Lower Back Pain Treatment

The majority of back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cause of most back pain is the cumulative effect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. All of these factors cause stress and imbalances on the spine and eventually pain. This is why people often injure their back by just bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already compromised and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. In the US, low back pain is one of the most common conditions and one of the leading causes of physician visits. In fact, at least four out of five adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Thirty-one million Americans have low back pain at any given time. One half of all working Americans admit to having back symptoms each year. One third of all Americans over age 18 had a back problem in the past five years severe enough for them to seek professional help.  And the cost of this care is estimated to be a staggering $50 Billion yearly–and that’s just for the more easily identified costs!

• Tenderness, Pain, and Stiffness in the Lower Back
• Pain That Radiates Into the Buttocks or Legs
• Difficulty Standing Erect or Standing in One Position for a Long Time
• Weakness and Leg Fatigue While Walking

• Muscle Adhesion
• Lumbar Disc Injury
• Nerve Entrapment 
• Osteoarthritis

• Restore functional movement
• Strengthen the area

What causes back pain?
There are many potential causes of back pain, with some of the most common causes being muscle or ligament strains, arthritis, osteoporosis, disk and structural issues. For an accurate diagnosis and a program to achieve pain relief you should see a medical professional.

What causes back pain during pregnancy?
Instability and pain can occur in the back when the hormone relaxin is released and causes ligaments and joints to loosen in preparation for birth. 

When is back pain serious?
While back pain is common today, if the pain was caused by serious trauma or comes with the following symptoms it may be indicating additional serious problems:

• Fever
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Issues with your bowels
• Prolonged pain (six weeks or more)
• Unusual weight loss

If you're experiencing any of the following pain, please follow the links to learn more about our treatment options.

• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Sciatica 
• Hip pain
• Knee pain

At Discover Soft Tissue and Spine we utilize manual soft tissue treatments, spinal manipulation, exercises and stretches to work on relieving pain and correcting complications associated with lower back pain. If you’ve been suffering from long term or acute low back pain in the Grand Rapids area, please give us a call at 616-956-1112 today for a consultation and to learn about our treatment options.