Lower Back Pain in Dana Point, CA

1. Comprehensive Consultation and Exam

When you come in at PCH Chiropractic in Dana Point, we will take the time to sit down with you and ask you about your condition. You’ll talk one on one with a doctor about your health concerns. We will then thoroughly examine your spine and feel the area where the pain is localized along with any other areas that might be related. We will ask questions such as: When was the FIRST time you ever had back pain? This is important, as sometimes, the pain can come and go, but we want to understand the root cause of the problem. therefore, we have to go back to the beginning. The quality of the pain, if it radiates, and if the strength of your muscles is impaired are also very important facts. We will ask you what makes your condition worse or better, and if it’s keeping you from being able to work, or enjoy your normal activities.

We will perform different orthopedic tests that will give us more information on what may be causing your Low Back Pain. Muscle testing, functional tests like range of motion, and neurological tests may also be performed. This helps us see if there are any dysfunction in the motor or sensory aspects of your nervous system, as well as peripheral circulation.

A very thorough examination is performed, and by doing so we are able to determine the root cause of your low back pain. Sometimes the pain is felt in the low back, but it is due to other body dysfunction. Therefore we will look at your whole spine and do a full body exam to make sure to care for the whole person. You are not just your lower back, and we will treat you accordingly.

2. Digital X-Rays taken to determine the underlying cause of your Low Back Pain

After you are examined, then the next step may be to take Digital X-rays with our up-to-date low-radiation equipment. X-rays are done right on-site at PCH Chiropractic. Only the necessary X-ray is performed. There is no need to go to an outside facility and have to wait for the results.

Spinal X-rays are very helpful and can help us properly diagnose the exact cause of your problems. A very common finding associated with Low Back Pain found on X-ray is called a Vertebral subluxation. This term refers to misalignments of the spine and pelvis that can impinge on nerves, put undue pressure on the intervertebral discs, and even worse cases, adversely affect the spinal cord.

X-rays also can help rule out other less common causes of Low Back Pain such as cancer, fractures, arthritis, ankylosis spondylitis, degeneration, etc.

Our doctors are experts in using X-rays to properly determine the underlying cause of your Low Back Pain and/or other health problems.

3. Specific Chiropractic Care in Dana Point, CA

Subluxations are misalignments between different vertebrae or whole sections of the spine. They are caused by the 3 T’s: Trauma, Toxins, and Thoughts (STRESS). When subluxations occur, they can alter the energy coming from the brain to the overall body. This can cause a miscommunication between the brain and the organs, possibly resulting in various health conditions, including low back pain.
When subluxations are present they weaken the structure of the spine. When the structure is weakened, the posture distorts and puts additional stress on your nervous system. Depending on the cause of the pain, whether it is a disc problem, degeneration, arthritis, or other causes, these will, in turn, cause inflammation in the area. When the nerves are inflamed it often results in pain, and if the inflammation is in the lower back it can cause Low Back Pain.

Therefore, a specific chiropractic adjustment will restore the proper alignment and integrity of the spinal structure. This will reduce the inflammation and therefore the pain. But the most important part is that by removing the subluxation we allow the brain to better communicate with the rest of your body and restore the body’s ability to heal itself and your spine to function optimally. As the spinal alignment improves, so does the posture and the function of the nervous system. It is not unusual for our patients to report that along with chiropractic care, we give them helping their Low Back Pain, but they also may have other types of health problems that seem to improve. Better spinal alignment can help Low Back Pain, and other issues too. If your Low Back Pain is caused by Subluxations, then the only thing that will help you is specific chiropractic adjustments.

4. Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan

There are many different causes of low back pain. After doing a thorough evaluation and Digital X-rays when necessary, our doctors will be determining what is the root cause of your low back pain. We will then give you a personalized corrective plan that will include specific exercises you can do at home. This will help you strengthen the muscles that might have been weakened and stretch the ones that might have been overworked by the distorted posture or injury. Everyone is different. Therefore, by looking at the results of all the tests performed, including your x-rays, we can determine what is the best course of action to get your back pain-free and back to your normal life as soon as possible.

