The most common cause of low back pain is dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint just located on both sides of the sacrum where the ilia attach. This is the seat of the lumbar vertebrae or low back. This location may be the densest connective tissue layer in the body. Consider what it does, as it attaches or connects the upper torso to the lower limbs. This joint is a weight bearing joint that is sensitive to weight bearing activities and falls on the tailbone or buttocks. Activities that can flare or aggravate this joint include walking, running, weights, jumping, and even pregnancy. Pregnancy can aggravate this joint obviously by the addition of 25-60 additional pounds gained during pregnancy, but also by the hormones that are produced to cause ligament laxity widening the birth canal. The lack of activity can also lead to dysfunction of this joint, due to weak muscles that attach near to this joint and function to help stabilize and support this transition point for forces applied above and below the sacrum.
Consider the ligaments of the sacroiliac joint and their potential to become weak, frayed, strained and it is easy to recognize that Platelet Rich Plasma and Prolotherapy can strengthen the sacroiliac joint returning it to full function. Physical manipulation and chiropractic care also can have a positive influence on this joint, but if it fails to hold the joint permanent or semi-permanently, PRP is absolutely needed.
We have found consistently, with those with acute and chronic low back pain, that the muscles that are near or stabilize the sacroiliac joint can develop trigger points that cause referred pain patterns resembling low back pain. For example, the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and piriformis muscles tighten in parts of the specific muscles to shorten and help stabilize the sacroiliac joint. These tight areas or contracted proteins are called trigger points, and will refer pain in a location away from their current location, making it difficult to diagnose pain without a trigger point focused exam.
Trigger points respond very well to acupuncture. In our clinic we apply both PRP and Prolotherapy along with acupuncture to stabilize the joint and reduce the trigger points. Often, the addition of specific stretches done daily or regular massage can also help the muscles remove or reduce trigger point activity. The injection of lidocaine into trigger points leads to major strides in releasing tight and inflexible muscles. The combination of these therapies leads to an elimination of low back pain.
At our offices we treat low back pain with prolotherapy, physical therapy, trigger point injections, and acupuncture at no additional expense. The treatments combined offer a synergistic healing influence unlike any other therapy available through other pain clinics.
to normal function.
