Raymond Solano, DC, CCSP

Back pain is something we are all likely to experience at some time in our lives. Depending on the severity, you may have to miss work, a big game, or even time with your family. There is nothing more frustrating than a physical ailment preventing you from doing the things that you enjoy.

A question that I get very often is, “Why did my back go out?” From my experience working with all types of patients, your back pain can be a result of one of 2 things. Your back pain can either be a result of a “macro” trauma or a “micro” trauma.

Let me explain. A “macro” trauma is when you unexpectedly suffer a bad fall, auto accident, or sports injury to your spine. In other words, you go from a state of optimal well being to a sudden state of dis-ease. The most frustrating part is that you never expected it to happen. A “macro” trauma often time places axial compression on your spine and generates an inflammatory response. The inflammation then produces pain and loss of mobility. In severe cases, delicate nerves can become affected and loss of function to the extremities can occur. Most of the time, a patient will be able to describe what produced the “macro” trauma, which makes the treatment approach clear and favorable.

The other type of trauma is “micro”. A “micro” trauma is when structural changes take place in your spine over a longer period of time. It can be from 6 months to even 5 years before you develop any symptoms. Small changes over a period of time occur slowly, therefore you sometimes don't notice or take them seriously. Factors that can produce these “micro” traumas can be poor posture, unsupportive pillows, inappropriate foot wear, poor diet, and even smoking. These factors over time can create degenerative changes (arthritis) to your spine. These type of degenerative changes can produce a gradual onset of pain that only worsens. An effective way to confirm degenerative changes in your spine is through an x-ray. When I was interviewed in the Washington Post several years ago, I made a statement that “Good bone health comes from good overall health”. This still holds true.

A patient in the office that has suffered a “macro” trauma more than likely will know what caused his/her back to go “out”. On the other hand, the patient that presents with a gradual onset and suffered a “micro” trauma often times does not always know. A visit to our office will help you not only with a sudden onset of back pain, but assist you with lifestyle changes necessary to prevent those gradual changes from happening!