Back Pain Treatment in Fountain Valley

low back pain relief with chiropractic care

If you are living with chronic back pain then chiropractic care in Fountain Valley might be a good treatment option. Almost everyone will experience some form of back pain, ranging from slightly irritating to completely crippling, in their lifetime. Whatever the degree of pain you are experiencing and whether it is acute or has become chronic, at the very least you would probably rather live without it. In the most extreme cases in can be difficult to go on living with it. This article aims to help you to understand what causes lower back pain, and how chiropractic treatment can help you achieve lasting back health so that you can go on enjoying those walks in the park.


patients seeking care

Many patients seek care for the treatment of pain. Often it is due to back pain somewhere between the base of the neck and the base of the spine near the beltline. While pain between the shoulder blades or in the middle of the back can be nagging or constant in nature, lower back pain can be debilitating and unfortunately life changing.
Back pain usually has a musculoskeletal cause such as a muscle strain or a pinched nerve. In its more serious cases it can be caused by a bulging (or inaccurately called a “slipped disc”). Minor back strains of muscles typically heal in seven to ten days and happen when we over-exert or go beyond what the muscle can withstand (such as in an injury). Back pain that persists more than a couple weeks often has a more serious underlying cause. If a vertebra in the spine becomes misaligned, or what is termed “subluxated”, a strain is put on the muscles and ligaments around the joint (the meeting of two vertebrae). This constant strain produces pain and often pinches the nerve exiting the spinal column. This pinching can produce pain locally to the misaligned vertebra or refer pain to another area such as down the leg in cases of sciatica (pronounced “sy-at-ic-a”).
In our Fountain Valley office, our goal is to determine if you have a Chiropractic problem or if you need to be referred to another health care provider. If you appear to have a problem we typically handle, we will do an examination and take x-rays if it is indicated. If yours is a case we can accept, we will recommend what it will take to relieve the pain and more importantly resolve the cause of the problem.
Treatment will include one or more of the following: specific spinal adjustments done by hand and with a low-force instrument (to realign the spine… usually painless!), ice or heat as indicated, massage and home care recommendations such as stretching and strengthening.

Back Pain in Fountain Valley

The back is a broad term that covers a large area of the body. It is made up of many tendons, ligaments, discs, muscles, and bones. Without a solid understanding of these different parts, it can be complicated to locate and address the source of the pain. The following explains some of the most common issues and their identifying features. It also explains how chiropractic medicine can help to resolve them. This is a general guideline to help you in your quest for effective treatment, but we highly recommend that you seek a professional opinion to properly diagnose these issues.


Disc Bulges and Herniations

Disc bulges and herniations are conditions in which the outer edges of the discs, located between the vertebrae, are damaged. This causes the jelly-like center to bulge or be pushed out. This is a surprisingly common issue and it is often, but not always, very painful. Many people who have this condition feel nothing at all. The quality and intensity of it, for those who experience pain, depends on the type and position of the herniation. If the damaged disc is irritating a surrounding nerve, shooting or stabbing pain along with weakness in the legs is often severe.

It is important that this issue is properly identified and promptly treated to avoid further damage. A chiropractor in Fountain Valley will thoroughly assess your back to determine the extent of the issue and the appropriate treatment to prevent worsening of the herniation, and provide relief from the associated pain.


Subluxations

Subluxation is a medical term describing a misalignment in the vertebral column. There are a wide variety of causes, including physical stress, trauma, and toxins. Subluxations are often quite painful and can disrupt normal movement. Subluxations are one of the most commonly overlooked contributors to back pain. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct this issue using non-invasive adjustment techniques.


Muscular Sprains and Tendon or Ligament Strains

Strains and sprains most typically occur when we engage in tasks that our body is not accustomed to, or when we are involved in an accident. Lifting while twisting, or stretching past one's limits are common causes to strains and sprains of the back. These can be extremely painful, and are often accompanied by swelling and bruising of the surrounding area. Strains and sprains in the back tend to involve changes to the alignment of the spine and typically respond well to chiropractic care.


Stress and Back Pain

Chronic stress wreaks havoc on the body, and can eventually lead to hyper-tension and chronic back pain. The back pain is a result of tension and muscle spasms that occur when stress hormones are released. The tension will often accumulate in what are referred to as trigger points. These trigger points can be extremely painful and need professional attention to resolve. Chiropractors have the knowledge and tools to relieve stress from trigger points and to deal with underlying nervous system imbalances that may be keeping your body locked in patterns of stress and pain.


Other Issues that Cause Back Pain

Conditions such as obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections have been shown to cause symptoms of lower back pain. These are all serious issues that need to be identified and treated immediately to avoid long-term health issues. Fountain Valley chiropractic doctors are trained to identify these issues and support you in getting the appropriate treatment. Many of these issues can have their source in spinal misalignments and respond well to chiropractic adjustments.

If you have questions about how our team at Stark Family Chiropractic can help you, please schedule a consultation today.

OFFICE HOURS


Monday
9:00am - 12:00pm
2:00pm - 6:00pm


Tuesday
9:00am - 12:00pm
2:30pm - 6:00pm


Wednesday
9:00am - 12:00pm
2:00pm - 6:00pm


Thursday
9:00am - 12:00pm
2:00pm - 7:00pm


Friday
By Appointment Only


Saturday
Closed

Stark Family Chiropractic
17922 Magnolia Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 887-7009