Everything You Need to Know About Back Pain

Back pain can truly affect all aspects of your life. Whether it’s back pain caused by trauma or chronic pain made worse by daily activity, back pain isn’t something to ignore. At Proactive Chiropractic and Rehab Center, we make it our mission to get you back to feeling like yourself again. Start experiencing relief by understanding your pain, where it comes from and how to choose a treatment plan that works best for you. Contact our Charlotte chiropractic office today to get started.

Why Does Back Pain Happen?

The human back is complex, including a unique structure of muscles, tendons, discs and bones. These elements work together to support the rest of your body and your movement. Issues or damage to any of these elements can cause back pain. Strain to these elements, various medical conditions and posture can all contribute to damage, resulting in pain.

Strain can occur during lifting improperly or moving quickly in an odd direction. Arthritis, abnormal spinal curve, osteoporosis and other medical conditions can also cause pain. If you are experiencing back pain, it’s best to see a trained professional to pinpoint the cause and receive proper treatment.

How Can You Avoid Back Pain?

Avoiding back pain may seem almost impossible. However, by maintaining proper health and doing your best to avoid injury, you can reduce your chances of back pain. Exercising and developing good eating habits will strengthen your body, reducing inflammation and stress. Maintaining a proper posture while you work puts less stress on the ligaments in your back.

To make sure you are protected by strain, make sure you are following best lifting practices which include squatting, keeping a good posture and lifting slowly. And at night, make sure you are not sleeping flat on your back. Instead, sleep on your side to avoid pain.

How Do You Relieve Back Pain?

To relieve your symptoms of back pain, there are various things you can do. To start, you should take advantage of massage therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic care often to keep your body in alignment. Light exercise such as yoga can also alleviate pain by gently stretching your body to relieve tension. Heat compresses will reduce cramping, tension and muscle spasms when applied to your back.

It’s best to always get a good night’s sleep. Invest in a good mattress and try out different sleep positions. Try lying on your side with a pillow between your knees or in the fetal position. You can also try sleeping on your stomach with a pillow under your abdomen.

Common Myths About Back Pain

Did you know that being physically active doesn’t mean you won’t experience back pain? This is just one of the many myths surrounding your back. Other myths include:

• Bed rest is best. This isn’t the case. In fact, spending days in bed can make back pain worse.
• Back pain comes from injuries. Although an injury can definitely cause back pain, there are other causes including diseases, infections and inherited conditions.
• If tests don’t reveal a case, my back pain is all in my head. This isn’t true. Back pain is caused by a wide variety of things. Just because you’ve yet to find a diagnosable problem doesn’t mean your pain isn’t real.

If you are experiencing back pain, it’s best to visit a professional to receive a clear diagnosis and treatment plan.

Back Pain Caused by Trauma: When Do You Require Immediate Medical Attention?

Back pain can be caused by an injury or a medical diagnosis. However, sometimes accidents may occur that result in trauma to your back. Trauma can result in injuries that require immediate medical attention. If you’ve experienced trauma, keep an eye out for these symptoms of serious injury:

• Excessive pain at night
• Unexplained weight loss
• Prolonged fever
• Tingling in the extremities
• Family history of cancer

If you experience any of these symptoms, reach out for help immediately. Call your family physician or local chiropractor for an exam.

When Should You Seek Care for Back Pain?

Is your back pain interfering with your life? Are you experiencing severe back pain often without relief? If this is you, it’s time to seek care for your back pain symptoms. Whether your pain is chronic or the result of trauma, not seeking the proper care can have lasting damaging effects on your body. Reach out to Proactive Chiropractic today for an appointment by calling (704) 504-1770 or send us a message online.