Here are some things to know if you are experiencing back and neck pain, either persistently or intermittently:

1) The area known as “the back” is very complex and interconnected – problems in one area sometimes lead to pain in another. Back pain can originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities.

Having a health care provider who specializes in navigating and treating those complex systems will go a long way toward getting lasting relief.

2) Back pain is one of humanity’s most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain is the fifth most common reason for physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.

Our office successfully treats numerous patients whose cases involve back pain, so we are experienced in finding the cause and dealing with it, rather than simply masking the symptoms.

3) Many problems make themselves known with neck pain. Common causes of neck pain include muscular tightness in the neck or upper back, or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae. Joint disruption in the neck creates pain, as does joint disruption in the upper back.

Neck pain can be caused by numerous other spinal problems as well. This is one reason that neck pain should be addressed with a whole-body approach to problem solving. Chiropractic care is ideally suited to solving these types of complex, interdependent problems.