Limit Your Lower Back Pain with an Upper Cervical Adjustment

When lower back pain strikes to a point your doctor has recommended you see a chiropractor, you might be confused about why. After all, if you have lower back discomfort, it seems like common sense to get a back pain chiropractor for that specific part. 

But, the neck, or upper cervical region in medical terms, is responsible for much of the pain that a person experiences in the lower back. Understanding how the channel is connected to the lower back is key to seeing chiropractic care.

Understanding the Upper Cervical Spine Area

Your neck contains seven bones, the smallest bones in your spine. These bones, named C1 through C7, each have an essential job to support your head, which weighs around 11 pounds (that’s how heavy a bowling ball is).

The spine’s upper cervical region is called the occiput (back of the skull), and it contains C1 and C2. The rest of the cervical vertebrae—C3 through C7—are called mid- to lower cervical vertebrae.

Like the rest of the spine, neck vertebrae help you stay upright and support the body’s movements. They also protect the spinal cord.

C1 and C2 are named the atlas and axis — respectively — because they are freely moveable joints that rest under the skull.

So, then, why do you need a back pain chiropractor for an area quite far from your back?

Upper Cervical Spine Area Misalignment

Misalignment in the upper neck area is also called an upper cervical misalignment. This condition in the upper neck can create pressure on other parts of the spine due to abnormal pressure and weight distribution. This can cause mechanical spine problems as your back compensates for the imbalance.

In short, an imbalance in your upper back will impact the mid- and lower thoracic areas, also known as your middle and lower back.

Upper Cervical Spine Misalignment Impacts

This section will explain how this happens before needing a back pain chiropractor. 

Over time, upper cervical misalignment results in pain and degenerative changes throughout the spine. The central nervous system neurologically affects the body from the top moving down. The lowest area of the spine is at the bottom of your body, in your legs, so when there is a catastrophic injury to the lower part of your spine, you would have whole-body paraplegia (paralysis).

Upper cervical misalignments can cause muscles that support your spine discomfort. Specifically, unilateral contractures, in which one side of the muscles on one side of your back becomes shorter than the other. A muscle spasm in the lower back is called a lumbar sprain, and if your pelvis is tilted abnormally inward or outward, it puts strain on your low back. This could lead to painful conditions like sciatica.

Additionally, an upper cervical misalignment is one of the significant causes of compensating pain in the spine. Compensating pain occurs when your body adapts to an injury or misalignment by recruiting other joints and muscles to do the work of the problem area; this can help you function in the short term but has long-term consequences. 

One example of compensating back pain from an upper cervical misalignment is Upper Cross Syndrome, which is linked to poor posture. It reflects a pattern of abnormal muscle use in the head, neck, and shoulders. This can lead to back pain and other issues such as headaches, chest pain, and even vision problems.

Book a Back Pain Chiropractor Today

Since the spine is a train of muscles, bones, and nerves, what is felt at the bottom probably began from the top, hence the need for upper cervical alignments. However, do not self-diagnose based on this article alone. When possible, see your nearest chiropractor so you can both determine the cause and treatment your body needs accurately.

Book an appointment with a back pain chiropractor today with Kindspine! We believe in living a life free of nerve interference, not getting constant adjustments. That’s why our goal is to deliver as few adjustments as possible by dealing with misalignments from the top to fix the problems throughout your body. Set your appointment today!