Back Pain
Many people struggle with lower back pain, and it is a major contributor to lost time at work as well as a significant cause of disability.
Dr. Dancy and his team strive to help you reduce pain levels, regain mobility, stay on your feet, and be productive.
What causes lower back pain?
Lower back pain has differing symptoms and many different causes. Often, the type of pain a patient is experiencing gives clues to the cause of the pain.
Pain that is isolated in the lower back and follows hard work, strenuous lifting, sudden movement, or other physical activity is likely caused by muscle strain. The pain might be sudden and severe, or dull and achy. Moving can become difficult and the area tender to the touch, as the muscles and ligaments are stretched and have small tears.
Sciatica is the name for pain that exists in the lower back but also has sensations that extend into the buttocks, legs, or feet. It suggests a problem with the sciatic nerve and comes from pressure exerted on the nerve, possibly due to spinal disc damage, narrowing of the spinal column space, or weakened or inflamed muscles. Pain can be severe or subdued, and typically comes with a reduced range of motion.
How is lower back pain treated?
Treatment depends on the cause of the pain. Dr. Dancy starts with a diagnosis, informed by a physical and neurological examination, plus tests for range of motion, tender spots, and other weaknesses. He might also order X-rays, and assess how you walk and carry yourself.
After pinpointing the problem, Dr. Dancy offers several treatment options including spinal manipulation, soft tissue massage, and chiropractic mobilization — low velocity movement and stretching of joints in the problem area.
Can lower back pain be treated without "cracking"?
Yes. In fact, the cracking sound often associated with chiropractic adjustments isn't necessary for an effective treatment. A by-product of joint movement, it's called joint cavitation. While many patients find it feels good and indicated tension release, there are several chiropractic manipulation techniques that don't use cavitation.
Just let Dr. Dancy know if you'd prefer not to "crack," and he'll adjust your treatment plan accordingly!
Herniated Discs
Herniated discs can cause pain, weakness, or numbness. Some people may experience no symptoms, but that doesn't mean there isn't damage being done.
Dr. Dancy treats minor disc problems safely and non-invasively, as most cases do not require surgical intervention.
How do discs become herniated?
Usually they result from age-related deterioration. This is called disc degeneration, as discs lose moisture, are less flexible, and more prone to damage. Most herniation occurs in the lower back, so a lifetime of poor lifting habits or overwork could contribute to the problem. A sudden event could cause a herniated disc, but this isn't very common.
Extra body weight, strenuous jobs or hobbies, and genetics seem to be the largest risk factors for herniated disc development.
What problems do herniated discs cause?
Pain, numbness, and weakness are the 3 most common symptoms stemming from disc problems, as the deformed disc presses against nerves in and around the spinal column. Over time, these symptoms may get worse if the disc is left untreated.
Depending on where the damaged disc is located, patients may have bladder and/or bowel dysfunction because of nerve pressure. The disc may produce a condition called "saddle anesthesia," where parts of the body that would normally rest on a saddle become numb from the herniated disc.
How are herniated discs treated with chiropractic care?
Dr. Dancy uses both orthopedic and neurological components. He'll check reflexes, muscle strength, and signs of wasting, as well as loss of sensation along the paths of affected nerves. Your whole spine will be examined, because the site of the pain might not be where the problem is originating from. He also conducts posture and gait analysis, and takes X-rays for a better view of what's happening internally.
Some disc herniation can't be treated through chiropractic care, although this is rare. Cauda equina, the nerve problem that causes bladder and bowel issues, is one of these cases. However, most herniated discs respond well to chiropractic adjustment, and a treatment plan may include other therapy and exercises to add support to the problem areas of the back.