Back pain affects almost everyone, from time to time. In fact, a huge chunk (roughly 80% of the population, by some estimates) of people experience at least one episode of severe back pain in their lifetimes. 

However, there is a big difference between the various types of back pain. In this article, we will discuss the issue of chronic low back pain as compared to acute back pain. Additionally, we will outline some of the best treatments for this condition, one of which is chiropractic care.

Acute vs. Chronic Low Back Pain

With any condition, one of the most important aspects is the chronicity of the issue. Generally, this refers to how long the malady has affected the person. While the timelines are not exact, we generally refer to conditions that last only a few days as “acute” and those that last two weeks or longer as “chronic”.

Additionally, we use some subcategories to describe chronicity, such as “subacute”, which refers to conditions that last between a few days and two weeks.

We think of acute issues as less debilitating, as they often resolve completely after a short rest period. On the other hand, chronic issues can affect a person for months or even years. This may lead the person to withdraw from activities and it may also cause a decreased quality of life. For this reason, we need to figure out the cause of, and the solution to, chronic back pain.

Causes of Back Pain

There are so many underlying issues that can lead to chronic back pain. For instance, lifestyle factors, such as activities like gardening or lifting heavy weights every day, can lead to chronic low back pain over time. 

Additionally, being overweight and maintaining a poor diet can put stress on the low back, due to the extra load and inflammatory issues caused by these respective elements. Sadly, the issues of obesity and unhealthy eating seem to only be getting worse across the globe. We are seeing health declines in almost every country, primarily due to people maintaining excess body weight.

Another major cause of chronic back pain is trauma. When a person has been in a car accident, suffered a sports injury, or otherwise experienced a form of trauma, they may develop chronic pain in their backs.

But while the causes of back pain vary widely, the solutions can be fairly straightforward when the patient seeks care from the right practitioner. In the next section, we’ll look at some of the best treatments for chronic back pain. 

Treatments for Chronic Back Pain

When it comes to pain of all types, lifestyle changes go a long way toward decreasing symptoms. Specifically, eating better foods and exercising are simple solutions that can help to significantly reduce back pain.

Best of all, it really doesn’t take much of a change to reap the benefits of exercise and diet modification. For instance, if you simply walk around your neighborhood for 30 minutes a day and eat fewer calories, you can lose weight in a sustainable way, taking stress off of your back slowly but surely.

Also, chiropractic care can help decrease chronic low back pain with just a few treatment sessions. By manipulating your spine in specific ways, your chiropractor can help you realign your spine, decreasing pain and improving function throughout the whole body. 

Don’t let your back pain hold you back from living your life. Regardless of whether your back pain is acute or chronic, your local Lithia, FL chiropractor can help you today. Contact the team at At Last Chiropractic to book your appointment!