Back Pain

Misalignments in your vertebrae and tissue inflammation are common causes of back pain. If you’re struggling with a bad back, visit Steven Zimmerman, DC, of Zimmerman Chiropractic in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Zimmerman uses advanced chiropractic techniques to realign the spine, reducing pain and inflammation and promoting tissue healing. To benefit from fast relief of back pain, call Zimmerman Chiropractic today or book an appointment online.

What is back pain?

Back pain is often due to spinal problems affecting the vertebrae, discs, joints, connective tissues, and muscles that form the spinal column. Your spinal cord sits inside a tunnel formed by the vertebrae (the spinal canal). This cord is a central hub to which all the nerves around your body connect.

The spinal cord connects directly to your brain, sending and receiving signals to and from the nerves. These nerves spread out from the spinal cord to cover almost every part of your body, so the spinal canal is full of nerve roots. Problems with your spine can cause nerve compression or damage, resulting in pain.

Back pain caused by nerve compression often causes symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning, prickling, and weakness, depending on which nerves are affected. Pain and other symptoms travel from your spine to other parts of your body, following the path of the affected nerves. For example, lower back nerve compression causes symptoms in your legs.

What might be causing my back pain?

Dr. Zimmerman performs a detailed physical exam to identify what’s causing your back pain. Common causes include:

• Subluxations (spinal misalignments)
• Muscle strains
• Ligament sprains
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Facet joint arthritis
• Trigger points (knotted muscle fibers)
• Vertebral compression fractures
• Scoliosis (abnormal spinal curvature)
• Spinal stenosis (narrowed spinal canal)
• Bone spurs

Sometimes back pain results from non-musculoskeletal causes, such as kidney infections and pelvic inflammatory disease.

How is back pain treated?

After your evaluation and physical exam, Dr. Zimmerman prepares a personalized treatment plan to resolve the cause of your back pain rather than just reducing your symptoms.

Chiropractic adjustments are usually one of the primary treatments for back pain. Dr. Zimmerman aims to align your spine, relieve nerve compression, and restore proper function to your musculoskeletal system. There are various chiropractic techniques that he might use, including:

• Graston Technique® (instrument-assisted adjustments)
• Activator Method® (manual manipulation)
• Thompson Technique™ (drop table)
• Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique® (B.E.S.T)
• Sacro Occipital Technique® (using custom wedge-shaped blocks)

Dr. Zimmerman is a Gonstead® chiropractor. That means he looks at every aspect of your body, including nerve dysfunction, spinal misalignments, and foundational imbalance, to find the source of your back pain.

Patients benefit from exercise instructions they can follow at home to stretch and strengthen their back. Dr. Zimmerman also provides nutrition advice, as your diet is vital for promoting healing and building a healthy body.

To find out how chiropractic care can resolve your back pain, call Zimmerman Chiropractic today or book an appointment online.