There are several causes of back pain, including:

Muscle strain — Muscle strains are caused by over-stretching or over-exertion of a muscle.

Ligament sprain — Similar to strains, sprains are caused by the over-extension of a ligament.

Lumbar herniated disc — Herniated discs are a common cause of back pain, with pain often radiating to other parts of the body.

Degenerative disc disease — Spinal discs are important cushions between the vertebrae, preventing the bones from grinding against one another. When these discs become worn, the cushioning effect they provide is minimized, often resulting in painful bone-on-bone contact.

Spinal stenosis — Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal column, which can put pressure on joints and nerves.

Spondylolisthesis — When a vertebra becomes displaced, it is known as spondylolisthesis. This misalignment can put pressure on nerves, resulting in pain.

Osteoarthritis — Degeneration of the joint cartilage and the underlying bone, osteoarthritis can lead to several different complications, including low back pain.

Trauma — Injuries and other types of physical trauma can damage the tissues of the lower back. This can result in pain and lead to other complications.

Back pain may be serious if you experience:

– Inability to urinate or have a bowel movement
– Loss of bowel/bladder control
– Persistent fevers
– Blood in the stool or urine
– Unexplained weight loss
– Progressive numbness or weakness in the legs
– Pain at night

If back pain causes any of the aforementioned symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Back pain affecting a muscle or a disc can often manifest similar symptoms and therefore be difficult to differentiate. In general, the differences in pain are:

Muscle Pain

– Typically hurts less with bending forward more with returning from a forward bend
– Tends to have localized pain (only in the lower back)

Disc Pain

– Hurts both with bending forward and when returning to an upright position
– Shooting pain and numbness that travels down one (but usually not both) of the legs
– Cause weakness in one or both legs
– Often unable to walk on toes on the affected side

TRUE Health Medical uses a wide variety of different therapies to treat low back pain, including:

Chiropractic — TRUE Health Medical provides chiropractic care, including adjustments, spinal alignments, manual therapy, and non-force manipulation. With a combination of these treatments, our chiropractor can help patients find relief from a wide range of symptoms.

Physical Therapy — By using exercise, stretching, and patient education, physiotherapy can help restore form and function to damaged areas of the body, helping patients live a better quality of life.

If back pain is interfering with your life, come to TRUE Health Medical to find relief today. Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in treating low back pain and can effectively evaluate, diagnose and treat a wide range of painful symptoms. Don’t let your pain go untreated, relief is only a phone call away. Call us today or book an appointment . We serve patients from Gilbert AZ, Chandler AZ, Queen Creek AZ, Sun Lakes AZ, Mesa AZ, Sacaton AZ, and Apache Junction AZ. We look forward to serving you!