Question
I have been seeing a chiropractor now for a few mths as some low left back pain started back in november. I have now had an mri scan of the lumbar region and the neck but all my discs looked ok and there appeared to be no probs. I was told by my back specialist to exercise and that was it! Well it's been a few weeks now and at first i thought things were improving but i started to feel very tight on my lower left side of my back around monday and its got worse since. I dont know is its down to the exercise, whish is gym equipment and pilates but i didnt think i was overdoing it. I went to the gym last on fri and the tightness started tues properly. I wanted it checked out so went to the chiropractor today and she said i had a locked joint in that area. I am concerned about this and to why it is locking. will it always happen? The other thing that worried me is i asked her if it wud have corrected itself if i hadnt have been to see her to which she said no! What about the people who dont see chiropractors or those who cant afford to! Is this correct that it wudnt have got better?

I still have the tightness and tenderness there afer seeing her today. Is this right too?

Thankyou so much for listening

Answer
This is a pretty involved question. First of all, the body does attempt to heal itself, but the way it goes about that is initially "locking down" everything...by tightening the muscles. It's the best way for the body to deal with a potential injury. The "locked joint" as your chiro said is probably a subluxation...two vertebra in your spine not moving properly, and so the tiny little surrounding muscles keep that area from moving too much. A chiropractor does not heal the body, but helps the body heal itself by moving that area back into the correct position, thru the "adjustment."

Because you've had an injury in the left lower back area already, even though you didn't "overdo" anything, the body is still already weakened there compared to the rest of the back, so even normal exercise levels may strain it a bit. Ask what your options are concerning that...you'll prob be told ice to help the muscles, but check with one of your docs first.

Hope this helps!