Leg Pain without Back Pain is a Spinal Issue - Ideal Spine Health CenterPatients generally consult with a chiropractor only when they have localized back and neck issues. They seek help for neck cramps, chronic low back pain, and other spine-specific ailments, simply because it’s easy to connect their discomfort directly with the spine. Unfortunately, these same patients might forgo a chiropractic visit for something like a bout of leg pain. It’s hard for them to connect this pain to the spine, since it’s a different part of the body.

Leg pain in particular is subject to chiropractic oversight because of the bipedal structure of the human body. All of the weight above the hips and legs falls on the spine for support, which means the spine itself relies on the foundational support of the legs for stability. A problem at the bottom will absolutely yield trouble for the top.

Ideal Spine Health Center welcomes Boise, ID patients with chronic and acute leg pains, and strives to showcase the interconnectedness of the body through Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP). We know that leg pain without back pain is still a spinal issue, and we help patients connect the dots to understand the benefit of chiropractic in these situations.

Radiculopathy as a warning sign

One of the most common types of leg pain originating in the spine is radiculopathy. This pain radiates down the back of the leg, traveling along the sciatic nerve. It’s caused by a pinched or damaged nerve in the spine.

Radiculopathy may present as leg pain, but it’s rooted in nerve compression. This is a spinal issue that requires chiropractic oversight to correct. Treating the leg pain itself by way of painkillers or rehabilitation does nothing to correct the slipped or pinched vertebrae. It’s only after the spine is realigned that steps can be taken towards alleviating residual nerve pain.

Iliotibial (TI) band pains

When the spine is out of alignment, the body overworks itself to provide support. Improperly supported areas of the spine will rely on localized muscle groups to pick up the slack, causing myriad stressors that erupt in health conditions. In the legs, improper support of the spine on one side could lead to strain of the IT band.

IT band pain is characterized by tightness and aches occurring between the pelvis and shin. It can be a sign of athletic overwork, however it’s also a symptom of spinal support trouble. Chiropractic may be able to alleviate the unneeded stress on one side of the body to restore balance to the pelvis.

Pelvic tilt and its accompaniments

Pelvic tilt can have terrible consequences for spine health, and vice-versa. Again, poor spine support can cause overcompensation, wherein the pelvis tilts to better maintain the curvature of the spine. As the pelvis establishes an unnatural position, it affects everything below it and is the catalyst for leg pains.

The most common types of leg pain resulting from anterior pelvic tilt include tightness and weakness of hip flexor muscles, knee pain caused by tibial internal rotation, and general sciatica. Again, chiropractic can be the key to unlocking relief from leg pain, as the root cause exists all the way back in the spine.

Don’t write off leg pain

Just because you’re on your feet a lot or you’re an active individual doesn’t mean leg pain should be taken in stride. The real problem may go beyond the legs. At Ideal Spine Health Center, we’ve seen numerous cases in Boise, ID patients where leg pain is just a symptom of a real spinal problem.

Schedule a free consultation with us today if you have leg pain, and let us take a Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) approach to qualifying it.

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.