Book APPOINTMENT

Back Pain & Injury

Everyone will experience low back pain at some time in their life but low back pain need not be a life sentence.

• Low  or lower  back pain  responds quickly to treatment in most cases.
• Prescription drugs are not the best solution,  they mask the symptoms and don't address the actual mechanical problem involved.  This often causes people to think the problem is resolved, and carry on as before.  The result is that the problem is often made worse.
• Chiropractors are specialists in treating low back pain, training for over 5 years to diagnose, treat and return you to 100% of full working order, so you can get back to work, sports, family,  essentially your life stronger and better than before.  At Gentle Chiropractic our doctor has been in practice for more than 16 years.
• Get better fast  - see a chiropractor as soon as you can following the onset of pain, stiffness or numbness in your back, buttocks or legs is of critical improtance to resolving (fixing) the problem quickly.

---

Low Back/Lumbar Sprain

​A lower back or lumbar sprain is a tear of the low back joint ligaments. Ligaments hold the bones together and are very highly supplied with nerves. 

Causes

• ​Lifting 
• Twisting
•  Falls
• Bad landings
• Bending
• Impact with others (tackling)
• Sports 
• Cleaning
• Poor posture

Symptoms May  Include

• ​​​Severe focused lower back pain
• Moderate or mild low back pain
• Low back stiffness
• Loss of mobility
• Pain lying down
• Pain sitting
• Low back muscle tension often in one area
• Difficulty bending

Don't be misdiagnosed.
Many sprains are misdiagnosed and  treated incorrectly with massage, exercises and acupuncture and as a result there is a delay in recovery. See page "accurate diagnosis" for more information on examination and assessment protocols at Gentle Chiropractic.

​Lumbar (Low Back)  Disc Injury

Low Back Muscle Strain

​Lumbar disc injuries are  a more involved problem.    The lumbar discs sit between each vertebra ( bones in the lback).  They connect  each vertebra together and  also act as shock absorbers.  They are like fluid filled cushions.  They must remain intact to assist in reducing stress to the bones.
They assist us in bending forwards, backwards and to the side, allowing movement, rather than a ridgid pole like spine, which would not be very functional.  

Causes

• Lifting
• Lifting and twisting
• Digging
• Bending 
• Long history of repetitive activities above
• Chronic ( long term) inactivity
• Poor posture
• Spinal development irregularities
• Sports 
• Chronic (long term) compressive forces
• Vibration from motor vehicles over long periods (years)
• Gardening 
• Loading
• Falls

Symptoms May  Include

• Severe Low Back Pain
• Severe Spasm of back muscles
• Severe spasm leg muscle
• Severe leg pain
• Severe double leg pain
• Severe burning pain in legs
• Severe buttock pain
• Severe numbness in buttocks
• Severe tingling or burning in legs
• Severe tingling or burning in buttocks
• Numbness in the saddle region
• Numbness in the legs or feet
• Severe leaning posture
• Leg Muscle weakness
• Foot drop
• Limping
• Incontinence
• Constipation

Successful Treatment

99% of disc injuries are successfully  treated with non-surgical care.  

A very common problem involving tearing of the muscles of the lumbar spine  (Low or Lower  Back)

Causes

• Over reaching
• Sudden movement or jerking of the body
• Working in awkward positions
• Gardening
• Cleaning
• Sports
• Dance
• Sleeping in poor beds
• Poor posture at work actives
• Sitting for long periods followed by sudden movement, lifting, twisting
• Dogs pulling and jerking on the  lead

Chiropractors can assist with the healing of the muscles by restoring optimal alignment to the spine and pelvis. Reducing tension on the lower back muscles.

Often alignment was poor prior to the injury which resulted in weakness and tearing of the muscle in the first place.

Chiropractors are trained in soft tissue or massage and trigger point treatment. At gentle Chiropractic dry needling is often used to resolve these issues, by improving blood flow to the affected tissue, which clears debris from the injured tissue out and brings healing nutrients and body chemicals, to the site of the tear, which speeds recovery of the tissue rapidly.

Rapid Recovery with Chiropractic Care for Lumbar Strains.

• Fast recovery
• Gentle Treatment
• Be back to work, sport,  life in just a few visits

---

Evidence Based Research Information

Chiropractic Treatment has a record of excellence in evidence based research, it has been shown to provide a cost effective and great clinical outcomes for patients with, neck pain,  lower back sprains and  lumbar disc injuries. Early chiropractic treatment can remove the need for complex and more risky surgical procedures.  It is also well known for helping  those with degenerative joint conditions,  remain more mobile and active into their very late years.