Patient Center

What Might Be Causing Your Back Pain

When your back goes out, the pain can take your breath away. Any of the normal activities of daily living – coughing, sneezing, lifting or bending — can trigger a painful spasm or regional instability that negatively impacts your overall health and quality of life. Back pain is epidemic in our country, with more than 21 million Americans suffering. Current treatments include medication, surgeries, manipulation, physical therapy and acupuncture; and unfortunately,these treatments can sometimes provide seem to provide little long-term relief. Exploring non-surgical solutions to pain relief is the focus of the Lordex Spine Institute. Our goal is to guide you to wellness by providing a less invasive treatment, as well as a commitment to helping you achieve a pain-free life. All back pain can be divided into two categories, medical and mechanical. Medical includes recent fractures, tumors, infections or metabolic diseases. Women who are pregnant, or in advanced stages of osteoporosis, may be included in this group. Medical back pain represents 3% of all low back pain sufferers. 97% of people with acute or chronic back pain have what physicians refer to as mechanical spinal pathology. This means the pain is a by-product of spinal instability and may result in a herniated disk, degenerative joint disease, sciatica, facet syndrome and even canal narrowing called spinal stenosis. Mechanical back pain may develop from inherited, congenital or an acquired condition such as a repetitive stress injury or an impact trauma. Over time, the injury manifests itself through pain. This is when most people go to see their doctor. Medication is prescribed to reduce pain, but does nothing to address the underlying problem of the mechanical instability. Pressure on sensitive nerve fibers from the disc, nerve root or facet articulating joint may cause a cascade of nerve messages to the brain putting the muscles into spasm. This cycle is often repeated over days, weeks, months and eventually for years until the degenerative changes become visible on x-ray and MRI. Physical therapist, Chiropractors and medical physicians perform a variety of techniques that are done in earnest to reduce pain. If the condition becomes too extreme and the pain intolerable, the back pain sufferer may attempt surgery as a final attempt for relief. Almost half of all spine surgeries have less than satisfactory outcomes. Go to www.lordexspineinstitute.com for patient forms.