man in office setting suffering from back pain while working at a laptop

Back Pain Relief in Silverdale

Back pain can make everyday activities difficult, from sitting at your desk and getting out of bed to working, exercising or simply finding a comfortable position.

This common type of discomfort has many different causes, and the location and type of symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person. At Clark Chiropractic, we evaluate your symptoms, movement and overall health to help figure out what’s contributing to your back pain and whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.

Whether your discomfort is in your upper, middle or lower back, we’re here to help you understand your options.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT

What Causes Back Pain?

Back discomfort can develop for a lot of different reasons. Sometimes there’s an obvious injury behind it. Other times, symptoms build gradually until one day they’re just there.

Common factors that may contribute to back issues include poor posture, prolonged sitting, repetitive movements, lifting, bending or twisting, and muscle strain. Joint irritation, sports or work-related injuries, age-related changes and auto accidents or other traumatic injuries can all play a role too, along with other conditions affecting the spine or surrounding tissues.

Because there are so many potential causes, understanding when the discomfort started, what makes it better or worse, and whether you have other symptoms can help your provider figure out the right next step.

Upper, Middle and Lower Back Pain

Back discomfort isn’t always located in the same place, and where it shows up can tell you something useful about what’s going on.

Upper Back Pain

Upper back discomfort is generally felt between the base of the neck and the bottom of the rib cage. It’s often tied to prolonged sitting, poor posture, repetitive activities, muscle tension or an injury.

People who spend long stretches at a computer or frequently look down at their phones tend to notice more tension through the upper back and shoulders. Upper back discomfort can also show up alongside neck symptoms or headaches.

Mid Back Pain

Mid back discomfort, sometimes called thoracic back pain, occurs around the middle portion of the spine. It may be related to posture, repetitive movements, lifting, sports or an injury.

Because the middle back connects the upper and lower portions of the body and works with the rib cage, pain here can sometimes affect movement or make certain activities uncomfortable.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common types of back discomfort, and it can affect your ability to sit, stand, walk, work or exercise comfortably.

It can develop after lifting or twisting, from repetitive activities or prolonged sitting, or following an injury. Lower back discomfort sometimes occurs alongside symptoms extending into the hip or leg. If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling or other symptoms traveling into your leg, your provider may evaluate you for conditions such as sciatica or nerve irritation.

Back Pain After a Car Accident

A car accident can place sudden, unexpected forces on the body. Even when there’s no obvious injury, the impact can affect the muscles, joints and other structures of the back.

Back discomfort following an accident may involve the upper, middle or lower back. Some people notice symptoms right away, while others don’t develop them until later, sometimes days afterward.

You may experience soreness or stiffness, reduced range of motion or muscle tenderness. Symptoms that change with sitting, standing, driving or movement, or that extend into the hip or leg, are also common after a collision. If you’ve been in an auto accident and you’re dealing with new or worsening back pain, it’s worth having your symptoms properly evaluated.

Adrenaline and the body’s immediate stress response can temporarily make it harder to recognize certain symptoms, which is part of why back discomfort after a crash doesn’t always show up right away. If new symptoms develop after an accident, let your provider know when the accident happened and when they began.

Back Pain Isn’t Always Caused by an Injury

While injuries can certainly contribute to back discomfort, you don’t have to have been in an accident to experience it.

Everyday habits play a role too. Sitting for long periods, lifting improperly, repetitive movements and certain work or recreational activities can all place stress on the back. In some cases, discomfort may also be associated with changes in the spine or other underlying conditions.

That’s why it’s worth looking at the bigger picture rather than assuming every case has the same cause.

When Should You Have Back Pain Evaluated?

Occasional soreness after an unusually strenuous activity may improve with time. Persistent, recurring or worsening back discomfort deserves a closer look.

Consider having your back evaluated if symptoms continue or keep returning, if they’re interfering with work, sleep or daily activities, or if your range of motion has become noticeably limited. The same goes if your discomfort began after an accident or injury, if you’re experiencing numbness or tingling, if symptoms are traveling into your hip, buttock or leg, or if you’re simply unsure what’s causing them.

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, significant weakness, loss of coordination or loss of bladder or bowel control require prompt medical attention.

woman on couch clutching back pain

How Chiropractic Care May Help

Chiropractic care may be appropriate for people experiencing back discomfort related to musculoskeletal issues.

Your care at the practice starts with an evaluation. We’ll discuss your symptoms and health history and assess your movement and other relevant findings. From there, your doctor may recommend chiropractic adjustments or other services available at the office, such as massage therapy, cold laser therapy or spinal decompression.

Your care plan is based on your specific situation rather than approaching every case the same way.

What an Evaluation Involves

When you come to Clark Chiropractic for back pain, we want to understand more than simply where it hurts.

We’ll ask about when your symptoms began, what you were doing when they started and whether there was an injury or accident involved. We’ll also want to know what activities make your symptoms better or worse, whether they travel into another area, and whether you’ve noticed any numbness, tingling or weakness. Previous injuries, past episodes of back discomfort and how your symptoms are affecting your daily activities all help round out the picture.

A physical exam helps us better understand your movement and the areas contributing to your symptoms. Digital X-rays are available in the office when clinically appropriate, and if your symptoms suggest additional testing is needed, we’ll recommend the right next step. You can learn more about our approach and the doctors behind it before your visit.

What Our Patients Say

You Won’t Regret Care

Since the fall of 2011, I have received chiropractic care from Dr. Stephen Clark for recurring neck and lower back pain. The care Clark Chiropractic provides includes manual and mechanical adjustments, massage therapy, and the use of chiropractic tools to aid in successful treatment and recovery. The doctors provide a dynamic, personable experience with each visit. They take the time to explain what they feel and see, how they want to proceed with the treatment and why the approach will benefit my condition. I always get greeted each visit with a smile and a hello; the clinic staff is very professional and courteous. The environment inside the clinic is comfortable and welcoming. With numerous choices in the country for neck and back care, you will not regret the decision to visit Clark Chiropractic!

Scott D.

What a Miracle I Thought…

After 30 years of suffering with constant pain and four surgeries for Spinal Stenosis, a friend took me to see Dr. Clark. I had never been to a chiropractor before and was doubtful, because I have been told by my spine surgeons not to go to a chiropractor, but I was in so much pain that I was ready to try anything.

Sandra R.
Read more of Sandra’s story

Much to my surprise, after just one visit, I saw an obvious improvement. My back pain was greatly reduced. I could hardly believe it! I walked very carefully for the next two days thinking I might do something to make the pain come back. But at the second visit not only had the major back pain NOT returned, but all the other pains in my neck, legs and hips also disappeared!

I still wonder how that little machine could take away all that pain I had been suffering with all these years. Now after just a few short weeks, I can walk farther and stand longer than I had in 20 years. I also have more endurance. What a miracle I thought…. I am still marveling at the fact that I can reach, bend and lift without pain. I am now doing things that I had not done in years. How I would love to tell those surgeons that I have found a much better way to live than spending 12 weeks at a time recovering from their surgeries which only lasted a few weeks before the pain returned. Believe me, I am completely sold on Dr. Clark’s chiropractic procedures that have given me a new lease on life.