Low back pain is one of the most common health complaints worldwide, affecting people across all ages, occupations, and lifestyles. Studies estimate that up to 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives, with approximately 20-30% of adults reporting symptoms in any given year. It is a leading cause of doctor visits, workplace absenteeism, and disability in America.
While low back pain is more common in adults aged 30-60, younger individuals and seniors are not immune, especially with modern sedentary lifestyles and increasing physical demands in certain professions. The global burden of low back pain continues to rise, driven by factors like aging populations, poor ergonomics, and inadequate physical activity.
The human spine, while remarkably engineered, is vulnerable to stress and strain because it supports the body’s weight, facilitates movement, and protects the spinal cord. Today’s lifestyles weaken the lower back and expose this vulnerability—prolonged sitting, poor posture, obesity, and lack of regular exercise weaken the muscles that stabilize the spine. Additionally, repetitive motions, heavy lifting, or sudden awkward movements can overtax the lower back, leading to injury. Many believe it’s just age to blame, and although that plays a role, it’s not just the years but how hard those years have been.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation with the Doctor, Orthopedic/Neurologic Evaluation, X-Rays (if needed), and Problem focused therapies.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Discover
Discover the transformative power of chiropractic care with our Health Freedom Plan. At Ruby Mountain Chiropractic Center, we believe true wellness begins with freedom—freedom from pain, freedom from limitations, and freedom to choose a natural, holistic approach to your health.
2. Patch
Under our Health Freedom Plan, the “Patch” option is designed for those seeking immediate relief from pain and discomfort. Through traditional chiropractic adjustments, this approach targets spinal misalignments, tension, or injuries that disrupt your daily life.
3. Fix
The “Fix” option, also part of our Health Freedom Plan, takes a deeper, more transformative approach to spinal health. Instead of just alleviating pain, this method aims to restructure the spine back to its natural, healthy alignment.
How We Treat Lower Back Pain In Elko, NV
Chiropractic Treatment for Low Back Pain
Treating low back pain promptly is critical to prevent it from becoming chronic. A new injury to the low back, often caused by muscle strain or minor injury, typically resolves within a few weeks with proper care. However, delaying treatment can lead to compensation and altered movement patterns, where other parts of the body overwork to avoid pain, potentially causing secondary injuries. Early intervention can reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and prevent the pain from becoming constant and chronic.
Early chiropractic intervention helps maintain functionality and mental well-being. Low back pain can limit work, exercise, and social activities, leading to frustration, isolation, or depression. By addressing symptoms early, individuals are more likely to return to normal activities and avoid the economic and emotional costs of prolonged disability. Most importantly, timely care can prevent the need for invasive treatments, like surgery, which may be required if conditions like disc herniation or spinal stenosis worsen.
The Anatomy of the Lower Back
The lower back is a complex structure of muscles, ligaments, joints, and discs that allow it to function properly. Dysfunction in any of these components can lead to pain. Muscles allow for proper movement of the lower back and also play a role in stability and balance. It’s very common for people to have “muscle imbalances” that can lead to long-term structural problems.
Ligaments stabilize the bones but can change over time and essentially hold the lower back in a bad position. Worse yet, they can fail under stress and create instability in the area.
Spinal discs are gel-cushioned structures that sit between the bones or vertebrae of the lower back. They, too, are subject to stress and can fail in the form of a herniation or bulge. Although the disc has pain receptors, most disc-related pain is from the portion of the disc putting pressure on the nerves that exit nearby or the spinal cord right behind the disc.
The Effects of Chronic Low Back Pain
Untreated low back pain can have far-reaching effects on the body, transforming a temporary issue into a chronic condition. Persistent pain can alter the nervous system, increasing pain sensitivity and making even minor movements feel excruciating—a phenomenon known as central sensitization. This can lead to a vicious cycle where fear of pain reduces activity, further weakening muscles and stiffening joints, which exacerbates discomfort.
Untreated low back pain often causes compensatory changes in posture and gait, placing abnormal stress on other areas like the hips, knees, or upper back, potentially leading to additional pain or injury. If left long enough, structural changes of the spine can occur. Chronic low back pain is also linked to systemic issues, such as poor sleep, weight gain from reduced activity, and elevated stress hormones, which can impair overall health. Over time, these effects can diminish quality of life, limit independence, and increase reliance on medications or medical interventions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be worried about lower back pain?
Pain is your body’s alarm system, alerting you to a problem. It is also the last symptom to arise, which means by the time you’re in pain, your body has already been dealing with an issue for some time.
What can I do to relieve my lower back pain in Elko, NV?
Chiropractic care is the best medicine for low back pain. Our natural, noninvasive approach targets the underlying cause of pain. This allows for pain relief, but better yet, it improves overall health and function while preventing the pain from recurring.
What causes lower back pain?
Poor posture, disc injury, spinal misalignment, muscle strain or tension, and repetitive motion are some possible causes of low back pain. Identifying and correcting the underlying cause is the only way to get long-term relief.
Why won’t my lower back pain go away?
Chronic low back pain indicates that you are treating the symptoms rather than the cause. Until you correct the cause of your pain, the symptoms will continue to come back.
Can a Chiropractor in Elko, NV help with lower back pain?
Yes! Our natural, non-invasive, targeted approach ensures the fastest, most effective recovery so you can get back to doing the things you want, love, and need to do.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation with the Doctor, Orthopedic/Neurologic Evaluation, X-Rays (if needed), and Problem focused therapies.
