Lower Back Pain Specialist

McGowan Medical Centers

Chiropractors located in Jacksonville, FL

Lifting that box, picking up that kid, or moving that laundry basket can result in something that's more than just a little back problem. Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek help from a chiropractor. It’s not surprising that a recent study proves that spinal manipulation by licensed chiropractors like Dr. Royce McGowan, Dr. Shelita McGowan, and Dr. Kwame Jenkins at the McGowan Spinal Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville, Florida is the most effective treatment for acute lower back pain.

Lower Back Pain Q & A

Why does my lower back hurt so much?

The lower back gets a huge workout every day from the moment you get out of bed, and if you get out of bed the wrong way, it starts there. That part of the body bends, twists, and supports your entire spinal column and upper body.

You’re not alone if you suffer from lower back pain. It’s one of the main reasons why people miss work, and it’s one of the most common causes of disability for people under the age of 45. Inflammation in the discs, strains of the muscles in the lower back, and injuries to the spine and tendons can cause the shooting and throbbing pain.

Muscle spasms and sprained ligaments can be caused by lifting something large, or even very small. It’s the twisting or frequent irritation that causes the pain. Even stress can cause back aches. Stress causes blood pressure to rise, and the body becomes flooded with stress hormones that tighten the muscles. The constant tension makes the muscles weak, especially in the lower back.

A herniated disc can also cause low back pain. A recent study shows that nearly half of all adults have at least one bulging disc, but they don’t necessarily have any back pain because of it. When you do have the pain, you know it, and it needs to be treated.

How can a chiropractor help my back pain?

Lower back pain is what Dr. Royce McGowan, Dr. Shelita McGowan, and Dr. Kwame Jenkins at the McGowan Spinal Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville, Florida do best. Some of the ways they can help include:

  • Spinal adjustments
  • Stretching manipulations
  • Spacing the vertebrae
  • Relaxation exercises
  • Using the decompression machine

What is the decompression machine and how does it work?

The McGowan Medical Centers experts champion such non-surgical therapies like the use of the spinal decompression machine, which is known to help lower back pain.

Whether the cause is a pinched nerve or sciatica, this table can help relieve the pressure, and the pain, from the lower back. The spinal decompression technique is an FDA-approved method to help increase blood flow to the area of pain. It’s non-invasive and quite gentle.

The way it works is you’re strapped fully clothed to the table so that as it moves, there’s a force applied to a specific area of the spine, such as a compressed disc. The force is applied with intermittent periods of relaxation, and that motion gently pulls the spine apart and creates a small vacuum within the disc. That allows nutrients and fluids back into the disc to relieve pain. The treatment works over time, and lets the disc heal and reshape itself.

While there remains a lot to know about treating back pain, it’s widely known that if left untreated, back pain will return, and sometimes be more serious than before.