Your Chiropractor Lawrenceville GA Explains How Bone Density is Associated with Low Back Pain

Thinning of bones are not actually seen or felt and you may not even notice that you have thin bones until a bone breaks. When your bones become brittle, you may have a high risk for a bone fracture by just doing your daily activities and experience usual events such as lifting an object, slipping, and missing a step. And when your bone breaks, it is not surprising that you will experience low back pain due to compression fracture. When you have low back pain, you may experience hindrances with your everyday activities and suffer other consequences including kyphosis or dowager’s hump posture and loss of height. Your chiropractor Lawrenceville GA can help reduce the risk of low back pain from low bone density and offers treatment for low back pain as well.

What Is Low Bone Density?

Low bone density, otherwise known as osteopenia in medical term is characterized as a bone mineral density that is lower than normal peak. Women, particularly those who are middle-aged and postmenopausal are the ones commonly affected by low bone density. Approximately 40% of postmenopausal Caucasian women have low bone density and proportion of these women will go on to develop osteoporosis, with a high risk of bone fractures.

“Recycling” of the Bones

Bones constantly recycle themselves to maintain their strength. In bone resorption process, certain cells called osteoclasts break down and absorb old bone. The other cells called osteoblasts replenish the old bones in the process of bone formation. These cells construct new bone material to maintain the strength of the bone. Low bone density occurs when bone resorption occurs faster than bone formation, resulting to thinning of bone and in severe cases, may result to osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue leading to bone fragility and increased fractures of hip, spine, and wrist.

Low Bone Density and Back Pain

There is a close association between low bone density and back pain. The classic condition and cause of spinal pain associated with the loss of bone density is spinal compression fracture. The bones lose strength over time and the lumbar vertebrae, particularly in postmenopausal women, can be fractured or compressed from a simple fall or from the stress of lifting or daily activities. The strength of the bone decreases to a point where slight trauma or even no trauma whatsoever can result to a fracture.

Vertebral Compression Fracture

A vertebral compression fracture takes place when the bones of the spine become broken usually due to trauma. In certain circumstances, elderly people and those with cancer, the bones can break with little or no force. Those at the lower back region are the vertebrae that are most commonly broken. Pain from a vertebral compression can be severe. Compression fractures may show no symptoms and only be discovered when x-rays of the spine are done for other reasons. Symptoms such as back pain, loss of height, and kyphosis may appear over time. The vertebra carries the weight while sitting or standing, therefore there would be less pain during bed rest.

Studies have shown us that the probability of incurring additional vertebrae fractures is increased once you have already experienced one, even if you do not have low bone density. It also suggests that about 20% of older women who experience spinal fracture will experience another such fracture within a year.

How to Cope with Low Back Pain Due to Low Bone Density

Decreased bone mass and decreased strength and elasticity of muscles and ligaments normally occur as a part of aging. They cannot be avoided but they can be slowed and can also be prevented from getting worse by exercising regularly to keep the muscles that support your back strong and flexible, maintaining a proper posture, avoiding smoking, and receiving chiropractic treatment regularly from Lawrenceville GA chiropractic care. Most cases of low back pain respond well to chiropractic treatment.

What is DEXA?

DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scanning is used to predict brittle bone conditions. IF a DEXA T-score ranges from -1.1 to 2.4, it may indicate osteopenia while if it ranges from 2.5 or higher, it may indicate osteoporosis. DEXA scanning can also help identify if a patient is at risk, before it becomes a problem.

What is FRAX?

A newer bone imaging technology, FRAX is a computer-based algorithm that provides 10-year probability of fractures in men and women on the basis of classic risk factors alone or by integration of classic risk factors with bone mineral density measured by DEXA.

The Solution for Low Back Pain and Bone Density

A proper diagnosis can help in finding out if a chiropractic adjustment would be beneficial as a part of back pain treatment. Patients with severe back pain are usually referred to chiropractors by their doctors, although a doctor’s referral is not necessary. Patients can go directly to chiropractors for treatment. Early identification and intervention is the key to such health concern. Prevention of low back pain and high risk of serious conditions due to low bone density can be prevented by consulting your Lawrenceville GA chiropractor. Your trust and confidence in choosing the services of your Lawrenceville chiropractor is highly appreciated.