#1 Most Overlooked Cause of Back Pain

Conquering Chronic Back Pain: Understanding the Root Causes and Solutions

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve had it up to here with chronic back pain that simply won’t improve. It’s more than just a discomfort—it affects your work, hobbies, relationships, and even your bank account.

You may have tried every recommendation under the sun: massage, ice/heat therapy, physical therapy, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, or even medication. Yet the results have left you frustrated and without lasting relief.

We understand your pain and frustration. Often, the issue lies in addressing only the symptoms while failing to detect and correct the root cause.

This post will cover some critical information about chronic back pain that you may not have heard before—a perspective that could finally lead to the relief you’ve been searching for.

The Problem with Sitting and Lower Cross Syndrome

Did you know that prolonged sitting can act as a repetitive injury to your body?

This common lifestyle habit is a major contributor to what’s known as Lower Cross Syndrome.

Lower Cross Syndrome occurs when specific muscles in the body develop imbalances due to repeated positioning.

For example:

• Tight and shortened muscles: Hip flexors and hamstrings become overly tight.

• Weak and inhibited muscles: Core muscles and glutes grow weaker.

This imbalance causes the pelvis to tilt and shifts the body’s alignment out of its natural state. It’s then only a matter of time before back pain sets in.

The Cascade of Lower Cross Syndrome

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

1. Repetitive Motion Injury: Sitting for prolonged periods tightens the hip flexors and hamstrings, weakening the glutes and core.

2. Muscle Imbalance: The uneven pull of tight and weak muscles disrupts pelvic alignment.

3. Pain Emerges: These imbalances create stress on the lower back, causing chronic pain and discomfort.

Many practitioners focus solely on treating the pain in the lower back, but the root cause often lies elsewhere in the body—and even higher up the chain than the pelvis.

The Overlooked Cause of Back Pain: Head and Neck Injuries

One of the most overlooked causes of chronic back pain is a previous head or neck injury.

These injuries are more common than you might think and can happen in a variety of scenarios:

• Car accidents (whiplash injuries).

• Sports activities like football (concussions), soccer (heading the ball), or wrestling.

• Gymnastics falls.

• Bicycle accidents.

• Any event where the head and neck are jolted or impacted.

What Happens After a Head or Neck Injury?

When you sustain a head or neck injury, several immediate changes occur in your body:

1. Ligament Damage: The connective tissue that stabilizes your head over your neck stretches or tears, especially the upper cervical ligaments.

2. Cervical Misalignment: The top bone in your neck (atlas) shifts out of position, causing your head to tilt.

3. Muscle Stretching: Suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull are overstretched as a result of this misalignment.

These changes set off a chain reaction throughout the body, as the brain attempts to compensate for the misalignment and maintain equilibrium.

The Role of the Suboccipital Muscles and the Brain

The suboccipital muscles, located at the base of your skull, are among the most sensitive in your body. They contain the highest density of muscle spindle fibers, which act as sensors to detect muscle stretch and send this information to the brain.

Here’s how this process unfolds:

1. Mechanoreceptor Signals: When the suboccipital muscles are stretched due to misalignment, mechanoreceptors send neurological signals to the brain via the spinal cord.

2. Cerebellum Activation: The signal reaches the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination.

3. Vestibular Nucleus Response: The signal also travels to the vestibular nucleus in the brainstem, which works closely with the cerebellum to maintain posture.

4. Postural Muscle Contraction: The vestibular nucleus signals the muscles along one side of the spine to tighten, creating imbalances in muscle tone.

Muscle Imbalances and Spinal Compression

As postural muscles tighten unilaterally along the spine, the body compensates by leaning to one side. This imbalance shifts weight unevenly, increasing pressure on the spinal discs—particularly at L4, L5, and S1.

Over time, this leads to:

1. Disc Bulging: The spinal discs begin to bulge posteriorly, pressing on nearby nerves such as the sciatic nerve.

2. Sciatica: Compression of the sciatic nerve results in pain, tingling, or numbness radiating down the leg and into the foot.

3. Inflammation: The body attempts to heal the damaged disc by sending protein, water, and red blood cells to the area. However, if the injury persists, the disc may continue to degenerate.

The Body’s Last Resort: Calcium Redistribution

When inflammation and degeneration fail to stabilize an injured disc, the body resorts to an extreme measure: stealing calcium from less critical bones (such as the arms) and depositing it around the injured area.

This process creates:

• Bone Spurs: Calcium deposits form around the injured disc, leading to osteoarthritis.

• Loss of Mobility: The affected area becomes rigid as the body sacrifices flexibility for stability.

How NUCCA Care Addresses the Root Cause

The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) specializes in treating head and neck misalignments, which are often the hidden root cause of chronic back pain. By addressing the alignment of the upper cervical spine, NUCCA care helps restore balance and reduce muscle imbalances throughout the body.

The NUCCA Process

1. Assessment: A detailed evaluation, including imaging, identifies the exact nature of the misalignment.

2. Gentle Adjustments: NUCCA practitioners use precise, gentle techniques to realign the atlas (the top cervical vertebra) without forceful twisting or cracking.

3. Posture Restoration: Correcting the neck’s alignment allows the body to naturally restore proper posture and relieve muscle tension.

Benefits of NUCCA Care

Correcting upper cervical misalignments can lead to numerous benefits, including:

• Reduced Spinal Compression: With proper alignment, spinal discs face less pressure, decreasing the risk of bulging or herniation.

• Pain Relief: Muscle tension and nerve compression are alleviated, reducing chronic pain.

• Improved Posture: Balanced alignment promotes proper posture, preventing future imbalances.

• Prevention of Sciatica: By addressing the root cause, the likelihood of developing sciatica is significantly reduced.

Why You Should Act Now

If you’ve been living with chronic back pain, don’t wait for it to worsen. Early intervention is crucial to prevent long-term complications like disc degeneration, osteoarthritis, and reduced mobility.

The first step is scheduling a NUCCA assessment, where Dr. Burt will evaluate your posture, alignment, and overall spinal health to determine whether your back pain stems from a head and neck misalignment.

Conclusion

Chronic back pain is a complex issue that requires a holistic approach to treatment. While addressing the symptoms can provide temporary relief, correcting the root cause is the key to lasting results.

Head and neck injuries, often overlooked, play a significant role in spinal alignment and overall posture. By focusing on the upper cervical spine, NUCCA care offers a unique and effective solution for relieving back pain and improving quality of life.

If you’re ready to explore this transformative approach, schedule your NUCCA Assessment today!

Let us help you uncover the root cause of your pain and take the first step toward lasting relief.

We look forward to speaking with you!