The term “slipped disc” is not always an accurate term because the disc is not always involved in this common low back pain situation. Low back pain is a very common condition that the majority of the public will deal with at some point in their lifetime. This condition is caused by misalignment of the vertebra in the back which can cause abnormal compensations in the spine and pelvis leading to pain. Chiropractors call these misalignments subluxations which simply means that there is improper motion within the spinal segments leading to improper function and pain. However, if the disc happens to become involved the condition is more serious. This is when the nucleus of the disc starts to bulge through the annular fibers and extend beyond the vertebral body.

The common medical diagnosis for this condition is muscle sprain or spasm. Patients under the medical approach are often told to rest, apply ice, take muscle relaxers and pain regulating medication. This is simply the old way of thinking and takes much longer to heal with this approach. Many people today seek out an alternative to this model because they just cannot afford to be laid up for an extended period of time. Chiropractors can restore proper motion to the involved segments thus allowing the spine to function correctly again. By restoring proper function, the body then can heal from the inside out and overall health can be achieved.

Why does this happen to the spine?
With the demands we place on our body in everyday life it is not a surprise that back pain is a very common condition. When we live sedentary lifestyles, like desk jobs, the spine is under constant stress from being in the same position for most of the day. Also most workstations are not ergonomically correct so this also puts more undue stress on the spine. All of this stress accumulates over time without the person knowing, but eventually it will give way to pain. What happens is that the normal lumbar curve can start to deteriorate and become flattened thus placing more pressure on the disc than they can handle. This can cause the disc to become displaced and have a person “stuck” in a certain position to avoid pain.

What do these positions mean?
When someone is bent into a position to avoid pain it is call an antalgic lean. What the person is doing is standing in a position where the disc is not pushing on the nerves causing pain. If the disc is slipped towards the right or left the patient will often lean away from the side the disc has slipped to. When the patient is bent over the disc has usually “slipped” straight back so to avoid pressing the disc into the spinal cord or nerves the patient often feels stuck in that position and cannot stand up straight. Now there is a combination of the two where it is the disc protrudes a little to the side and back. This is a little more difficult to say which way the patient will lean due to the complexity of the anatomy in that region but mostly the patient will lean towards to protrusion. This is to put slack on the nerves to push them away from the protruding disc.

What can I do?
The first thing is to consult your family chiropractor because they are trained on the complex structures in the spine and how they articulate. All chiropractors have been trained to detect subtle differences within the spinal segments and how to correct them. When you choose your chiropractor make sure that all aspects of your care are taken into consideration. What this means to you is that the chiropractor looks at your body as a whole not just the part that is hurting you. The human body is an amazing thing and everything pertaining to your overall health is connected. When dealing with a low back pain patient not only are the bones involved but the muscles and connective tissue is as well. All of these components of care should be addressed as well as adding in some exercises to strengthen your back to avoid further back pain episodes.

Chiropractic care is becoming mainstream over the past few years because people are realizing that it is easier to stay healthy than fighting off symptoms. Also there are numerous studies being published stating that people under regular chiropractic care have an overall better quality of life, take less medications and spend less time in the hospital or doctors office. It pays to take care of your spine in the long run because your overall cost for healthcare is lower. It is never too late to start your wellness program so contact a family wellness chiropractor today for you and your family. Chiropractic methods should be a primary consideration in all cases of backache.