Low Back Pain Treatment – Osteopathic Care – Dr. Brett Thomas DO

Your spine is your body’s pillar. It’s the foundation for your head and neck, shoulders, ribs, hips and legs. Built from individual vertebra, the spine is divided into four major sections: cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), lumbar (lower back) and sacral (bottom area and tailbone).

Low back pain has a number of causes, including stress, muscle spasms and strain, and bulging disc or herniated discs.

Stress, especially chronic stress, can have a negative effect on your body. Besides increasing your blood pressure and heart rate, stress tightens your muscles, putting pressure on the lumbar vertebrae.

Muscle spasms and strain are common to overworked or overextended muscles, especially those not used to regular exercise. Weak muscles that are overused, or used improperly (such as bending to lift a heavy object incorrectly), can cause lower back pain. One twist in the wrong direction can put pressure on vertebrae or cause painful inflammation.

Like shock absorbers, discs cushion each individual vertebra and soak up everyday stress. A bulging discoccurs when a disc extends beyond the space it normally occupies between the vertebrae, sometimes causing pain as it presses on surrounding nerves.

Another cause of low back pain may be a herniated disc. Sometimes a disc cracks and the soft cushiony center leaks out. Although herniated discs never completely heal, chiropractic care decreases the risk of further damage.

Lower Back Pain Treatment in Orlando and Surrounding Areas

When experiencing low back pain, muscle relaxers and bed rest may lessen painful symptoms but they do not correct the reason for the pain. Dr. Brett Thomas will diagnose the reason for your low back pain and adjust lumbar vertebrae positioning. He will also show you relaxation techniques, correct posture and proper body mechanics to help avoid lower back damage from stress and strain.