Back Pain
Back pain is an incredibly common condition and is the 6th most costly ailment in the US today. It is estimated that around 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point during their lives. And about 50% of the country’s workforce suffers from back pain on a regular basis.
For a smaller but significant portion of the population, persistent back pain impacts daily life and can limit even the simplest of activities and affect work. The first port of call for anyone suffering chronic back pain is usually their physician. These doctors will often recommend a specialist in this area including physiatrists, physical therapists, and chiropractors.
There are nearly 68,000 chiropractic businesses in the US, and these will be used by 35 million Americans every year. Yet despite the practice being commonplace there are still some myths surrounding chiropractors and what they can and can’t do.
What can a chiropractor help with?
Chiropractors will deal with a number of problems associated with the spine, muscles, and joints. Some of the problems they help with are injury-related, and others are from natural wear and tear.
Looking at the services offered by the Thrive Spine Center, a clear picture of what a chiropractor can help with is seen. The following areas are just some of what these specialists can do.
- Disc injuries
- Carpal tunnel
- Car accidents
- Sports injuries
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Lower back pain
It is lower back pain that troubles perhaps the majority of people, and while many cases clear up themselves, others are more troubling and need treatment.
Can a chiropractor cure your back pain?
A doctor of chiropractic degree will be able to establish the cause of your back pain. They use spinal manipulation and adjustments to increase the patient’s range of movement, and they can certainly help you if you are suffering from acute back pain.
Chiropractors will help you to improve your general health also. They can find underlying causes for back pain such as slipped discs, help your muscles to relax, and relieve pressure on nerves.
They may also make suggestions for you to help yourself. This may include nutritional counseling for weight loss or exercises to strengthen back muscles to prevent further problems.
What causes back pain?
About 8% of Americans have what could be described as chronic back pain. This description refers to pain that has been persistent for 12 weeks or more, and can greatly hinder daily life.
The causes of back pain can be muscle strains, poor posture, lifting heavy items wrongly, injuries, or from medical conditions such as Fibromyalgia.
Even office work can cause back pain. For example, slouching can cause problems with the lumbar joints. This can lead people to chiropractors to fix back pain from a desk job.
How often will you have to see a chiropractor?
For less complex back issues, you would expect to feel results possibly after just 1 week although it may be 3 or 4 weeks before you notice improvement. However, up to 80% of patients report that they feel less pain after just one visit.
A chiropractor will help to reduce back pain, but it may be that you need to have more than one appointment. Some individuals go for multiple adjustments in a single week, others go bi-weekly, and some once a month.
Visiting a chiropractor can be preventative, as well as corrective, so many people choose to use them regularly as part of their health regime. Your chiropractor should be able to advise the best route for you to take according to your lifestyle, and your history of back problems.
What can you do to help relieve back pain yourself?
As mentioned above, a chiropractor may recommend and help you to lose weight. They might offer some lifestyle advice that can help you reach optimal health, and reduce the chances of further back issues. They might give you an exercise plan too, and you can help yourself in all these ways.
Obesity is one of the causes of back pain, so losing weight and exercising will certainly help to relieve the pressure on the spine, and increase muscle strength. Some simple daily habits to stop back pain include increasing your vitamin C and vitamin D intake, stretching, and improving your posture. Even wearing more comfortable shoes can make a difference in lower back pain.
Summary
Chiropractors use advanced techniques to manipulate the spine and make adjustments. While manipulating the spine might sound serious, this is a safe technique carried out by trained professionals, and the result is less pain.
Not only can chiropractors help relieve and cure back pain, but they can offer advice to reduce the chances of further problems. Regular visits to a chiropractor can result in a healthier lifestyle, relief from pain, and generally better performance all around.
