Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of different factors.  Each patient’ treatment options will vary and will depend on the level of pain and diagnosis made by the Chiropractor or medical physician they see.  Some patients may experience persistent pain that is due to a muscle strain or sprain in the lower back region, while other patients may experience back pain due to poor posture.  Other activities such as improper lifting, exercising without stretching or having an underlying condition can all attribute to patients having lower back pain.  Each diagnosis is different and every patient’s recovery time will vary depending on the severity of the pain and initial diagnosis made by the doctor.  

Chiropractic care

Patients that experience acute pain can generally get relief by exercise and slight changes in their daily habits.  In most cases surgery is not needed for acute lower back pain.   Another lower back treatment for patients that are experiencing acute pain is chiropractic care.  Chiropractic care is a great option for patients because it doesn’t require the patient to take medication or on site injections.  It’s great for someone who isn’t looking for a long term medication plan, but wants a natural, safe treatment for their pain.  A chiropractor can assess your underlying issues and make necessary adjustments to realign the lower back into its natural position.  A patient may be seen once a week or more depending on the severity of the issue.  It’s also important that the patient take home the chiropractor’s at home care instructions to ensure the adjustments hold their positioning longer. 

Surgery

Patients that are experiencing more serious or chronic back pain may have to resort to surgery.  This is always the last resort when all other options have been exhausted for the patient.  If chiropractic treatments are not remedying your problem, the chiropractor will refer you to a medical doctor who will determine if you need surgery.

Lower back aches are  commonly felt by adults and the elderly.  They can be caused by a strain or sprain within the back, or even a previous underlying medical condition.  In some cases lower back pain can mean that a patient has arthritis or even spinal stenosis.  These conditions or other underlying conditions can become very serious if they are left untreated. It is important that you seek treatment before your lower back pain becomes debilitating.  In acute cases lower back pain can be very manageable and corrected within a short time. 

Treatments

Chiropractors offer a safe, natural approach to treating low back pain that does not involve medication. The chiropractic approach consists of gentle adjustments to affected vertebra, as well as associated therapies and at-home stretching activities.  This treatment works to correct the physical cause of the back pain, thereby correcting the root of the problem.  On the other hand, medical doctors will typically prescribe a lower dose pain killer to relieve the lower back pain.  Patients have a lot of different options available to them.  Depending on the severity of the low back ache/pain, chiropractors may recommended supplementing their treatment with massages, physical therapy, or an acupuncturist. 

Do you suffer with chronic low back or neck pain that causes radiating numbness and tingling symptoms into your limbs?  You might be suffering from foraminal narrowing symptoms.  When pain is at its worst, foraminal stenosis can limit your activities of daily living and permit you from doing the things you love, like picking up your grandson or granddaughter, gardening, playing golf or tennis, riding a bike, and even walking short distances.  When the spinal canal narrows this creates less space for the essential nerves and vascular structures, applying pressure and causing nerve pain.  This condition can even cause loss of bladder and bowel function.  The most common cause of neural foraminal stenosis is due to disc degeneration.  Throughout our lifetime, the disc can herniated, causing a disc bulge and later causing stenosis. 

Treatment

Common treatment for this condition includes but is not limited to: Chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, Cortisone injections, and anti-inflammatory medications.  Back surgery should be used only when all other treatments fail.  The surgery typically has to be repeated because it’s ineffective at decreasing the pain and root of the cause.  By cutting away the foramina, the body will further develop scar tissue/adhesions and cause more pain, inflammation, and decreased mobility.  A Chiropractic technique known as Cox Flexion/Distraction helps to decompress or “pump” the disc to bring blood into the damaged tissues, relieving pain and inflammation and therefore increasing range of motion.  This technique allows normal sensations to return to the arms and legs and eliminates the numbness and tingling.  One must take every consideration into effect when choosing an appropriate treatment for foraminal narrowing.   

Chiropractic massage is very beneficial for someone who is struggling with tension or pain within their neck, back, legs, or arms.  A chiropractic massage can be done either before or after being adjusted.  Generally your Chiropractor will suggest to you which method will be the most beneficial for your treatment that day.  Your Chiropractor will also work closely with the massage therapist to ensure the areas you need worked on will be treated carefully.  This will assist in holding the adjustments longer. 

