Common Ailment, Uncommon Cure

Lower back pain is one of the most commonly shared ailments suffered by adults, with about 90% of Americans experiencing issues with low back pain during their lives. As uncomfortable and inconvenient as lower back can be, it can be that frustrating as well, given that in most cases, a specific underlying disease or injury will not be found.  So, those who suffer from this ailment will also have to manage through what is often a long process of finding the right solution for their particular back issues.

That said, there are known causes of back pain, including injury, disease, and structural malformations of the spine, hips and other bones. Pregnancy can also cause back pain, as can menstrual cramps. Certain other specific conditions like kidneys disease, bladder or pelvic infections and appendicitis is also associated with back pain. Fibromyalgia is also associated with lower back pain.

There are also causes that tend to result in more chronic, long-term pain, such as a herniated disc in the lower back. These types of disc issues result in nerve impingement, such as with sciatica, which causes sharp pain in the lower back, and often leg numbness.

Trauma, of course, is also a known cause of lower back pain.

It is not always easy to know when to seek treatment for your lower back pain; the answer to that question can vary from situation to situation. However, pain that persists for more than a couple of days should always be examined, in particular if you have suffered a physical trauma.

The range of home care options is wide, including taking over the counter medication such as Advil, Motrin or Nuprin (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen).  You can also try sleeping with a pillow between your legs, applying deep heating ointments, and alternating hot and cold packs.  Some people have pursed surgical options to repair issues that are causing their chronic lower back pain from herniated discs and sciatica, but these options have proved to provide mixed results.

Where at all possible, exercise is recommended, as remaining in bed can lead to other medical issues including muscle atrophy, depression and blood clots. Exercise might seem like the last thing in the world you will want to do when suffering back pain, but it can also be the way out of the pain you are experiencing.

Muscle Balance Therapy is based on understanding that imbalances in the strength and/or flexibility of adjacent muscle groups can cause posture alternations that lead structural misalignment, which in turn, results in chronic pain. The principles behind this understanding have been in practice for thousands of years. The Muscle Balance Therapy system starts with an evaluation of the muscles that impact stability in your hips, pelvis and spine.

Based on the results of the assessment, an individual plan to regain balanced muscle flexibility strength is developed, and exercise plan created for your particular muscle imbalances.

Living with pain is not a choice you have to make. The Muscle Balance Therapy system will allow you to go forward in your life not just free of pain, but healthier and more vital.