Can A Chiropractor Can Ease Your Back Pain ?

If you're looking for an alternative, drug-free treatment for chronic upper or lower back pain, a vicit to a chiropractor could be your next stop.

Whilst your doctor may treat the symptoms, it is the job of the chiropractor to discover and treat the cause of your symptoms.

With the aim of helping the body to heal itself, chiropractic treatment will aim to help restore movement and reduce pain.

Your Clinic Appointment

Before any treatment takes place, it's usual for you to give your full medical history, including any incidents such as operations or accidents which may have caused your current condition.

You're also likely be asked to describe the location and extent of the pain that you're experiencing.

Some people find it helpful to make notes, for example, whether it first started following a pregnancy, whether it's located solely in your lower or upper back, or extends to your neck, shoulders and legs. 

Other questions to consider:-

• Have you recently had a weight gain or are you on a diet and losing weight?
• Is the ache or discomfort severe or just nagging uncomfortable?
• Is it worse at night, during the day, sitting or lying?

Formulating Your Alternative Treatment Plan

Your treatment plan could include one of several types of drug free, non-invasive treatments:-

Spinal manipulation - this is probably the one area which you will have heard about. 

If you're suffering from restricted movement or discomfort, some manipulation may be necessary to help adjust your skeletal frame.

Even car accidents that took place years ago can have an effect on your posture and your experiencing problems today - it's not unusual for this to be the case, and your physician may be able to locate injuries that took place several years ago.

Manipulation can take place sitting, standing or lying down, sometimes this can involve gentle movement, at other times a sharp, swift movement.  Either way, it's important that you feel you can trust your physician and allow yourself to feel relaxed.

On rare occasions, the chiropractic clinic may pass you to another health care provider, this is only likely when you have a medical condition which manipulation could exacerbate.

Ice or Heat Therapy - effective in reducing swelling and inflammation.  Heat can also help to relax tense muscles, provide releif from stiffness and improve movement.

Ultrasound -  reaching deep into the affected tissues, this can improve circulation and reduce spasms, stiffness and discomfort.

Further Resources

Drug Free Products - alternative health products that have been shown as effective in prevention and treatment of back problems.

Home Treatments for Sciatica - what medications can work in your own home?  What regime should you follow - rest or exercise?