Back & leg pain
Back Pain
Almost everyone gets back pain at sometime, but staying active, with the help of chiropractic care, may well be the best solution.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Poor posture may lead to back pain.Your chiropractor may advise you to make postural changes if you:
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spend hours a day sitting at a desk or a computer
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slouch in front of the TV
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sleep in a bed that is too hard or soft
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find yourself hunching your back and shoulders in stressful situations
"I only bent to tie my shoe"
Repeating daily activities such as bending, lifting and twisting, as well as other lifestyle factors may result in back pain. This is why your Chiropractor will want to understand how you tackle your everyday activities. He/she will also ask about any injuries to your back as a result of:
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falls
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minor sports injuries
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lifting heavy weights
Treating the cause, not the symptoms
As you go through life, a slight loss of proper movement of the bones/joints can interfere with the healthy working of your spine and the nerves that pass through it. This can lead to pain.
Chiropractic care treats the cause of pain, not just the pain itself. Your chiropractor will carry out a full examination and ask you questions about your posture, medical history and lifestyle, to try and discover the cause of your back pain and offer a diagnosis of your complaint.
Then your treatment will begin, often with gentle, specific manipulation or other suitable treatment. This effective treatment is generally painless, although you may feel some short-term discomfort if your back is already very sore.
Your Chiropractor may recommend ice or heat treatment, massage or other appropriate treatments. Latest national guidelines on back pain suggest that you remain active, as prolonged bed rest or inactivity may slow your recovery. You may also be advised to take gentle exercise to ease your pain and help your body to recuperate.
Nice Guidelines (2009)
Nice guidelines on the treatment of persistent low back pain suggest that spinal manipulation, such as that offered by chiropractors, may be effective in helpng back pain.
Leg Pain
Leg pain can be due to "referred pain" caused by a loss of proper joint movement in the lower back, which may cause irritation of the nerves. It can also be due to a hip, knee, ankle or foot problem.
Your chiropractor will carry out a thorough examination to determine the source of your leg pain to find the most appropriate treatment for you.
