Low back pain (LBP) is a widespread condition affecting individuals across the globe, making it one of the most common reasons for missed work. Statistics indicate that approximately 80% of the population will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. This can be attributed to various factors, including an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and altered biomechanics during daily activities such as lifting heavy objects, all of which can lead to the degeneration of the spine if not addressed right away.
Low back pain is so common because of the complex structure of the lower back, which is an intricate assembly of muscles, ligaments, joints, and discs that work together to support the body while also allowing a wide range of movement. When any of these components are strained, damaged, or worn out, it can lead to discomfort or pain. For example, muscles can become strained from overuse or poor posture, ligaments can overstretch or tear, joints can suffer from arthritis, and discs can herniate or degenerate. Each of these issues contributes to the overall incidence of low back pain, highlighting the importance of understanding the roles these anatomical structures play in maintaining your health and your lower back.
Addressing low back pain promptly is crucial for several reasons.
- Early treatment can prevent the pain from becoming chronic and enable a quicker return to daily activities.
- Untreated low back pain can lead to a cascade of negative effects on the body, including impaired mobility, weakened muscles, and the potential development of chronic pain conditions.
- Even worse, chronic lower back pain can have a profound impact on an individual’s quality of life, affecting mental health and leading to increased stress, anxiety, and, in some cases, depression.
Book Your First Low Back Pain Exam Today
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Therefore, recognizing and treating low back pain early before it becomes severe is essential for maintaining and optimizing overall health and well-being. That is why it is critical to schedule an appointment with Truth Family Chiropractic at the onset of pain so we can address the root cause.
How Our Low Back Pain Care Plan Works
Core Chiropractic
Central to chiropractic care is the knowledge that spinal correction optimizes the nervous system for proper function.
Nutrition
If you want to have the best health for your entire lifetime, you have to choose a healthy diet focused on whole foods that will supply your body with all the nutrients it needs to keep you in peak performance on a daily basis.
Mindset
A healthy body starts with the right mindset. We believe a healthy lifestyle provides nutrients for optimal brain function, stress management, and good sleep patterns.
Oxygen & Exercise
Exercise helps your body increase oxygen levels and lean muscle, helping reduce fat and improve performance while increasing your ability to fight stress, anxiety, and other illnesses.
Minimize Toxins
Harmful chemicals surround us every day in our lives – our program supports the body’s natural ability to cleanse itself, resulting in long-lasting positive effects.
How We Treat Low Back Pain in West Des Moines, IA
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
In our practice, diagnosing and treating low back pain begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a detailed patient history, physical examination, scans that show us the stresses placed on the nerves, and X-rays to show us the anatomy of the patient’s lower back. This holistic approach ensures we understand not just the symptoms but also the lifestyle, activities, and potential incidents that could contribute to the patient’s condition. The physical exam often involves assessing the spine’s alignment, mobility, and the affected area’s muscle strength and nerve function. These steps are critical in developing an accurate diagnosis, allowing us to tailor a treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of each patient.
Understanding the root cause of the problem is paramount because it enables us to provide more effective and targeted treatments. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, we aim to identify the underlying issue—be it a misalignment, muscle imbalance, degenerative condition, or other causes—to implement a strategy that alleviates symptoms, promotes long-term health, and prevents recurrence. This patient-centered approach ensures that our interventions are not just about temporary relief but about fostering an environment within the body that supports healing, optimizes function, and promotes a lifestyle change that negates future low back pain issues from reoccurring.
Digital X-rays
Here at Truth Family Chiropractic, we take X-rays because they are vital in diagnosing and managing low back pain (LBP) by providing a clear picture of the spine. They are crucial for detecting abnormalities, injuries, or degenerative changes contributing to LBP. X-rays can reveal a range of conditions, including fractures, spinal misalignments, arthritis, and evidence of osteoporosis. By visualizing the spine’s structure, chiropractors can pinpoint the exact cause of back pain, which is essential for crafting an effective treatment plan.
While X-rays involve exposure to a small amount of radiation, the diagnostic benefits often outweigh the risks. Modern X-ray technology is designed to minimize exposure, making it a safe and invaluable tool for us as chiropractors to fight against low back pain. By identifying specific structural problems, X-rays help chiropractors decide on the best course of action. This targeted approach ensures that the treatment is tailored to the individual’s specific needs, increasing the likelihood of successful pain management, better recovery, and overall exceptional health and wellness.
Specific Chiropractic Care in West Des Moines, IA
Subluxation is a misalignment or partial dislocation of a vertebra that can affect the function of the spine and nervous system. This condition is significant because it can interfere with the transmission of nerve signals between the brain and the body, potentially leading to reduced function, pain, and an overall decrease in health and well-being. In the lumbar spine, subluxation can cause local pain and decreased mobility and can contribute to conditions such as sciatica, where pain radiates down the legs due to pressure on the sciatic nerve. Additionally, it may lead to compensatory issues elsewhere in the body as muscles and joints adapt to the misalignment, potentially causing a cascade of dysfunction.
