McDonough Chiropractic Care and Local News

Is Your Back Pain Sciatica? Your McDonough Chiropractor Explains

Sciatica and Lower Back Pain are two completely different conditions that need to be treated in different ways.

 

Patients often confuse the two because they are very similar.

 

Sciatica is often thought to be back pain because it can produce pain in the lower back. 

 

This is why sciatica tends to be misunderstood. 

 

Not everyone experiencing low back pain will have sciatica, and not everyone with sciatica will necessarily have back pain. 

 

Still, it's possible for those suffering from sciatica to have low back pain. 

 

It's essential to know the difference between a low back pain condition and sciatic nerve pain so you can be treated accordingly.

 

 

In the article below, we will discuss sciatica and low back pain and your best treatment options.

 

 

Table of Contents

• Sciatica
  
• Low Back Pain
  
• The Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough

 

Sciatica 

Sciatica is an intense pain that shoots down from the low back and down the leg, and even to the ankle or foot. 

 

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed, which will cause inflammation, pain, or numbness. 

 

This is what ultimately sets it apart from regular low back pain. 

 

Sciatica often occurs at the same time as low back pain, but they are not interchangeable. 

 

Sciatica can be excruciating and will typically affect only one side of the body. 

 

The pain caused by sciatica can range from a dull, mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation that can become excruciating pain. 

 

Some patients have described sciatica as an electric shock or jolt from the low back down the leg. 

 

Sciatic nerve pain can worsen with coughing, sneezing, or prolonged sitting, and most often, the pain is only felt on one side of the body. 

 

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Low Back Pain 

Low back pain is most often experienced near the waist and can be centralized or off to one side of your back. 

There is an endless amount of reasons someone could have low back pain. 

 

The low back structures that most often produce back pain are the muscles, joints, and discs. 

 

The pain can also vary greatly. Some people complain of a constant dull ache, while others can't sit or stand without extreme pain. 

 

The onset of low back pain can come from a sleeping position or even stress. Or, being involved in an accident and suffering a trauma will cause low back pain to occur. 

 

Almost everyone will suffer from back pain at some point in their life.

 

The best way to know if your low back pain is sciatica is to pay attention to your symptoms. 

 

If your pain is localized to one side of the body and is traveling into your buttock and leg, your back pain might be sciatica. 

 

 

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The Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough

If you are suffering from Low Back Pain or Sciatica, you should seek an experienced Chiropractor. 

 

Chiropractors specialize in the musculoskeletal system and use adjustments and spinal manipulations to re-align the spine and help the body restore its normal function. 

 

Our McDonough, GA Chiropractor and their team will perform an in-depth exam to determine the source and cause of your back pain. 

 

Having your condition or injury properly diagnosed it crucial to recovery. 

 

Our chiropractors will know if your back pain is sciatica so we can come up with a treatment plan that will treat the source of your pain. 

 

If you have back pain, you should not put off treatment. 

 

Waiting around and hoping your pain will go away on its own could prolong your recovery even further when you seek treatment. 

 

The Doctors at Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough are highly committed to helping each patient return to their normal lives and activity levels. 

 

Let our experienced Chiropractors in McDonough help you. 

 

Click below if you'd like to schedule a free consultation to see how our experienced Doctors can help with your recovery. 

 

Heal Your Back Pain Naturally With Chiropractic Care in McDonough

More than 80% of adults will experience back pain in their lives.

 

Your back and spine support most of your body's weight, so when you have back pain, it affects your entire body.

 

Things we take advantage of like walking, running, sitting, and standing can be difficult if you're experiencing back pain.

 

Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen that you can use to ease the pain, but they don't treat the root cause of your problem.

 

And many people don't want to put their body through the side effects that come with pain medications.

 

Luckily there are natural remedies that can help in the fight against back pain.

 

 

In the article below, we will discuss some natural remedies for back pain that people have the most success with in McDonough.

 

 

Table Of Contents

• Exercise Stimulates Muscles
• Get Enough Sleep
• Engage Your Brain
• Chiropractic Care
• Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough

 

Exercise Stimulates Muscles

Exercise is likely the last thing on your mind when you have back pain.

 

It definitely can be challenging to get up and exercise while you're dealing with back pain.

 

Yoga, water exercises, any low-impact activities, or a short walk can help with back pain.

 

Exercise loosens tense muscles and releases natural endorphins, your brain's natural painkillers.

 

Starting a daily exercise program, including strength training and stretching, could be in order if you have chronic back pain.

 

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Get Enough Sleep

A lack of sleep can cause a variety of health issues, including back pain.

 

Research shows that sleep disturbances can make your pain worse.

 

Lack of sleep also affects how much pain a person can tolerate.

 

An uncomfortable bed, pillows that are the wrong size, or a lack of sleep could all become triggers for back pain.

 

Adults should aim for about 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

 

Sleep quality is also essential.

 

Proper comfort and alignment of your back are essential for sleep quality.

 

Your pillow should keep your back and neck in a straight line.

 

If you like sleeping on your side, you should put a pillow between your knees.

 

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Engage Your Brain

There's been an understanding for a while that pain is not absolute.

 

Pain is much more complicated than that.

 

The way your brain processes and interprets pain signals has an essential role in how pain is perceived.

