Back Pain in Grand Rapids

Tendon or Ligament Strains and Muscular Sprains

Sprains and strains can affect just about anyone but they are most commonly affect individuals who participate in activities that their bodies are not used to. For instance, an individual who decides to sprint a mile on a whim without having so much as jogged in the past couple of months is more than likely to sustain some discomfort and even injury. Sprains that affect ligaments usually are a result of pushing ligaments to their limit - creating micro and at times complete tears. Strains on a muscular level are usually a result of picking up objects well past weights one is accustomed to lifting. These strains are magnified by using poor form and can significantly injure the back. Both sprains and strains are inextricably linked to the spinal region and consequently benefit greatly from chiropractic care. Our chiropractic team is well prepared to provide the care necessary to rehabilitate individuals and heal from these significant injuries.

Back Pain and Stress

Individuals who suffer from stress regularly possess a different physical makeup than individuals who do not deal with stress routinely. When an individual in dealing with significant stress, their body releases hormones to better manage the position they are in. A few of these physiological adaptations are an increased heart rate, heightened blood pressure, cortisol release, and more. This kind of physiological response is effective in short bursts, however, for those who deal with stress regularly can suffer from significant health issues. The diseases that can manifest from regular stress are heart disease, obesity, and back pain. Fortunately, stress can often be found in the form of “trigger points” across the back. The health team at Kaminski Chiropractic PLLC is experienced at pinpointing and treating these trigger points.

When chiropractors treat back pain, they focus on the root of the issue instead of just dealing with the symptoms. The chiropractic team in Grand Rapids can help treat your back pain using this successful approach. It is imperative to seek chiropractic care that works. If you are dealing with back pain or want further information, don’t hesitate to contact Kaminski Chiropractic PLLC in Grand Rapids for your free consultation.

Other Issues that Cause Back Pain

Conditions such as obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections have been shown to cause symptoms of low back pain. These are all serious issues that need to be identified and treated immediately to avoid long-term health issues. Grand Rapids Chiropractic doctors are trained to identify these issues and support you to get the appropriate treatment. Many of these issues can have their source in spinal misalignments and respond well to chiropractic adjustments.

Region Description and Overview

The technical term for the lower back is the lumbar spine. It consists of 5 vertebrae (spinal bones) as well as the closely associated Sacrum and Iliac/Pelvic bones. These vertebrae are labelled using the letter L and the number of the vertebrae (example L3 is the third lumbar). The normal curvature of the cervical spine is a lordosis, just like the neck. An example is shown in the photo gallery below. The lumbar spine is responsible for the majority of trunk flexion and extension (bending forward and leaning back). The intervertebral discs are the largest in the lumbar spine.

Most Common Causes

The most common cause of low back pain is subluxation. A subluxation is the posterior misalignment of a vertebrae that is pinching or interfering with a nerve. This can be the result of a sudden trauma (hard fall, car accident, etc.), repetitive use injury (heavy lifting, repetitive motion, etc.), sports injury, or normal day-to-day wear and tear. The disc can also be involved which complicates the issue as well as the possibility of adding symptoms and increase discomfort.

Associated Symptoms and Conditions

• Lumbar sprain/strain
• Facet syndrome
• Sciatica
• Spondylolisthesis
• Disc herniation
• Stenosis
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Referred pain into the Mid Back
• Buttock/Glut Pain
• Leg Pain/Numbness/Tingling/Weakness
• Hip/Knee/Ankle/Foot Pain
• Menstrual Issues / Erectile Dysfunction
• Digestive Issues
• Bowel/Bladder Issues

Complications

Leaving low back issues untreated could result in complications including but not limited to:

• Nerve damage
• Stenosis
• Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Muscle Atrophy
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Bone Spurs
• Surgery
• Inability to balance / walk / stand

Example Lumbar Spine X-Rays