Do you know that more than 30 million Americans suffer back pains, and at least 80% of the global population experience back pain at least once in their lives? Back pain is common in people of all age groups. Backaches can be severe or mild, depending on the causes. Some causes of severe lower back and hip pain include wrong sleeping position, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, wrong sitting posture, and lifting heavy things in the wrong position. Back pain is sometimes due to medical complications such as chronic kidney diseases, spine infections, and tumors. Therefore, seek emergency back pain treatment if you are experiencing severe back pain.
Your chiropractor will offer chronic back pain differential diagnosis for effective treatment. Also, ask your specialist how to make your back hurt less. Some common ways to relieve back pains include taking healthy foods, wearing the correct shoes, and doing muscle strengthening and stretching exercises. However, seeking a medical checkup before starting workout exercises is always important to avoid complications. For older people, backache may come due to the weakening of the bone structure. In such cases, the specialist offers a solution to relieve pain and medication to help in joint lubrication. Let your chiropractor guide you on the routines to follow as you continue with your medication for a permanent solution to the back and joint ache.
Back pain, in general, is extremely common. But back injuries range from mild muscle strains to severe spinal cord injuries, and sometimes it can be hard to tell when a heating pad will do the trick, when it’s time to schedule an appointment with the chiropractor, and when back pain indicates a true medical emergency. Here’s some basic guidance:
Signs of Non-Emergency Back Problems
If back pain persists more than a few days, or recurs on a regular basis, then it’s probably time to see a chiropractor. Many patients see results from chiropractic care when it comes to treating alignment problems in the spine, as well as muscle strains and associated problems. Some of the most common symptoms that send people to the chiropractor include the following:
- Persistent backache
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Tension headaches
- Jaw and facial pain
- Sciatica (pain radiating from the lower back down one or both legs)
Emergency Spinal Injury Symptoms
There are some signs of back problems, however, that indicate more serious injuries to the spinal cord. Here are some spinal injury symptoms to look out for:
- Acute, building pressure in the neck, head or back
- Trouble coordinating body parts
- Difficulty with walking or balance
- Numbness, weakness or loss of sensation in the extremities
- Tingling in the extremities
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
Chiropractic care may be a part of posture and spinal rehabilitation, but these types of symptoms should prompt a trip to the emergency room, not a call to a local chiropractor.
When to Seek Preventative Screenings
It’s important to note that although spinal injury symptoms are sometimes immediately apparent, it’s also common for no symptoms to occur at all or for symptoms to come on gradually as swelling and/or bleeding in the spinal cord increases. For this reason, it’s recommended that anyone involved in a traumatic accident (like a car or sports accident) or anyone who receives a head injury get screened regardless of symptoms. Often, the time between the injury and implementation of treatment is critical in minimizing lasting damage.
