FACTS ABOUT LOWER BACK PAIN

1 in 9 Americans experience an episode of back pain severe enough to impair their usual daily activities during the course of a year¹.

Back pain is the most common reason for filing Workers’ Compensation claims in the U.S.² It accounts for one fourth of all claims, resulting in enormous economic and social costs to workers, families, employers and insurers.

While only 1 in 20 people with back pain become temporarily or permanently disabled, these patients account for 75% of back pain costs³

What You Should Know About Lower Back Pain

Low Back Pain is a common disorder that affects the lumbar area of the spine.  It can be very painful, cause lower quality of life and missed time from work. Here are some important facts about back pain you should know.

How Common is Lower Back Pain?

Most times acute lower back pain will improve without treatment in 6 to 8 weeks. Unfortunately, once you have an episode of back pain, it tends to come back – or recur.  In fact, more than 70% of those with an initial episode of lower back pain will have a recurrence within 1 year. ^4,5,6

Up to 80% of people will suffer lower back pain at some time in their lifetime.  As many as 60% of patients continue to suffer chronic lower back – pain lasting longer than 5 years - after the initial episode. ⁷

Chiropractic care has been shown to compare favorably in many cases to care provided by a medical doctor in preventing long-term pain and disability.⁵

What are My Treatment Options?

There are a number of treatment options available for back pain patients.  They include:

• Treatment you give yourself, such as over-the-counter pain medications or bed rest.
• Therapies such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, exercise programs or educational pamphlets about back pain.
• Medical care including prescription drugs like anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants or narcotic pain-relievers.
• Injections into joints, discs, or nerves to block pain.
• Hospitalization or surgery.

The treatment that is best for you may include more than one of the above options.

How will my Chiropractor Examine and Treat My Lower Back Pain?

A chiropractor will examine you for several signs to see which treatment is best for you. These signs include, but are not limited to:

• Regions of muscle tightness and tenderness
• Restriction in overall movement of your spine
• Muscle and nerve function
• Ability to perform daily activities like bathing, sleeping and work

What are the Goals of Chiropractic Care?

• Relieve your pain
• Increase joint mobility and range of motion
• Reduce muscle spasm
• Return you to your daily activities with less pain

Chiropractors often treat lower back pain with spinal manipulation, or the “adjustment.”  These treatments range from traditional manipulation to a more gentle mobilization of the joints of your spine. Therapeutic exercises, muscle stimulation, ice or heat, stretches, nutritional counseling, ergonomic advice and lifestyle modifications may also be offered as part of your care.

Your chiropractor may also order X-Rays, CT Scans or MRI’s of your lower back to see if there are complications to care or if you should see a specialist.

What Should I do After Treatment?

• Do your home exercises and stretches as recommended.
• Stay active without creating too much discomfort.  Avoid bed rest unless specifically advised by your chiropractor.
• Call your chiropractor right away if;
  • Your pain becomes unbearable.
  • Pain or numbness goes down into your legs.
  • If the muscles in your legs become weak.
  • You have trouble with bowel or bladder function.

Are There Risks to Chiropractic Care?

About 20% of patients will feel stiff and sore after the first few treatments.

Spinal manipulation, in very rare cases, may result in low back and pain into one or both legs with bladder or bowel dysfunction.  It is estimated to occur once per millions of treatments (the number of millions varies; one study placed it at 100 million) ^8,10

Be sure to discuss and understand concerns about potential complications of treatment with your chiropractor before receiving treatment.

Are There Risks to Remaining Untreated?

Remaining untreated may promote increased stiffness and reduction of mobility. Over time, this process may complicate your condition, making treatment more difficult and less effective the longer it is postponed.  The probability that non-treatment will later complicate rehabilitation is relatively high.

What are the Risks from Other Types of Care?

Each type of care for lower back pain includes both risks and benefits.  The risks associated with medications and surgery include;

• Heart burn or upset stomach
• Stomach ulcers or bleeding
• Adverse affect on your kidneys or liver
• Drowsiness, dry mouth or dizziness
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Headache
• Infection
• Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

1. Carey TS, Evans AT, et al. Acute severe low back pain: a population-based study   of prevalence and care-seeking. Spine. 1996;21:339-344.

2. Klein BP, Jensen RC, Sanderson LM. Assessment of workers’ compensation claims on back strains/sprains. J Occup Med. 1984;26:443-448.

3. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. Clinical Guideline on Low Back Pain—Phase 1. 1996.

4. Atlas SJ, Nardin RA. Evaluation and treatment of low back pain: an evidence-based approach to clinical care. Muscle and Nerve. 2003;27(3):265-284.

5. Pengel HM, Maher CG, Refshauge KM. Systematic review of conservative interventions for subacute low back pain. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2002; 16(8):811-820.

6. Assendelft WJ, Morton SC, Yu EI, et al. Spinal manipulative therapy for low back pain. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2003;138(11):871-881.

7. Boswell MV, Shah RV, Everett CR, et al. Interventional techniques in the management of chronic spinal pain: evidence-based practice guidelines. Pain Physician, 2005;8(1):1-47.

8. Nyiendo J, Haas M, Goldberg B, Sexton G. Pain, disability, and satisfaction outcomes and predictors of outcomes: a practice-based study of chronic low back pain patients attending primary care and chiropractic physicians. J Manip Physiol Ther, 2001;24(7):433-9.

9. Shekelle PG, Adams AH, Chassin MR, et al. Spinal manipulation for low-back pain. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1992;117(7):590-598.

10. Haldeman S, Rubinstein SM. Cauda equina syndrome in patients undergoing manipulation of the lumbar spine. Spine. 1992;17(12):1469-1473.