrific radiographs yet have no pain?  The answer is multifaceted because pain sources vary greatly between people. 

Case in point: Donna, an avid skier, has a diagnosis of degenerative disc and joint disease otherwise known as the wears and tears of osteoarthritis.  In her low back, the cushions between her backbones or inter-vertebral discs have worn down.  Consequently, now the vertebras have grown wider.  The nerves between the vertebras no longer have enough space, sometimes referred to as pinching of nerves-a source of pain.  Yet this is not the only reason for Donna’s pain.  When these nerves are pinched, they become irritated.  Her brain will perceive this irritation and attempt to protect the low back by contracting adjacent low back muscles.

Tightened muscles over time will create an energetic crisis because blood and nutrition can no longer be adequately absorbed.  This leads to the muscles not having the energy necessary to release its tension.  Donna’s chronically right low back muscles create a cycle of pain.  Her tight low back muscles further compress her vertebras together, causing more nerve irritation and more pain.

Another cause of pain in arthritic conditions is the lack in quality of motion in the joints.  When joints are fixated, local edema or swelling occurs, which is another source of pain.  The chiropractic adjustment restores movement to joints, thereby inhibiting edema and pain. 

Enabling Donna to ski more give us both a sense of satisfaction.  She benefits greatly from a technique call Flexion Distraction, or, as she refers to it, her Spanish Inquisition.  The specialized chiropractic table separates pneumatically with her ankles strapped to the table.  Spinal decompression occurs when the doctor’s hand holds the individual vertebras while the table separates.  It is not painful, however sometimes upon re-compression there is some discomfort.  For better results, I manipulate her reflex points by hand during spinal decompression.

This is designed to remove pressure on the nerves in the low back.  During decompression the table divide at her waist creating lumbar flexion.  The lower half of the table is rhythmically pushed toward the floor and back up; this motion is essential to the re-hydration in her discs.

Our therapy goals are to facilitate her discs to reabsorb fluids and nutrition that may lead to long term pain relief.  We conclude with light therapy to relax those chronically tight back muscles and allow Donna to hold the adjustments longer.  In treating Donna or anyone with low back pain, it is essential for me to understand the person’s lifestyle and occupation in order to customize a treatment plan.

Back To Wellness takes pride in providing quality and affordable chiropractic and acupuncture care.  Call Christopher Davis D.C. 303-674-3012 or visit www.btwchiro.com to schedule your appointment.
Mountain Connection Article: 2008