Ever try to explain to a person why their lower back has failed them? It can be especially difficult when the person suffering has never had an "incident" before. They just do not get it. One day they are fine, and the next they are in incredible pain from somthing as simple as picking up a paper clip off the ground. "So what the heck happened to me doc?" they usually ask.

Here is where I try to explain an idea that I have been trying to get across to patients for over 10 years: Your spine degenerates and misaligns almost always WITHOUT pain. It only becomes painful when a disc or bone puts pressure on a nerve.

Let's use an analogy to illustrate the above. Picture a bucket that has a slow drip of water dripping into it from above. When the bucket collects the water from above it stores the water inside of it. At this point, things are ok. Your body is quiet. However, once the water starts to spill out the edges of the bucket the water will overflow. Now your in pain. While the problem was extremely slow forming, you did not notice any pain until that one little drop caused the bucket to overflow.

Another analogy is the teeth example. Did you really feel those cavities forming in your mouth? Usually if you really did feel pain from your teeth it was from neglecting them. Maybe you missed your cleaning or skipped that filling. The point is is that a problem was growing and you were not aware of it until it became an emergency.

Get it yet? It was never that paper clip that caused your lower back to fail you. You failed it.

Now, if you think the medical doctors will examine your spine during your physical to tell you if you need help you have a shock coming to your system. When was the lsat time a MD checked your spine? I think mine was in grade school during gym class. You too? Thought so.

Only a qualified doctor of chiropractic knows how to properly check your spine and see if you are indeed "headed down a bad road". We know when that bucket of yours is about to overflow. Believe me, it is very obvious once you know what to look for.

Remember, spinal problems do not come out of nowhere.