Chiropractic adjustments, aimed at correcting subluxations, offer significant benefits for patients with low back pain. These adjustments restore proper alignment and movement to the spine, relieving pressure on the nerves and surrounding tissues. This can alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance the body’s natural healing processes.
Chiropractic care is superior to conventional treatment models because it addresses the underlying cause rather than just treating the symptoms. This approach can reduce the need for medication and surgery, offering a safer, more holistic method of managing and optimizing our health. By focusing on the body’s innate ability to heal itself when properly aligned, chiropractic care promotes long-term health and functional improvement.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise
Exercises are pivotal in relieving low back pain by strengthening the back and abdominal muscles, enhancing flexibility, and improving posture. These activities are crucial for supporting the spine and reducing pressure on the lower back, which can alleviate pain and prevent future episodes.
Strengthening exercises for the core muscles stabilize the spine, reducing the likelihood of misalignments and the strain that can lead to discomfort. On the other hand, flexibility exercises help maintain the back’s range of motion and prevent muscles from becoming tight and restrictive, which can contribute to pain.
When weak, imbalanced, or tense, muscles cause low back pain, leading to poor posture and increased strain on the spine. Subluxation, or misalignment of the vertebrae, will exacerbate these issues by irritating or compressing nearby nerves, affecting muscle function and leading to pain, tightness, and reduced mobility.
Proper posture is essential in preventing these problems by ensuring that the spine is aligned and weight is evenly distributed, minimizing stress on the lower back. Exercises such as pelvic tilts, bridging, knee-to-chest stretches, and gentle spinal twists benefit those suffering from low back pain. These exercises aim to strengthen the core and back muscles, improve flexibility, and promote proper spinal alignment, addressing the root causes of pain and facilitating long-term relief.
Along with these exercises, we provide exercises to do at home using rolls, wedges, and cervical traction that help maintain the spine’s musculature.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain in West Des Moines, IA
Herniated Lumbar Discs
A herniated lumbar disc, often called a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the soft, gel-like center of the disc (the nucleus pulposus) breaks through a tear in the tough outer ring (the annulus fibrosus). This condition differs from a disc bulge, where the disc’s nucleus bulges without breaking through the annulus. The herniation can lead to direct pressure on nearby nerves, causing more intense and localized symptoms than those typically associated with a bulged disc.
Symptoms of a herniated disc might include sharp, shooting pain in the lower back, numbness or weakness in one or both legs and, in severe cases, issues with bladder or bowel control, indicating the need for immediate medical attention. The best treatment for a herniated lumbar disc usually starts with conservative methods such as rest, spinal adjustments, and exercises focused on strengthening the back muscles and improving flexibility to relieve pressure on the herniated disc.
Bulged Lumbar Discs
Situated between each vertebra in the spine is a spinal disc composed of two main parts:
- A soft, gel-like center called the nucleus pulposus
- A tough, rubbery exterior known as the annulus fibrosus
This structure allows the disc to act as a cushion, absorbing shocks and stresses to the spine while enabling a wide range of motion. A disc bulge occurs when the nucleus pulposus remains contained within the annulus fibrosus but pushes outward against the disc’s boundary, causing the disc to bulge into the spinal canal. This condition can lead to discomfort and pain if the bulging disc presses against nearby nerves.
The causes of a bulged disc can include age-related wear and tear, sudden pressure from lifting heavy objects improperly, or traumatic injury to the spine. Over time, the discs can lose their hydration and elasticity, making them more susceptible to bulging. Symptoms of a bulged disc can vary depending on its location and whether it is pressing on a nerve. They may include pain, numbness, or weakness in the affected area, which can radiate along the nerve pathway into the arms or legs.
The best treatment for a disc bulge often involves a combination of rest, adjustments, and exercises designed to strengthen the back and improve flexibility. We effectively manage disc bulges with non-surgical treatments aimed at relieving symptoms and promoting spinal health.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is an arthritic condition along the cartilage in the spinal joints. The spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in the spine. Over time, these discs can lose their flexibility, elasticity, and ability to absorb shocks due to wear and tear, dehydration, and the loss of proteoglycans (an extracellular matrix that acts as that cushion and is essential for disc health). This degeneration can make the discs thinner and less effective at cushioning the vertebrae, potentially causing the vertebrae to rub against one another and leading to pain, instability, and decreased mobility. In some cases, the disc may develop tears in its outer layer, which can result in disc herniation, further exacerbating discomfort and disability.
The risk factors for DDD include smoking, obesity, and physical activities that place a lot of stress on the spine, such as heavy lifting or repetitive movements. DDD can affect the body by leading to chronic pain in the lower back or neck, limiting the range of motion and flexibility, and potentially affecting nerve function if bone spurs develop and impinge on nerve roots.