Benefits

Patients that receive regular Chiropractic massages on a regular basis feel less tension, pain and stress in their body.   It truly helps to release any underlying toxins and it gives the patient a relaxing experience.  Some massages can also be covered by a patient’s medical insurance; there may be an allotment that can be used for Chiropractic care and massages.   Or, the patient can choose to pay out of pocket for the massage.  Prices will vary at each location along with time allotments.  Typically, most Chiropractic offices will offer thirty minute massages to ninety minute massages.  Some clinics may also offer specialty massages such as the hot stone massage or aromatherapy.  If the client is paying full cash, there may also be massage packages or deals offered seasonally or on a regular basis to the customer. 

In the Workplace

Chiropractic massage is also offered in the workplace.  Many Chiropractic clinics are now coming to various workplaces to offer a total wellness program to those at work.  It’s great for someone who cannot get out to receive a massage on a monthly basis, or for someone who regularly sees a Chiropractor and doesn’t have the time to schedule a massage before or after the adjustments are made.  You can also call your local office to see if they offer on site massages so they can come to your office on your break at work.  They may also do individual calls or group rates depending on your location or employer.

Acupuncture Treatment for Car Accident

Acupuncture is an effective method to treat pain caused from a car accident.  Acupuncture treatment is performed at least twice a week for the first several weeks on patients experiencing pain from an injury.  The treatment works to reduce pain, swelling, and bruising.  Acupuncturists believe it’s important that the patient feels the needle in the acupuncture spot to feel ultimate pain relief.  Needles are placed in these spots to reduce tension that causes discomfort and works to improve conditions of the sore area. 

Herbal Therapy

Herbal therapy is combined with acupuncture treatment and speeds up the healing process.  Herbs are either cooked at the physician’s office or patients can cook them at home.  Patients are required to mix the herbs in water and drink it during the same time period as acupuncture treatment occurs.  Herbs improve blood circulation in the tender area and advance recovery of nerve cells, making the recovery process much faster.  It improves the flow of bio-energy and helps remove bad bio-energy from the path flow.  Bad bio-energy is considered stagnated blood, or toxins that are blocking positive energy from flowing throughout the body.  Bad bio-energy needs some type of herbal to remove it from the body’s system.  The combination of acupuncture and Herbal Therapy treatment have proved to decrease pain and discomfort in patients who experience trauma effects from a car accident.      

Unnoticed Injuries

Almost 3 million people are injured from car accidents every year and nearly half these injuries are permanent.  Some injuries are not diagnosed or treated, leading to more problems in the long run.  After a car accident, a driver may appear uninjured, but in several months, that person may feel the affects of the accident.  Individuals may experience tension headaches, stiff joints, neck pain, or back pain.  If left untreated, these symptoms may get worse over time.  Many people do not get diagnosed and mask the pain with braces and pain medications that do not resolve the problem.  The most efficient way to reduce pain from a car accident is to visit a chiropractor. 

Visit to the Chiropractor

On your first visit to the chiropractor, he/she will take x-rays of the injured area to diagnose the problem and select the proper treatment.  It is surprising as to how misaligned some individual’s necks may become after a car accident.  To reduce pain, chiropractors can realign your neck by spinal manipulation, muscle stimulation, and exercise techniques.  This treatment is effective because it corrects the problem rather than prescribing medications to mask the pain.  It is a noninvasive treatment, as there is no surgery involved.  Chiropractic treatment is safe for everyone and it’s strongly encouraged that everyone gets checked out by a chiropractor.  It is wise to visit a chiropractor after a car accident to ensure that all hidden injuries will not occur in the long run.  Many times insurance companies will pay for chiropractic treatment if the injuries are related to a car accident. 

Acupuncture Treatment

Nearly 80 percent of the population is affected by some type of back pain during their lifetime.  Researchers studied a group of 1,000 people receiving six months of acupuncture treatment for back pain.  More than half of the group experienced improvement.  Many studies are showing that acupuncture relieves back aches for a long period of time and effectively cures the condition.  More individuals are seeking acupuncture treatment as an alternative to pain medication and surgery as there are no negative side effects to acupuncture.      

Does it hurt?

Typically, an acupuncture session lasts for an hour and a half and is painless.  Patients may feel a pinch when needles are first inserted, but generally pain is not encountered during treatment.  Some sensations that may occur during acupuncture treatment range from nothing at all to mild tingling or slight numbness, but subside once the needle are removed.  The needles used are very thin and a lot smaller than the hypodermic needles used in hospitals or health facilities.  Most patients actually say that acupuncture is relaxing and experience better improved function than when they first arrived.  Sometimes patients will need to go through 5-10 treatments before experiencing any positive effects from acupuncture.         

According to medicinenet.com, an arthrosis “is a joint, an area where two bones attach for the purpose of motion of body parts.  An arthrosis (joint) is usually formed from fibrous connective tissue and cartilage.” Researchers don’t know the exact number of joints in the human body because it’s hard to say; however, the human body contains 206 bones. 

