What is Back Pain and Can a Chiropractor Help Me?
There are many reasons a person may experience back pain. It can range from a dull, achy, stabbing, to a burning sensation, and even radiate to other parts of the body like the buttocks, thighs, legs, or feet. If you have ever been to a doctor about your back pain, they may have asked you to describe the pain in one of those terms. Have you ever found yourself asking why you have the pain and never getting a real answer? If so, this article is for you.
The back is defined as the rear surface of the body from the shoulders to the hip. However, many people refer to the spinal column as the "backbone," so in that term, back pain would also include the neck. This can be a little confusing, so let’s explain further. For most people, the spinal column is comprised of 24 movable vertebrae, (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar). These bones are there to protect the central nervous system, which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is protected by the skull and the spinal cord is protected by the movable vertebrae. Isn't it interesting that the central nervous system is the only system in the body completely encased by bone? If you understand the function, it’s a fascinating design since the nervous system controls all other systems in the body. In fact, it is the first system to develop in the body. The central nervous system branches off and becomes the peripheral nervous system sending branches to every cell, tissue and organ in the body. Doesn't it make sense that a misalignment of one or more of these vertebrae may put pressure on a nerve and affect brain to body communication thus causing some sort of symptom?
According to the Global Burden of Disease in 2010, out of 291 conditions studied, “low back pain causes more global disability than any other condition.”[1] The World Health Organization reports that although “several risk factors have been identified (including occupational posture, depressive moods, obesity, body height and age); the causes of the onset of low back pain remain obscure and diagnosis difficult to make.” [2] These two sentences explain the issue with low back pain; it is a huge problem, but most people are unsure of the causes. This is where the chiropractor comes in.
Chiropractic is the only profession that is trained to diagnose and treat subluxations. A subluxation is simply a misalignment of one or more vertebrae putting pressure on a nerve and causing interference in brain to body communication. If you have never had your spine checked and you have back pain or neck pain, subluxation may be the cause of your health concerns. However, as I just explained above, the nervous system controls every single cell, tissue and organ in the body. If that is the case, maybe the pain is the least of your concerns? Pain is there to tell us to do something different. Do something different and see a chiropractor to get your spine checked for interference!
Dr. Michael Magwood, DC and Dr. Raeann Zschokke, DC, are Advanced Certified in the researched based, Torque Release Technique and work with Prenatal, Pediatric, and Geriatric patients along with the general public.
For more information, call the Pure Balance centers at (212)661-5656 in the Murray Hill neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan or (973)773-8244 in Clifton, New Jersey.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional advice from your physician or other qualified health provider if you have any questions about a medical condition.
[1] Hoy, D., March, L., et al. The global burden of low back pain: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2014; Vol. 73 Issue 6.
[2] http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/priority_medicines/Ch6_24LBP.pdf
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