Low back pain is one of the most common and most debilitating ailments people will face.
And, finding relief from low back pain isn't easy.
Choosing the right treatment to relieve low back pain has become similar to supermarket shopping.
People are forced to compare the vast array of treatment choices, similar to the comparison shopping we do at the grocery store.
However, one treatment option may be better than the rest.
Many people are choosing to see a chiropractor about their low back pain.
An estimated 27 million Americans are evaluated and treated by a chiropractor each year, mostly for back pain relief.
In the article below, we will discuss how chiropractic care can help low back pain.
Table of Contents
- What's Low Back Pain?
- How Does Chiropractic Care Treat Low Back Pain?
- What Else Is Involved In Chiropractic Care?
- What Happens During My First Visit?
- What Are The Risks That Come With Chiropractic Care?
- How Many Treatments Will I Need?
- Contact AICC Today
What's Low Back Pain?
Your low back is designed to provide strength, support, and flexibility to your upper body.
Having to support so much, it's no wonder that your lower back is so sensitive to pain and injury-prone from the simple tasks that make up everyday life.
Both acute and chronic low back pain can have several causes, and it can range in severity.
Some low back injuries are mild and annoying, while some can be severe and even debilitating.
At any given time, approximately 31 million Americans are experiencing some low back pain or discomfort.
Acute low back pain can be a dull pain, achy pain, burning, or spasms.
No form of low back pain should be ignored.
How Does Chiropractic Care Treat Low Back Pain?
Chiropractic care is a great way to manage and relieve the pain and other symptoms caused by low back pain.
Routine chiropractic care with spinal manipulation is an excellent lower back pain treatment.
Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive, non-addictive alternative to prescription and over the counter pain medications that are commonly prescribed to back pain sufferers to help them manage their symptoms.
This is important because many of those pain medications come with a laundry list of adverse side effects.
Chiropractors deliver a gentle, non-invasive, non-addictive therapy, without any unwanted side effects, known as spinal manipulation.
Spinal manipulation reduces joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body.
This reduces inflammation and improves the function of the lower back and your nervous system.
With increased joint mobility and improved nervous system function and spinal health, your body can better manage your low back pain symptoms.
Here are just a few of the health benefits that chiropractic treatment and spinal manipulation can provide patients with low back pain:
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Decreased inflammation
- Improved range of motion
- Improved flexibility
- Increased muscle tone and strength
What Else Is Involved In Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractors will spend a lot of their time talking with and listening to their patients, especially during the free consultation.
Your chiropractor will want to discuss your overall health, including flexibility, strength-building, and balance.
Your chiropractor will also take a look at your ergonomics.
They will ask you what you do for work, and they'll take a look at how you bend, turn, and lift.
They'll need to know if you ride in a car all day or spend most of your time sitting in front of a computer.
They do this to understand what may be contributing to the back pain or any other symptoms you are experiencing.
Chiropractors will even spend time offering their patients words of encouragement and advice on exercises and stretches.
They'll let them what they can do, or if a patient is unable to do something, they'll offer an alternative.
That way, you aren't anticipating pain and causing more pain and muscle spasms.
Pain scientists have discovered that anticipation of pain can lead to more pain, muscle spasms, headaches, and so forth.
So assuring their patients that there's another way is essential.
The goal of most chiropractors is to return people to the activities that are necessary for their lives.
They don't want back pain to interfere with their day to day lives, whether it's job-related, family or socially oriented, or recreational.
Active people are more healthy and happier.
Check out our previous blog post, How Chiropractic Care Can Improve Balance and Coordination
What Happens During My First Visit?
Your first visit for chiropractic treatment will be similar to your first visit to many other medical providers.
The free consultation will involve a lot of questions and the gathering of information.
They'll ask how your back pain began, what makes it worse, your level of pain, and any other symptoms you may be experiencing.
And if it is necessary, they can order or perform MRIs, X-rays or blood work.
Once all of the questions are out of the way, your chiropractor will perform a physical exam that assesses both the medical and mechanical aspects of your pain.
The exam will look at how things are moving, your alignment, muscle tone, nerve function, how well you can bend, turn, twist, and what kind of movements may be causing your pain.
They will also review your complete medical history.
After the exam, your chiropractor will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs and discuss that with you.
It is only after all of this is completed that you will begin your chiropractic treatment.
Most of the time, you will get your first spinal manipulation during your first visit.
What Are The Risks That Come With Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care doesn't come with any of the side effects that come with surgery or medications.
For a few people, a spinal adjustment may be a little uncomfortable at first.
Most people don't report any discomfort, and they even say they find relief after their first treatment.
You will never be pushed beyond your limits, but you may get a bit sore afterward.
This is similar to how you might feel after a tough workout, and you should notice that less and less as time passes.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Chiropractic care is a progression.
Starting out, you might see your chiropractor once or twice a week, or if you have acute low back pain, you might need to go in every day in a week at first.
But as your condition improves, your trips to the chiropractor will decrease, and your chiropractor will give you things to do on your own.
Most chiropractors want their patients to be as independent as possible.
Some patients have chronic low back pain and need to return every once in a while, but the vast majority of patients have resolvable issues.
Unless you want preventative chiropractic care, you may never see your chiropractor after your condition has improved.
Contact AICC Today
To see if chiropractic care is right for your condition, or for any other medical advice, contact the chiropractors at the Advanced Injury Care Clinic.
Their expert chiropractors will perform a consultation, physical examination, a review of your medical history, and perform diagnostic imaging such as x-ray or MRI.
Based on our chiropractic exam findings and consultation, your chiropractor will design a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
If you're suffering from low back pain, neck pain, or any other ailments, don't wait any longer to get the treatment you need.
Click the button below to schedule your free chiropractic consultation with AICC.