This personalized plan will also include ways to perform your activities of daily living and some changes that you can implement at work in order to avoid re-injury and speed up your recovery. A strong core and strong para-spinal (around the spine) muscles are imperative for effective recovery from Low Back Pain. If your Low Back Pain is associated with weekend para-spinal muscles, then your recovery must include a proper regimen to restore such. Our doctors will help guide you in ways to regain strength in these areas.

5. Curve Correction Traction for recovery from Low Back Pain

The spine has three primary side curves that are imperative for a healthy spine and a healthy life. In the neck and lower back, the curves normally flow towards the front and in the mid back, the curve is towards the back. In the neck and lower back, the proper curves are called lordosis. In the mid back, the proper curve is called kyphosis. Disruptions to the normal flowing curves may also be associated with Low Back Pain.

Therefore, in some patients with Low Back Pain, our doctors will utilize Curve Correction Traction to help correct the underlying cause of their problems. This is based on the latest studies and is individualized for each patient depending on the status of their lordosis and/or kyphosis. Lateral (side) curve corrective techniques have been reported to have favorable outcomes in patients with Low Back Pain and other health issues. If one lower back pain is caused by a disruption of the proper lordosis or kyphosis, then the only thing that will correct the cause would be to restore the normal spinal curves.

Common Questions and Answers About Lower Back Pain:

How do I know if my back pain is serious?

Although lower back pain is common, it’s never normal for one’s back to hurt. Lower Back pain can be serious if:

• It lasts more than 3-4 days
• It radiates down one or both legs into the feet
• It radiates into the groin or testes
• It increases when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or strain at the stool
• It radiates up the spine
• It radiates into other regions or organs
• Along with the LBP, you also have an associated fever
• You lose some control of your foot, called foot drop
• You lose control of your bowels or bladder

When having Lower Back Pain with symptoms like the above it’s always best to consult a doctor that specializes in the spine.

When should I be worried about Lower Back Pain?

You should be concerned and seek immediate attention from doctors that specialize in the spine when you experience any of the following with your lower back pain:

• It lasts more than 3-4 days
• You have lower back pain more than 1-2 times a month
• It radiates down the legs into the feet
• It radiates into the groin or testes
• It increases when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or strain at the stool
• It radiates up the spine
• It radiates into other regions or organs
• Along with the LBP, you also have an associated fever
• You lose some control of your foot, called foot drop
• You lose control of your bowels or bladder

Remember, it’s not normal for your lower back to hurt. If you overwork the muscles in your lower back, they can be sore for 36-48 hours. So, if your pain persists longer than that you should seek the advice of a doctor that specializes in the spine like the doctors at PCH Chiropractic in Dana Point.

What can I do to relieve my lower back pain?

The things that can help lower back pain are as varied as the different causes of Lower Back Pain. There have been several studies that have pointed to favorable outcomes for Lower Back Pain and chiropractic care. Our doctors have the expertise and the experience to know if your Lower Back Pain can be helped. Other more natural things that can be helpful for Lower Back Pain include rest, ice, stretching, pilates, yoga, acupuncture, and posture correction. In some rare cases, surgery may be necessary, but that should be a last resort after all other avenues of care have been exhausted.

What causes Lower Back Pain?

There are various causes of Low Back Pain. One of the more common causes is changes to the alignment of the spine. When the bones of the spine (vertebrae) shift out of their normal alignment they can put undue pressure on the nerves, discs, spinal cord, and other tissues causing Lower Back Pain. This is called a Vertebral Subluxation. Studies have pointed to the favorable effects of chiropractic care when Lower Back Pain is caused by conditions like Vertebral Subluxations. The doctors at PCH Chiropractic in Dana Point are experts in the correction of Vertebral Subluxations and have helped patients with Lower Back Pain.

Some of the other causes of lower back pain can include:

• Bulging or Herniated Intervertebral Discs
• Muscle Strain
• Postural Deformity
• Infection
• Referred pain from another area
• Spinal Stenosis
• Arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Sprain/Strain
• Muscle Spasms