Waking up with unbearable back pain is frustrating, and you are not alone in this experience. Believe it or not, roughly 8 in 10 of the U.S. overall population will feel pain in the lower back at least one point in their lives.

As a practice offering Oakland CA lower back pain relief, we’ve handled hundreds of lower back pain cases. Patients come in with complaints about their back pains. They usually ask, "What causes back pains?", "Who is at risk of lower back pains?", and "What can give me back pain relief?" during visits.

Did you know that there are three types of lower back pain? To help you understand how to get long-lasting relief from lower back pains, let’s go over some important information about the spine.

Understanding the Spinal Column 

The spine consists of bones, ligaments, and joints that support our backs and protect the spinal cord. You can locate its endpoints at the base of the back of your head down to the tip of your tailbone. Here are what you should know about these parts:

• In between the spinal bones are thin spinal discs that are made from a jelly-like substance. These discs act as shock absorbers to prevent rubbing between the spinal bones. 
• Muscles and ligaments hold these bones and discs in place, allowing some flexibility for movement. 
• The spinal column also houses the spinal cord, which consists of nerves that connect the brain to the rest of the body.
• Spinal nerve roots are located near the spine, so they are prone to any impact during an injury to the spinal cord. After an injury, these nerve roots may get compressed and damaged, leading to lower back pain and other associated issues.

The spine is divided into three main segments: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. The lumbar spine, located at the lower back, connects to the pelvis and legs. It allows movement like bending, turning, and twisting. The lumbar spine also enables us to stand, lift, walk, and do pretty much any other activity that requires moving from place to place. Issues in this region may result in lower back pain and other equally debilitating or far more severe conditions. 

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and lower back pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

The Different Types of Lower Back Pain

Back pain falls into three categories-- local, radiating, and referred pain.

Local Pain

Local pain occurs in a specific or distinct location in the spine. Localized pain is the most common type of back pain and is usually accompanied by muscle soreness and spasms. This may be caused by sprains, muscle strains, and injury from playing sports. When you experience local pain, switching positions can help relieve or may intensify your back pain. 

Radiating Pain

You might be experiencing radiating pain if you have disorders like osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, or a herniated disc. Think of radiating pain this way: it’s a lingering, dull ache that stretches down the leg from the lower back.  If you are experiencing radiating pain, you can also suddenly feel intense piercing pain in the back of your legs. Sneezing, coughing, or bending over can trigger radiating pain symptoms.

Referred Pain

Referred pain is felt in a different location instead of the actual problem area, simply put. One good illustration of referred pain is what happens during a heart attack. Those who suffered from heart attack felt pain in their left arm during the incident. People wishing for Oakland CA lower back pain relief are usually surprised to hear that the reason for their lower back pain comes from a different part of the spine.

Who are at risk of getting lower back pains?

It does not matter whether you are an active individual or not. Anyone can develop back pain for a number of reasons, including posture, lifestyle, and bone health. Some of the classic reasons for back pain include:

• muscle sprains
• pre-menstrual syndrome
• car accidents
• sports injuries
• poor posture

However, as a chiropractic practice providing Oakland CA lower back pain relief, we noticed that lower back pain becomes more frequent with age. Senior citizens are more likely to develop this type of back pain. 

People who work at jobs that require constant lifting or operating heavy machinery can also develop back pain. Pregnant women are also prone to back pain because their backs would have to support the weight of their babies.

Some underlying conditions list back pain as a symptom. These conditions include:

• osteoarthritis
• sciatica
• fractures
• urinary tract infections
• fibromyalgia
• tumors
• cancer
• infections in the spine
• pancreatitis

Most of our patients complain of back pain after doing some activities. Some may get back pain after strenuous activities like lifting heavy items or participating in sports like baseball, golf, and tennis. Some patients even report experiencing pain in the lower back after dancing, exercising, and, sometimes, crouching down to get something off the ground.

What Natural Relief Method Can Ease Lower Back Pain?

Now that you know the basics of back pain, the last question and perhaps the most significant one to be answered is “How can I get relief from back pain?” Let’s do a quick review.

The spinal column is made up of closely connected vertebrae. Any pain originating from a single point in the spine may lead to pain in the rest of its parts. For example, a slight misalignment in any part of the spine can result in pain in the lower back. When talking about spinal misalignments, you might need the help and expertise of chiropractors.

Here at Life Chiropractic, we use accurate, safe, natural, and most importantly, pain-free techniques to help alleviate lower back pain. Before the adjustment, we make sure to thoroughly assess and evaluate the spine to look for the root of the issue. This step is important in designing a tailored adjustment procedure for every client. Proper adjustment will encourage better healing from the pains and, ultimately, relief.

Learn more about the benefits you can get from getting specific chiropractic care. If you are looking for a chiropractor for Oakland CA lower back pain relief, fill out our online form to book a consultation with us.

To schedule a special consultation in our Oakland office call (510) 594-9994, or just click the button below.