In our practice, care for Degenerative Disc Disease focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life through a combination of chiropractic adjustments, exercise programs designed to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, and education on proper body mechanics to reduce further disc damage. We may also recommend lifestyle modifications like weight loss or smoking cessation to alleviate the low back pain symptoms.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces within the spine, which puts pressure on the nerves that travel through the spinal column. This condition primarily affects the lower back (lumbar stenosis) and the neck (cervical stenosis).
The spinal column is a complex structure of vertebrae (bones), intervertebral discs, ligaments, and muscles that support the body and protect the spinal cord and nerve roots. The spinal canal runs through the center of this column, providing a protective passage for the spinal cord and nerves. With spinal stenosis, the narrowing may occur in the spinal canal, the spaces between vertebrae where nerves exit the spine, or the spaces between vertebrae through which nerves pass.
Symptoms of spinal stenosis can vary depending on the location and severity of the narrowing but often include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs, feet, arms, or hands. In lumbar stenosis, walking or standing for long periods can exacerbate symptoms, while sitting or bending forward may provide relief by opening up the spinal spaces. Conversely, activities that extend the spine, such as walking downhill or standing erect, can worsen symptoms by further narrowing the spinal canal. The best treatment for spinal stenosis typically involves a combination of conservative measures, such as spinal adjustments and exercises to strengthen and stabilize the spine.
Muscle Strain
A muscle strain, commonly called a pulled muscle, occurs when muscle fibers are overstretched or torn. This injury typically happens during physical activities that suddenly stress the muscle beyond its flexibility and strength limits, such as lifting heavy objects improperly, making an abrupt movement, or overexerting during exercise. Muscle strains can vary in severity, from mild stretches that cause minimal discomfort to complete tears that result in significant pain and dysfunction. The affected area may also exhibit swelling, bruising, or reduced mobility, depending on the extent of the injury.
Muscle strains heal through a natural recovery process involving inflammation, repair, and muscle tissue remodeling. Initially, the body responds to the injury with inflammation to protect the area and attract healing cells. Over time, new muscle fibers and connective tissues form to repair the damage. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) are standard initial treatments to reduce pain and swelling. Spinal adjustments and specific exercises can help restore flexibility, strength, and function. While muscle strains are usually straightforward injuries, in some cases, they can be symptoms of an underlying issue, such as chronic muscle weakness, poor posture, or inadequate warm-up and stretching routines before physical activity. Persistent or recurring strains might require a more comprehensive evaluation to address potential contributing factors.
Subluxation
A subluxation is a misalignment or malfunction of the vertebrae, which interferes with nerve transmissions and impairs the body’s natural ability to heal and maintain itself. Unlike a complete dislocation, a subluxation involves a vertebrae being out of position but not completely separated from its normal articulation with adjacent vertebrae. This condition can lead to a disruption in the nervous system’s functionality, potentially affecting various bodily functions and contributing to pain, reduced mobility, and serious health issues. Subluxation suggests that these minor misalignments can profoundly impact overall health by compromising the nervous system, the body’s central communication network.
Chiropractors are trained to detect and correct subluxations through a comprehensive evaluation that includes a physical examination, patient history, and imaging tests such as X-rays. Once identified, chiropractors use specific manual techniques, known as chiropractic adjustments, to realign the vertebrae and restore proper function. These adjustments are designed to relieve pressure on the nerves, improve spinal mobility, and enhance the body’s innate healing capabilities. The effect of a chiropractic adjustment can be immediate relief from pain and discomfort, as well as long-term improvements in posture, mobility, and overall well-being.
Chiropractors are considered the best practitioners to correct subluxations due to their extensive training in spinal anatomy, neurology, and specialized techniques for adjusting the spine. Our holistic approach focuses not just on symptom relief but on addressing the underlying cause of the problem, aiming to restore the body’s natural balance and function.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
The sacroiliac (SI) joint is a critical structure located at the junction of the sacrum and the pelvis. This joint is crucial in transferring weight and forces between the upper body and the legs. It also provides stability for the pelvis and is involved in a minimal amount of movement that allows for flexibility and shock absorption during activities such as walking and lifting. Despite its limited mobility, the SI joint is essential for effective energy transfer through the body and contributes to the biomechanical efficiency of the lower back and hips.
SI joint dysfunction can be a significant source of low back pain, often due to abnormal motion (either too much or too little) or inflammation within the joint. Symptoms can include pain in the lower back, buttocks, groin, or thighs, and discomfort can be exacerbated by standing, walking, or performing activities that stress the joint. The best treatment for SI joint pain typically involves a combination of spinal adjustments, exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting the pelvis, and methods to improve joint mobility.
