Personalized Care for Lower Back Pain
Low back pain can make everyday activities—from getting out of bed and sitting at work to exercising, driving or picking up your children—more difficult. At Total Health Chiropractic in Coralville, IA, we evaluate low back pain to better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and which treatment options may be appropriate. Dr. Dillon Hammes, Dr. Andrew Donnelly and the Total Health Chiropractic team work with patients experiencing new injuries, recurring flare-ups and persistent lower back discomfort. Our goal is not simply to focus on where it hurts, but to evaluate how your spine, joints, muscles, posture and movement may be contributing to the problem.
What Causes Low Back Pain?
Lower back pain can have many possible causes, which is why an evaluation is important before determining the appropriate approach to care. Symptoms may develop after lifting, repetitive activity, prolonged sitting, sports, an auto accident or another injury. Other patients cannot identify one specific event that caused their pain. Disc problems, joint restriction, muscle strain, poor movement patterns, posture, degenerative changes and irritation involving nearby nerves may all contribute to lower back symptoms. Pain may remain localized in the lumbar region or occur along with stiffness, muscle tightness, hip or buttock discomfort, or symptoms that travel into a leg. When low back pain includes radiating pain, numbness, tingling or weakness, further evaluation can help determine whether nerve involvement may be contributing to the symptoms.
A Thorough Low Back Pain Evaluation
Effective treatment starts with understanding the problem. At our Coralville office, we review your health history, symptoms, previous injuries and activities that make your pain better or worse. Your examination may include assessment of spinal and joint movement, posture, mobility and orthopedic or neurological findings when appropriate. Total Health Chiropractic also has digital X-rays available in-house, allowing our doctors to obtain spinal imaging when your history and examination indicate that X-rays may provide useful clinical information. Not every patient with back pain requires imaging, and your doctor will determine whether X-rays are appropriate based on your individual presentation.
Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain
Depending on the findings of your examination, chiropractic care may be recommended as part of your treatment plan. Chiropractic treatment focuses on the relationship between spinal movement, joint function and the musculoskeletal system, with care tailored to the individual patient. Treatment recommendations can vary depending on whether your symptoms are associated with an acute strain, recurring mechanical back pain, restricted movement or another musculoskeletal problem. Learn more about our chiropractic care in Coralville and how Total Health Chiropractic approaches spinal health, mobility and function.
Spinal Decompression and Other Treatment Options
Some patients with low back pain have symptoms associated with disc problems or nerve irritation. When clinically appropriate, spinal decompression therapy for low back pain may be considered for conditions such as bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc problems, sciatica and certain forms of chronic back pain. Total Health Chiropractic offers IDD Therapy® spinal decompression at our Coralville office. Other supportive therapies may also be incorporated into an individualized plan. For certain musculoskeletal conditions, cold laser therapy may be considered as a non-invasive treatment intended to support tissue recovery and help manage inflammation and discomfort. Your examination helps determine which therapies, if any, are appropriate for your particular condition.
Low Back Pain After an Auto Accident or Sports Injury
The way low back pain begins can provide important information about the structures that may be involved. If your symptoms started following a collision, our auto accident injury treatment in Coralville focuses on evaluating musculoskeletal injuries that may occur after a crash, including lower back pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion. Active adults and athletes can develop low back pain from repetitive movement, overuse, lifting, training or an acute injury. Our chiropractic care for sports injuries is designed to evaluate the injury while also considering movement, strength and the demands of the activities you want to return to.
When Should You Have Low Back Pain Evaluated?
Consider scheduling an evaluation when lower back pain keeps returning, is getting worse, limits normal movement or interferes with work, sleep, exercise or everyday activities. An evaluation can also be helpful when pain extends into the buttock or leg or is accompanied by numbness, tingling or weakness. For non-emergency low back pain, determining what may be contributing to your symptoms is an important first step toward choosing appropriate care.
Low Back Pain Care for Coralville and the Iowa City Area
Total Health Chiropractic is conveniently located at 2201 E. Grantview Dr., Suite 202 in Coralville, Iowa. We provide low back pain evaluations and chiropractic care for patients throughout Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, Tiffin, Solon and surrounding Johnson County communities. Whether your back pain developed recently or has been interfering with your life for months or years, our team can evaluate your symptoms and discuss treatment options based on your individual needs. Schedule your appointment online or call (319) 338-7025 to get started.
Low Back Pain FAQ
Low back pain can be associated with muscle strain, restricted spinal or joint movement, prolonged sitting, repetitive activity, lifting, poor movement patterns, sports injuries, auto accidents, disc problems, degenerative changes and nerve irritation. Because several conditions can produce similar symptoms, an examination can help identify factors that may be contributing to your pain.
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain types of mechanical and musculoskeletal low back pain. A chiropractor can evaluate spinal and joint movement, posture, mobility and other factors before determining whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate for your condition.
Not everyone with low back pain needs X-rays. Imaging may be recommended based on your health history, symptoms, examination findings or history of injury. Total Health Chiropractic has digital X-ray capabilities in-house at our Coralville office when imaging is clinically appropriate.
Spinal decompression may be appropriate for some patients whose lower back symptoms are associated with conditions such as bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc problems, sciatica or certain forms of chronic back pain. An examination is necessary to determine whether spinal decompression is appropriate for your condition.
Pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg may indicate irritation involving a nerve, although there are other possible causes. Symptoms such as radiating pain, numbness, tingling or weakness should be evaluated so the source of the symptoms can be better understood.
Yes. The forces involved in an auto accident can affect muscles, joints and other structures of the lower back. Symptoms may occur immediately or become more noticeable after the accident. An evaluation can help determine the nature of the injury and appropriate next steps.
Total Health Chiropractic is located in Coralville, IA and serves patients from Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, Tiffin, Solon and surrounding Johnson County communities. Our office offers chiropractic care, in-house digital X-rays and additional treatment options based on each patient’s evaluation.
