Natural Pain Relief: How Chiropractic Can Help Your Back Pain
Drug manufacturers make billions of dollars selling pain medication, thanks in part to the many Americans who suffer from back pain. Pain remedies don't have to come from the drugstore. Chiropractic treatment eases back pain naturally, without any of the side effects that can occur from taking prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Are You Struggling with Back Pain?
Poor posture, falls, injuries, and aging all take a toll on your back, causing aches and pains that may linger no matter how many remedies and medications you try. At best, pain medication offers temporary relief from symptoms. Unfortunately, some drugs are addictive or cause nausea, dizziness, and other negative side effects.
Back pain happens for a reason. It could be that you have a bulging disc in your spine or a sprained or strained muscle. In some cases, back pain occurs when one of the vertebrae in your spine becomes misaligned. The misalignment, called a subluxation, also affects surrounding tissues, causing tightness and inflammation that make movement painful.
Chiropractic treatment doesn't just address your symptoms. It treats the cause of your pain. Once your chiropractor determines why your back hurts, he or she creates a treatment plan designed to ease your symptoms and prevent your symptoms from returning.
Relieving Back Pain with Spinal Manipulation
Your treatment plan for back pain will probably include spinal manipulation treatment. The therapy realigns the vertebrae in your spine, relieving pain and stiffness and increasing mobility. Although you may have heard people refer to this treatment as "cracking" the back, there's no cracking involved. In fact, the popping sound you may hear is caused by the release of gas bubbles that were trapped in your body's tissues.
During spinal manipulation, your chiropractor uses quick hands-on pressure or an activator to move your vertebrae back into place. Once the natural alignment of the spine is restored, you'll notice a reduction in pain, more freedom of movement, and less stiffness.
Spinal manipulation offers a proven way to treat back pain. The therapy is as effective as medical care and physical therapy, according to Frontiers in Pain Research. Regular spinal manipulation treatments keep your spine aligned and your tissues flexible. This therapy may also prevent imbalances that lead to falls, strains, and sprains.
Beyond Spinal Manipulation: Other Chiropractic Therapies That Treat Back Pain
Wondering what other treatments you can expect to receive at the chiropractor's office? Your visit may start with heat therapy. In addition to feeling good, heat loosens tight tissues and improves blood flow.
Massage is often used in back pain treatment at the chiropractic office. This therapy loosens tight tissues and releases pain-killing hormones, like endorphins and serotonin, that reduce pain while improving your mood.
Another type of hands-on treatment, spinal mobilization, might be used to gently stretch your spine. Spinal mobilization also relieves painful tension in the muscles between your vertebrae.
If your back pain is being caused by a bulging disc, your chiropractor might recommend relieving pressure on the disc with flexion-distraction. The therapy is performed on a special table that moves as your chiropractor manipulates your spine. Flexion-distraction stretches and decompresses the spine, offering an effective, natural pain relief method.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is another good option for back pain relief. Small electrodes placed on your skin deliver a gentle electrical current. The current stops pain signals before they can reach the brain, preventing you from feeling pain.
Depending on your symptoms, your treatment plan may also incorporate cold therapy or ultrasound therapy to heat and relax deep tissues. Your chiropractor can offer tips to improve your posture and recommend exercises and stretches that will help you extend the results of your chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractic treatments offer many benefits, including:
Have you been looking for an effective treatment for your back pain? Chiropractic care may offer the answer. Contact our office to schedule your appointment.
Sources:
NCBI: Frontiers in Pain Research: Clinical Effectiveness of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Spine Pain, 10/25/2021
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8915715/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Back, Lower Limb, and Upper Limb Pain Among US Adults, 7/2021
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db415.htm
HealthCentral: Chiropractic Care and Back Pain: Non-Invasive Treatment for Bulging, Ruptured, or Herniated Discs (Slipped Discs), 5/10/2019