 

Luckily you can develop your brain skills to reduce or even ignore pain signals.

 

Developing these skills will go a long way toward influencing your pain.

 

Chronic pain can also make it impossible to get any rest and keep you in a sour mood.

 

Doing three simple things that you enjoy every day, like having a 

coffee, reading a good book, or walking your dog, can make the pain more tolerable.

 

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Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is an all-natural alternative approach to back pain treatment.

 

Regular chiropractic treatments focus on spinal manipulation and spinal alignment to aid in pain management and stimulate the body's natural ability to heal itself.

 

The spine's realignment can reduce pressure on the central nervous system, allowing your body to function at a high level.

 

Your first visit to your chiropractor in McDonough will include a physical evaluation as well as gathering your medical history.

 

They will ask you to describe your symptoms, and they can order imaging tests to help them understand your condition better.

 

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The Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough

During your initial visit, your chiropractor with the Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough will develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs.

 

The best thing about chiropractic care is that it doesn't have any unwanted side effects similar to pain killers and surgery.

 

If you're interested in seeing a chiropractor in McDonough, but don't know where to start, contact the back pain chiropractors at Arrowhead Clinic.

 

They will get you started on a treatment plan with a chiropractor right away, and if your back pain is the result of an accident, they can refer you to a lawyer as well.

 

Click the button below for your free consultation.

 

Your McDonough Chiropractor Can Help Prevent Back Pain As You Age

As you've grown older, has it seemed like your back pain has gotten worse? 

 

As we age, back pain develops as a result of how you live your life. 

 

So, if you lead a very healthy lifestyle, then you will most likely remain pain-free longer. That makes sense.

 

But as we age, our bodies can eventually go through a lot, and pain is sometimes unavoidable.

 

Living a healthy life and taking precautions now to protect your health in the future gives us the best chance to stay pain-free.

 

The decisions we make when we are younger can result in long-term benefits for your back, among many other things.

 

Our spines are exposed to years of wear and tear over the years, so it comes as no surprise that the bones and discs will start to degenerate at some point. 

 

This is what causes the natural aches and pains you may experience in your back during your golden years. 

 

This process may seem unavoidable, and back pain is inevitable, but there are quite a few precautions you can take in your early life to help deter and potentially prevent back pain in your later years.

 

 

In the article below, we will discuss the precautions you should take while you are younger to prevent back pain as you age.

 

 

Table of Contents

• Healthy Lifestyle Practices
• Maintain a Healthy Diet
• Exercise Regularly
• Practice Good Posture
• Contact The Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough

 

 

 

Healthy Lifestyle Practices

Living a healthy lifestyle is vital to living back pain-free. 

 

Aging is the number one cause of back pain in later life, so it seems like there's nothing you can do.

 

Applying these three easy tips into your everyday life could prevent age-related back pain or even prevent it entirely! 

 

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Maintain a Healthy Diet

It is becoming more and more common for Americans to be overweight.

 

Many children and young adults are already developing back pain because of it. 

 

Typically, degenerative changes and arthritis are symptoms that are only commonly seen in adults and the elderly.

 

But now, younger people are displaying these inflammatory processes because of being severely overweight.

 

However, being thin does not automatically equate to being healthy. 

 

In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, it is essential to eat nutritious foods and a well-balanced diet. 

 

Eating a balanced diet will ensure that you are receiving all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to keep it healthy. 

 

Building healthy bones is not impossible if you eat the right foods.

 

The type of food you eat will strengthen your body and help prevent bones, like your spine, from degenerating with age. 

 

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Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is just as beneficial for your body as your diet. 

 

Exercising can reduce the stress that causes tension in your back and neck and keep your body loose and flexible and your muscles strong. 

 

Although exercising is hugely beneficial for your back and body, overdoing it can be very harmful. 

 

Attempting to do exercises that are too difficult or lifting weights that are too heavy can damage your muscles and cause soreness in your lower back.

 

You can also overtrain by working out too much, but this typically happens with professional athletes and weightlifters.

 

Just remember to treat your body like a temple, because it's all you've got. 

 

Being reckless when you are young will make life harder when you're older. 

 

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Practice Good Posture

To keep your back healthy as you age, you absolutely need to practice proper posture.

 

If we aren't lying down, we are either sitting or standing, so posture is critical. 

 

If we are practicing poor posture for the bulk of our lives, our muscles will quickly become accustomed to this and adjust accordingly. 

 

So, for example, if you sit in a slouched position, your muscles will become shorter and shorter. 

 

The tightness of your muscles will pull your body forward, which can lead to the remolding of your back, ultimately resulting in pain. 

 

That's why you need to be mindful of your posture so that you can be sure you aren't sitting or standing in a way that is harming your body.

 

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Contact The Arrowhead Clinic of McDonough

If you are already experiencing back pain, don't give up just yet, because back pain is treatable at any age and should not be ignored.

 

Chiropractic care is an amazing way to treat and prevent back pain, no matter how old you are. 

 

If you live in McDonough, GA contact Dr. Robbyn Keating with Arrowhead Clinic today.

 

Dr. Keating offers free consultations to all of her first-time patients.

 

To set up a Free Consultation with Dr. Keating, Our McDonough Chiropractor, click the button below so she can help you improve or prevent back pain as you age!