Low Back Pain has many different causes and is hard to pinpoint precisely. It is frequently neuro-biomechanical in nature from such things as slack abdominal muscles, subluxation, poor posture, pregnancy, bone or joint disease, cancer, arthritis, stress and specific working conditons. Acute back pain is also called lumbago and is defined by a sharp pain so bad you remain hunched over, unable to straighten.

Your chiropractor will treat low back pain by relieving your muscle spasms and improving the nerve supply and blood circulation to the affected area. With a pulled muscle, relief will come rapidly but stretched ligaments will take somewhat longer. Lesions to the intervertabral disks will need more elaborate treatment.

Signals to watch for: (3 or more, see the chiropractor)

• Has the low back pain lasted longer than 24 hours.
• Stiffness in the lower back upon awakening.
• Do you experience lower back fatigue as the day wears on?
• Pain in the low back when you turn over in bed.
• Discomfort in the low back after sitting for more than an hour.
• Sneezing or coughing causes pain in your low back or legs.
• Have you stopped doing any sports or activities due to back pain?
• Do you assume a unique position to lift objects to avoid back pain?
• FOR WOMEN: Do you have low back during your period?
• FOR MEN: With low back pain, do you have trouble urinating or feel the need to urinate more frequently than usual?