Why Does My Back “Go Out” Without Any Warning?
Have you ever bent down to pick something up as light as a pen and your back goes into intense spasm, making it impossible to stand up straight again? Was the pencil really heavy enough to induce all that pain in your back? No, of course not. It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak.
The discs between your spinal vertebrae do not have a lot of nerves supplying them, so until you get a full disc herniation, you may not have any pain even with a significant amount of tissue damage. Over time you get micro tears in the disc fibers from improper lifting techniques or other stresses on your back. If the tears reach the middle of the disc, the nucleus pulposus, a fluid-like center protrudes to the surrounding fibers and nerves. It is kind of like acid on a wire. All of a sudden, you feel excruciating pain and your muscles spasm to try and limit the damage that has already occurred.
How do the micro tears happen and how can I prevent them?
Micro tears in your discs happen because of decreased flexibility and stiff muscles and ligaments. They also occur from increased load on your spine with improper lifting techniques. Here are a few things that you can do to prevent damage to your vertebral discs:
- When lifting, flex at your hips rather than your back and keep the natural curve in your low back while lifting with your legs.
- Avoid lifting and twisting.
- Carry heavy objects as close to your body as possible.
- Slowly move around in the morning when you first wake up to increase the flexibility of your ligaments.
- Strengthen your low back muscles. Ask your chiropractor about exercises they recommend.
- Practice good posture and ergonomics at work and at home.
Avoiding a herniated disc is the best solution, however if it has already happened to you, chiropractic care has been shown to get great results in reducing pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation related to disc herniations. Do not let an injury debilitate you. Regain your quality of life and go see your chiropractor today!
Dr. Visentin is a Denver Chiropractor of Care Chiropractic specializing in safe, effective and natural back pain relief.
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is intended for your general knowledge. It is not to be used as a substitute for professional advice, or for treatment for a specific condition. Always seek the advice of a professional Chiropractor or other qualified health care provider with questions you may have regarding any condition.
