Kansas City Treatment for Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain has been around forever, but the number of people seeking treatment for lower back pain has risen in recent years. In fact, back pain is now the single leading cause of disability in Kansas City and 80% of Kansas City’s population will experience some form of lower back pain in their lifetime.
One of the most-common causes of lower back pain is Sacroiliac Joint (SI) dysfunction. In fact, in Kansas City, 3 in 10 will experience pain due to a misaligned SI Joint.
What is the SI Joint?
We each have two sacroiliac joints on either side of the pelvis (or hip bone). They are formed by two bones: the sacrum and the ilium. While each SI joint provides some movement, it’s main job is to provide your body with stability, especially when you’re walking or standing.
When you stand, your sacrum wedges into the pelvis joint and locks you into place. This tight lock creates a firm base for your spine.
But, when you sit, you lose this stability since your sacrum is no longer locked into the pelvis. With the increase in computer-based jobs that require several hours of sitting each day, there has been a direct increase in Kansas City patients seeking treatment for lower back pain.
What Causes SI Joint Pain?
Sacroiliac pain is caused by stress or irregular movement in the sacroiliac joint. Poor posture while sitting or standing, bad sleeping habits and auto injuries are also common culprits of SI joint pain.
Several muscles and ligaments surround and support the SI joint, so when the joint is misaligned, they can be a source of sacroiliac pain and inflammation.
Common Symptoms of SI Joint Dysfunction
- lower back pain
- sciatica (sciatic nerve pain)
- hip pain
- pain that worsens with long periods of inactivity (such as sitting or standing)
- pain that results from bending forward, climbing stairs or standing up
- pain that is worse during menstration for women
Treatment for Lower Back Pain Resulting from SI Joint Dysfunction
To determine the most effective treatment, a chiropractor will consider the duration and severity of the pain. A physical and neurological exam as well as X-rays and/or an MRI (if needed) will help your chiropractor determine the severity of the dysfunction and the best course of treatment for lower back pain symptoms.
During the acute phase of care (first 2 weeks) your Kansas City chiropractor may prescribe ice/heat, specific stretches (in addition to those Dr. Spoonemore explained in the video, above) and gentle chiropractic adjustments to help restore normal motion to the joint.
Physical therapy will also help to heal and restore stability to the injured muscles and ligaments surrounding the SI joint.
The Kansas City chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic specialize in treatment for lower back pain and sacroiliac pain. Open 7 days a week, they provide Kansas City with emergency chiropractic care at a fraction of the price of a visit to the emergency room. Schedule an appointment online or learn more about how they treat and prevent lower back pain.