What is back pain?
Back pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States, causing people to seek help from their doctors and miss work. Dr. Whitehouse recognizes the need for back pain care, and he diagnoses, treats, and helps patients prevent back pain.
If you have back pain, you may experience muscle aches or burning, stabbing sensations in and around your spine.
Though symptoms may subside over time, you should contact Dr. Whitehouse if your pain persists past a few weeks, spreads down one or both legs, causes numbness or tingling in your legs, or causes unexpected weight loss.
What are common causes of back pain?
Back pain has many causes, which can be chronic or acute and range in severity. They include:
Bulging or ruptured disc
The soft material inside the discs that sit between the vertebrae of your spine can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. You may develop a bulging or ruptured disc due to trauma or age-related wear-and-tear.
Arthritis
Arthritis in the spine or osteoarthritis can affect your lower back. In some cases, it can lead to a narrowing of your spine around your spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
Subluxation
A subluxation results when a vertebra in your back moves out of place due to stress, age-related changes, or physical trauma.
Strains and sprains
You can strain your back muscles or sprain your ligaments from frequent heavy lifting or making awkward movements, which typically results in intense back pain.
Dr. Whitehouse typically diagnoses these conditions through a physical or neurological exam. If necessary, he may seek X-rays, an MRI or CT scan, blood tests, or nerve studies for further analysis.
How is back pain treated?
When you visit Eric Whitehouse DC to find relief from your back pain, Dr. Whitehouse first tries to determine the underlying cause of your pain.
Specializing in chiropractic services, Dr. Whitehouse provides spinal adjustments to realign your spine, trigger point therapy to release painful and tense points in your muscles, and manual traction therapy (stretching your neck and back) to relieve pressure on your spine.
He also teaches you therapeutic exercises that can strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, increase flexibility, improve your posture, and prevent back pain from recurring. To receive the most effective results, you should regularly practice these techniques.
To learn more about your back pain treatment options, call Eric Whitehouse DC or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.
