Low Back Pain

General

Low back pain is very common. As many as 80% of the population will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Problems in the lower back can manifest in different ways. Many people complain of a nagging pain or a stiff back, but the pain can also be felt as a nerve pain (e.g. radiating into the legs). To understand how back pain develops, one must first learn more about the anatomy of the lower back.

Anatomy

The lower back consists of 5 lumbar vertebrae. Between each of these vertebrae sits an intervertebral disc, which acts as a shock absorber. At the back, the vertebrae are connected to each other by two joints, one on the left and one on the right. Various muscles run along the spine, which among other things ensure that we can remain sitting and standing upright and can move.

The pelvis forms the base on which the spine rests and bears the body weight. The pelvis consists of a central triangular part (the sacrum) that forms a joint on each side with the two hip bones. These joints are held together by strong ligaments and are called the Sacro-Iliac joints (SI joints).

Complaints

The complaints that arise in the lower back depend on the structure where the problem occurs. The muscles, joints and intervertebral discs at the level of the lumbar vertebrae can each cause complaints. Although complaints may seem almost identical, the causes are often different. A proper diagnosis is therefore very important. Since different causes often require different treatments, sufficient time must be taken during the examination. A neurological chiropractor is fully trained to identify the correct cause and then treat it accurately.

Causes

Causes of low back pain or pelvic pain can be divided into gradual and sudden.