Back Pain

When you visit King Chiropractic & Laser, the first visit includes an assessment. We are going to look at the functionality of your spine, including the range of motion, alignment, flexibility, and strength of supporting muscles and ligaments. We will also discuss the back pain and what may be causing it. You are going to be asked about your posture, daily activities, and other things that might be causing the problem. There are many different causes of back pain and they require different approaches to treatment.

Common Causes Of Back Pain

• Worn Joints – Commonly called “degenerative joint disease” or “osteoarthritis”, this is due to genetics and wear and tear on the joints of the spine. The discs between the vertebrae become flattened and bone spurs develop, leading to stiffness and sometimes pain.
• Myofascial pain- Poor posture, sitting too much, stress, and repetitive use of your back muscles can lead to myofascial trigger points, aka “knots” in the muscles. These can be very painful and radiate pain into the buttocks and legs.
• Muscle Strain – Muscle strains can occur due to a sudden injury like a sports injury or more slowly due to postural strain, like sitting at your desk for 8 hours.
• Nerve Compression – A bone spur or a herniated disc in the back can irritate or press on the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. Nerve irritation or compression can lead to excruciating back pain at times, as well as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs and feet.
• Diseases –In more rare cases, back pain can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, infections, aortic aneurysms, or even metastasis from cancer. If we suspect any of these, we will refer you to the appropriate medical professional.

Symptoms

• Pain and stiffness in the back and hips
• Decreased range of motion of the spine
• Muscle spasms
• Pinched nerves causing pain/numbness/tingling in the legs

Treatments

In most cases, back pain does not require injections or surgery and can be managed with conservative care. At King Chiropractic & Laser we use several different techniques to alleviate your back pain:
• Chiropractic Care – A spinal adjustment is a precise & effective treatment procedure applied to the joints of the spine. It works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore the range of motion. This can be done by hand or with a special instrument called an Impulse, which gently taps the vertebrae.
• Myofascial release – We employ a variety of techniques to loosen tight muscles, such as trigger point release, stretching, Thera-gun, and Graston Technique.
• Class IV Laser – Laser therapy helps improve blood circulation to the back, leading to less inflammation, pain, and stiffness, and speeding up healing time.
• Electrical stimulation – This can be used to reduce muscle tension and spasm.
•Radial Pressure Wave – Sometimes called “shockwave”, this technique uses powerful pulses of sound waves to break up stubborn ‘knots’ in muscles and fascial adhesions, leading to better range of motion and less pain.
• Flexion-Distraction – Our new chiropractic table has an automatic flexion function of the leg piece. The doctor presses a button and the leg part of the table slowly goes down while the doctor applies pressure to the spine. This effectively stretches the lumbar spine and separates the vertebrae. It is especially effective for people with arthritis, disc herniations, and sciatica.
• Lifestyle advice – This may include ergonomics, simple exercises, supplements/diet changes, and at-home massage techniques. If more intensive rehabilitation is required, we have good relationships with several local physical therapists and are happy to co-treat.

If you or someone in your family is suffering from back pain, call the expert team at King Chiropractic & Laser in Chelmsford, Massachusetts to schedule an appointment today!