Back Pain Carrollton, TX

What Causes Low Back Pain?

Low back pain is mostly caused by a herniated disc. A disc is a rubbery cushion that sits between the bones that stack to make up the spine. When a part of the disc pushes out through a tear in the outer layer, it causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the arm or leg.

There are several disc problems that can arise with the same frustrating pattern. Each problem develops on its own. The following are the conditions that we most often treat at our chiropractic office. 

• Sciatica down one or both legs
• Herniated discs breaking through
• Bulging discs from gradual aging
• Degenerative disc disease
• Protruding discs after a fall or crash
• Irritated muscle and ligament attachments

A bulging disc is caused by aging. The disc pushes out, but it doesn’t break through the outer wall. When the disc does break through the wall, it’s called a herniated disc. When the disc dries out and thins, it’s called degenerative disc disease. It shows up clearly on your X-rays. Protruding discs, on the other hand, are often the result of trauma, like a fall or crash. 

What Back Pain Signs Can Indicate They’re Coming from a Disc 

You may have back pain, but it may not always mean it’s coming from a disc. That’s why you can’t diagnose it from the couch. There are certain patterns that can point to a disc, instead of just a muscle strain. The following are symptoms that can tell you the pain originates in the disc. A certain exam and X-rays can tell what’s actually going on inside your lower back. 

• Pain that travels down one side of the legs or both
• Shooting pain, instead of a dull ache
• Numbness and tingling that travels into the leg or foot
• Pain that started after you slip, fall or a car accident
• An imaging report stating a bulging, herniated, or thinning disc
• Back pain that has been around for months or years without fading

When you have low back pain, the discs aren’t the only culprits. Muscles and ligaments are also part of the problem. Muscles are attached to the bone through tendons and ligaments. These attachment points along the spine can be a source of pain. It’s one reason we use shockwave therapy here at Dallas Spine Center for our patients suffering from low back pain. 

What Happens to Your Back Pain After Your Visits? 

Before you come in, you will be sent a link so you can enter your personal information online. When you arrive, the front desk will just bring you to a consultation room where you’ll meet Dr. Nguyen. 

During the consultation, you’ll tell him the actual location of the pain, when it began, and how long it’s been causing you pain. Dr. Nguyen will also ask about the severity of the pain and the treatment or imaging you’ve tried before coming in. Both vital signs and an orthopedic exam are taken. In some cases, imaging is necessary to identify the root cause, and it will be handled in the office during the same visit. 

Dr. Nguyen will go over the findings when your exam is done. If you have back pain without an injury, your treatment can start with the decompression table. But if it’s a disc problem, you’ll undergo spinal decompression, which is done at the same first visit. This is to relieve the pressure on your pinched nerve. 

If you’re dealing with a car accident or a personal injury case, you’ll undergo X-rays to document your injury. X-rays can tell whether your injury is new and related to the crash or accident. Your treatment will start after that. To know the overall process, check out our auto accident care page.

How Decompression and Shockwave Therapy are Chosen by Dr. Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen will choose decompression and shockwave therapy after you’ve gone through an orthopedic evaluation and X-rays. These tests will tell our chiropractor how compressed your disc is and how hard it is pressing on your nerve. From there, Dr. Nguyen will develop a treatment program around one of these tools. In some cases, you may need both. The choice depends on whether the main cause is inside the disc or the tissue surrounding it.

When Spinal Decompression is More Appropriate 

Spinal decompression is more appropriate in bulging and herniated disc conditions. This treatment includes a DRX9000 bed that pulls the vertebrae in the opposite direction. Doing so lowers the pressure inside your disc. The pressure change causes a vacuum. It draws in water, nutrients, and oxygen to restore the disc while retracting it away from the nerve. 

You can be an ideal candidate for this therapy if you have a bulging or herniated disc but no bone-on-bone degeneration or osteoarthritis. The age range for it is from the mid-30s to the 80s. The typical session can last between 28 and 30 minutes. We follow the protocol of 20 to 28 treatments that offer the most success. Dr. Nguyen will measure your progress through outcome assessments at the start, middle, and end of the plan. 

When Shockwave Therapy Fits Your Condition 

Shockwave therapy involves the use of a device that sends sound waves into the affected tissue that has been stuck in a chronic stage. It targets the areas where muscles are attached to the bone through tendons and ligaments. What this therapy does is that it creates a micro-injury. It prompts the body to restart its healing ability by delivering and sending more repair cells and collagen to the affected area. 

You’ll feel discomfort when the device touches the injured attachment. This is where the treatment is focused. Based on your tolerance level, we’ll adjust the intensity. Shockwave therapy is also ideal for sciatic and herniated disc pain. This is also helpful if you’re managing degenerative disc disease when spinal decompression isn’t ideal. 

Pain Relief Along the Way 

Your plan may also include other therapies that can calm your pain while your main treatment is doing its job. This means that Dr. Nguyen may add these treatments to your plan: Hako-Med, a TENS unit, infrared, a heat pad, or electrical muscle stimulation that relaxes your tight muscles and reduces spasms. If you need regular adjustment, Dr. Nguyen uses drop table techniques. 

Will You Need to Visit Our Office Forever?

No, you don’t have to visit our chiropractic office forever. When Dr. Nguyen finds the root cause, he’ll lay out your plan. Most treatments can last around two months. He’ll reassess your situation after every session. If you’re not improving, either you’ll undergo an MRI or he’ll refer you out. 

Once you’ve completed your recommended number of sessions and you feel better, you can move to a maintenance schedule. This can be every two months or once a year. It’s your choice. Most of our patients choose to keep coming back for their maintenance schedule because they want to stay at their best. 

Back Pain Signs That Require Medical Care First

Most back pain isn’t an emergency. But some symptoms indicate that you need to see a medical doctor first. If you have the following symptoms, we recommend that you go to an emergency room. 

• New and severe back pain
• New tingling, numbness, or leg weakness
• Loss of balance and difficulty walking
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Pain that keeps getting worse
• Midline spine tenderness after a fall
• Severe chest, abdominal, or pelvic pain
• Signs of a concussion or head injury

These are symptoms that require medical care, as they can indicate a fracture, a spinal cord problem, a vascular injury, or another condition. You need to go to an emergency room or see a medical doctor. Dr. Nguyen won’t treat you if you have these symptoms. 

Back Pain FAQs