One morning in September I woke up with low back pain, you know, the kind that has you bent over as you walk around. Since this has happened to me before, I pretty much knew what I had to do to recover and feel better. I know, it’s kinda funny – “oh you are a chiropractor, and you have back pain, hahaha”. Well folks, it happens to all of us, and guess what? Chiropractic is not about relieving low back pain, it’s about health!
Low back pain is one of the most common complaints people face—it can show up after sitting too long, lifting something heavy, pregnancy, stress, or even “out of nowhere.” While it’s frustrating (and sometimes scary), the good news is there are natural ways to support healing and get back to living comfortably.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain include poor posture or long hours of sitting; muscle tension or weakness; imbalance in the spine or pelvis; or even stress (yes, it can literally tighten your muscles!). You don’t always need a particular thing that happens, most often it just appears and it’s so frustrating!
A key to healing is knowing what to do! Staying still is one of the worst things, so for me, I started stretching, rolling on a trigger point ball, getting my body moving and I got adjusted. Sure, it was stiff, but it loosened up as the day went on, and within a day I was feeling better.
Here are some more specific tips on natural ways to heal:
- Chiropractic Care: Gentle adjustments help realign the spine and pelvis, reduce pressure, and improve mobility. The person who adjusted me used Activator, as anything else may have been too much. Flexion Distraction also can work really well.
- Movement & Stretching: Walking, gentle yoga, and core-strengthening exercises keep your muscles engaged and supportive.
- Trigger point therapy: rolling on a trigger point ball, lacrosse ball and/or foam roller can help break up the muscle spasm. It hurts, but it helps.
- Heat & Ice Therapy: Heat can relax tight muscles, while ice helps calm inflammation.
- CBD or Arnica: I put CBD cream on my low back, as I wasn’t able to ice it all day long and it’s great for when you have to get on with your day (we sell Simply the Best CBD and T-Relief)
- Mind-Body Support: Stress management techniques like breathwork, meditation, or even just mindful breaks can reduce tension.
- Ergonomic Habits: Small changes like adjusting your chair, using a lumbar pillow, oor standing to work can take strain off your back.
Sometimes X-rays or an MRI are necessary, especially if it’s the first time it happens to you. That’s certainly a case-by-case situation. For repeated events, knowing your body and how to heal is key.
Your body is designed to heal—but it sometimes needs support. Addressing the root cause, rather than just masking symptoms, is key to long-term relief. With gentle chiropractic care, simple daily habits, and mindful movement, you can get back to feeling and functioning your best—naturally.
~ Dr. Pam