Joints

Joints are grouped into the following categories:  pivot, ball and socket, condyloid, hinge, saddle, and gliding.  Joint movements consist of the following:  gliding, angular, circumduction, and rotation.  Gliding is where one bone moves along another.  Angular occurs only between long bones.  Circumduction occurs in the articular cavity and the bone head.  And rotation moves along a central axis. 

Arthristis

A very common condition known as Arthritis means inflammation of the joint.  Over 100 varieties of arthritis exist.  The most frequent types are Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Osteoarthritis (OA), and Gouty Arthritis.  Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect all areas of the body but most commonly affect the wrist, hand, and knees.  The most common radiologic area to determine RA is the 2^nd and 3^rd metacarpal and the ulnar styloid process of the radius.  RA tends to be bilateral and symmetrical in orientation and exhibits swelling.  OA tends to be unilateral and asymmetrical.  OA typically affects bodily joints that bear a large degree of weight such as the knees, hips, spine, and hand.  Gouty Arthritis or Gout, is a painful condition where the body cannot eliminate the substance, uric acid.  The uric acid builds up and cause crystal deposition in areas of the big toe, wrist, and knee joints.  The uric acid build-up causes tophi to form around the joint.  Chiropractic care can help minimize the patient’s pain and inflammation in their body. 

Today, when we experience any form of ache or pain in our body, many of us run to the medicine cabinet. And, while medicine has its definite place and function, it is medically recommended that medication usage be reduced to the minimum dosage prescribed to avoid any long-term damage to bodily organs or to prevent possible addiction. There are many musculoskeletal issues that, when taking medication, only cover the underlying reason for the pain and dysfunction. Upper back pain relief without medication can be accomplished, and the treatment result generally produces not only a reduction of pain but also a stronger, more resilient upper back musculature.

Treatment Alternatives

To achieve the goal of pain reduction and prevention of future upper back dysfunction, a patient seeking care from a chiropractic physician can receive the benefit of both. A chiropractor will be able to pinpoint the location of the dysfunction as well as the nature of the injury to begin a formal treatment plan. When required, diagnostic imaging may also be utilized to further confirm the type of trauma sustained at a specific location. This plan will generally include heat and ice therapy, physical therapy home and in-office exercises along with chiropractic manipulation. Depending on the nature and severity of the musculoskeletal injury, other treatment options may include massage therapy services, traction, ultrasound and electrical stimulation and possibly nutritional supplement recommendations. If a patient is committed to treatment and is an active participant in their care, pain medication can be avoided and long-term positive health benefits may be achieved.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com

www.backpaindetails.com

]]> http://www.echiropractor.org/body-pain-symptoms/upper-back-pain-relief-without-medication/feed/ 0 http://www.echiropractor.org/body-pain-symptoms/spine-pain-2/ http://www.echiropractor.org/body-pain-symptoms/spine-pain-2/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:35:49 +0000 echiropractor http://www.echiropractor.org/?p=1122

Spine pain can be a result of many different factors.  Some patients have spinal pain due to previous conditions while others have a recent strain or sprain.  Some patients may also experience spinal pain due to another underlying condition called spinal stenosis.  Patients will typically be given a treatment plan that will vary with the level of pain.  If you are experiencing continuing back pain within the spinal region, it’s vital for you to seek medical attention as soon as possible.  You may chose to visit your primary care physician or a pain management clinic such as a chiropractor or doctor who specializes in pain management.

Treatment Options

Each doctor will have a different approach to your treatment plan.   A primary care doctor may be able to prescribe pain medication or refer you to a specialist or physical therapist if needed.  A Chiropractor will typically x-ray the patient along with adjusting the spine back into its natural position.  A Chiropractor may use a series of medical devices or traction equipment to help realign your spine and neck.  They may also give you equipment to use at home.  Generally this equipment can assist the patient in holding their adjustments.  The Chiropractor may also give the patient a list of stretches and exercises they can do to assist in this process. A pain management clinic is another option a patient can look into.  Generally there is a doctor of osteopath on board, along with a back specialist doctor, and they can offer a patient different alternatives and methods to cure their spinal pain.  In-house injections may be used along with implants or even disc decompression treatments.  This is may benefit someone who is suffering from spinal stenosis or spinal pain if more conservative approaches do not achieve the desired results.  These methods are not for everyone, so it’s important to consult with your chiropractor first to ensure that you are taking the right approach to looking into alternative medical treatments.