Facet Joint Dysfunction
Facet joints are pivotal elements in the spine’s architecture, providing both stability and flexibility. These synovial joints are located between the vertebrae in pairs at each spinal segment, allowing for controlled movements and rotation. Each facet joint is lined with cartilage and encased in a capsule filled with synovial fluid, which nourishes the joint and reduces friction during movement. These joints play a critical role in facilitating the spine’s complex motions while also supporting the vertebrae’s weight-bearing function. However, their positioning and function subject them to wear and tear, making them susceptible to degenerative changes over time.
Back pain originating from facet joints, often referred to as facet syndrome, can occur for several reasons, including arthritis, degenerative changes, or injury. These conditions can lead to inflammation, stiffness, and the development of bone spurs, all of which contribute to pain and restricted mobility. Facet joint pain is typically localized to the area of the affected joint but can also radiate to other parts of the body, such as the buttocks or thighs, mimicking other spinal conditions. Treatment for facet joint-related back pain often includes a spinal adjustment in order to relieve pressure off the facet joints.
Check Out Our Locations Near You
West Des Moines
1905 EP True Pkwy #207, West Des Moines, IA 50265
St. Charles
133 W Main Street St. Charles, IA 50240
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be worried about lower back pain?
You should be worried about low back pain if:
- Your back pain persists after 2-3 days
- Your back pain is severe and does not improve with rest
- Your back pain is accompanied by unexplained weight loss
- You are experiencing neurological symptoms like numbness or weakness in your legs
What can I do to relieve my lower back pain in West Des Moines, IA?
To relieve lower back pain and start the healing process toward better health and wellness, consider visiting Truth Family Chiropractic for personalized care.
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
Your lower back pain is considered serious and warrants immediate attention if you have:
- Severe pain that does not improve with rest
- Pain that radiates down the legs, especially if it extends below the knee
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever or chills, which could indicate an infection
- Problems with bladder or bowel control
- A history of cancer, osteoporosis, steroid use, or excess alcohol consumption,
which will increase the risk of more serious underlying conditions
What causes lower back pain?
Low back pain can stem from muscle or ligament strain, bulging or ruptured discs, arthritis, sciatica, and skeletal irregularities such as scoliosis, osteoporosis, and degenerative disc disease.
How should I sleep with lower back pain?
Sleeping with lower back pain requires positions that help maintain the natural curvature of your spine. These positions include sleeping on your back with knee support to distribute weight evenly, on your side with a pillow between your knees, and in a fetal position to open up the spaces between the vertebrae (especially with a herniated disc).
How do I tell if lower back pain is muscle or disc-related?
If it is muscle-related, it will usually be a dull, achy pain, including muscle spasms or tightness. It usually follows any physical exertion, has no radiation to the legs, worsens with movement, and is often acute.
Disc-related, on the other hand, involves sharp, burning, shooting pain that includes symptoms like numbness or tingling if the disc is pressing on a nerve, can be sudden or gradual, radiates to other parts of the body including buttocks, thighs, or below the knee, movement can exacerbate the pain, and can be chronic with recurrent episodes.
How does a slipped disc feel?
A slipped disc includes sharp or burning pain that can involve numbness or tingling, weakness of the legs or lower back, and movement such as bending over will make it much worse.
Why won’t my lower back pain go away?
We are regularly asked this question in the office, and it can involve things such as chronic conditions like degenerative disc disease, poor posture, lack of exercise, repetitive stress, psychological factors such as stress or depression, and lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle can exacerbate back pain.
Can a chiropractor in West Des Moines, IA, help with lower back pain?
Yes, here at Truth Family Chiropractic, we can help with lower back pain as we use non-invasive, drug-free approaches to helping with musculoskeletal issues, including lower back pain.
What is better for lower back pain: a chiropractor or a massage?
Chiropractic care focuses on mechanical disorders such as low back pain. Chiropractors use spinal adjustments to improve spinal alignment, relieve pressure on the nervous system, and enhance the body’s natural healing abilities.
Massage focuses on relieving muscle tension, improving circulation, and promoting relaxation. Many people find that a combination of the two produces the best outcomes.
When should I see a chiropractor in West Des Moines, IA, for low back pain?
You should consider seeing us at Truth Family Chiropractic when lower back pain persists for more than a day, pain interferes with daily activities, after an injury, if you have had lower back pain for a long period of time, or when experiencing numbness or tingling, or weakness in the legs.
How can you tell if your spine is out of alignment?
As chiropractors, we notice certain signs and symptoms that indicate your spine is out of alignment. This includes uneven shoulders or hips, forward head position, experiencing chronic pain, reduced mobility of a certain spinal segment, changes in walking patterns, standing or sitting uncomfortably, uneven wear on shoes, frequent headaches, and fatigue. All of these are good indications of a misalignment of the spine.
Book Your First Low Back Pain Exam Today
Why wait to begin feeling relief? Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.