Bad Back Questions

How can I can prevent back pain?
Anyone can develop back pain, from the very active to the very
sedentary. We don’t know exactly what causes back pain in every
situation. We do know that some activities pose a higher risk for
causing back pain. These include heavy lifting and twisting and
bending of the trunk. Staying healthy and fit is very important.

Should I use heat or ice when I have back pain?
For the first day or two after the onset of acute back pain, cold
therapy (ice or cold packs) usually feels better. After that, heat usually feels better. The warmth helps relax the muscles and ease the spasms.

My leg hurts, and my doctor is telling me that the problem
is in my back. How can that be?
The nerves to the legs have their origin (the nerve root) in the
lumbar spine. When the nerve is pinched or compressed in the spine, it is felt in the leg. You might feel pain, weakness, or numbness.

My back pain feels better when I bend forward and is
severe when I stand up straight. Why?
If you have lumbar spinal stenosis, you will feel better when you walk holding onto a shopping cart because as you lean forward, the pressure on the nerves caused by the stenosis is reduced.

Why does my back feel better lying down?
You may notice your back pain improves when you lie down. In
this position there is less “load” on the discs. Studies have measured the pressure on the discs in different positions. By far, lying down is the position with the least pressure across the disc space.

Why do doctors ask me about my bowel and bladder?
The bowel and bladder are controlled by nerves from the spine. If
you are having difficulty controlling your bowel and bladder, it
might indicate that there is a reflex from those organs to your spinal column.

I have a torn disc. Will it grow back together?
Once the vertebrae are properly aligned the disc can begin healing Most often, a torn and painful disc improves with time and with nonsurgical Chiropractic treatment.