ask the experts
By Dr. John Jaskot and Dr. Juliana Haddad-Jaskot
Question: I am 45 years old and I have been experiencing lower back pain off and on for a few years now. I think I am in reasonably okay shape. Lately, I have noticed that I cannot move around as freely as I once used to. Doc, I am still young, why do I have back pain?
Answer: Lower back pain is very common. It affects 8 out of every 10 people and is the third leading cause of morbidity and disability in today’s society. Pain is a warning sign that something is wrong. If you ignore it, it could get worse with each progressing episode. Begin by listening to your body and find out what is causing your back pain. This way you could get help in treating the cause and not just masking the symptom.
Different areas of your spine and nervous system can be responsible for your discomfort. Mainly, when your nerves are irritated, they will let you know by giving you…pain! Nerves along your spinal column can become irritated when your spinal joints are moving improperly. This dysfunction can cause your joints to work harder and less efficiently. Over time this can cause fewer nutrients to reach your discs, which can then degenerate over time. Either joint degeneration or disc degeneration can be a source for pain. The muscles and holding elements (ligaments) deeper along your spine can begin to shorten and weaken. If compounded by injury, muscle strain and scar tissue could develop.
So remember, if you don’t move as well as you once used to, or you experience episodes of back pain, but think it will “go away”, it probably will. But it could come back worse. Your chiropractor is a trained doctor and expert on the spine and will be able to let you know the source of your pain. Better yet, he/she can help correct your current condition without drugs or surgery and help restore function, and enhance and maintain your spinal mobility. Remember… your mobility is linked to your longevity. A healthy spine is yours for life.
Dr. John Jaskot and Dr. Juliana Haddad-Jaskot have been in practice for 20 years and provide ergonomic office assessments as well as clinical spinal and postural evaluations. They can be reached at: Dr. John Jaskot, Thornhill Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 905-886-9778. Dr. Juliana Haddad-Jaskot, Markham Town Square Health Centre, 905-940-9988 ext. 4. www.chiro-docs.com. info@chiro-docs.com.
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
