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. 

Gonstead chiropractors will find the problem, determine proper medical care, fix the issue and then leave it alone.  They do not require patients to come back for further visits.  The theory of Gonstead Chiropractic states that the body is a foundation, and any change in the foundation can lead to a collapse.  The foundation in the body is formed by the pelvic girdle, and maximum stability and balance is located in the spinal column.  When the pelvic girdle becomes misaligned, negative changes occur throughout the body.  Misalignments can cause a large amount of pain in various parts of the back. 

Subluxation

 Chiropractors refer to a subluxation as a misalignment of the vertebrae that builds up pressure on a disc, causing it to swell.  Chiropractors are able to detect a misaligned vertebra in the spine, especially those in the upper part of the back.  Recognizing and correcting the misaligned spine is an important part of the Gonstead theory.  All parts of the spine should be adjusted to completely correct the subluxation.  If the top and bottom of the vertebra are misaligned, but only the top is corrected, the patient will only experience limited relief.  For complete and long lasting results, all parts of the vertebrae must be identified and adjusted to restore them back to normal.  The purpose of the Gonstead concept is to find the subluxation(s) and correct the problem.  

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.   

A chiropractic manipulation is essentially an adjustment of the vertebra or bone in a specific line of drive, using a streamlined depth and amplitude to correct a misalignment or “subluxation.”  A chiropractic manipulation is only performed by a licensed, skilled Chiropractor with years of education. 

Misalignment

A Chiropractor determines a misalignment or subluxation by using static and kinetic palpation through the use of their own fingertips.  Once the subluxation is determined the Chiropractor will then choose the most appropriate technique fit for the area of the spine and the body type of the individual patient.  Certain body areas take much more force or less force depending on the underlying soft tissue and size of the bones themselves. 

Safe

The goal of the chiropractic adjustment is to deliver high velocity low amplitude thrust in most cases.  This decreases the chances of injury and doesn’t allow the body’s muscles to react by splinting like a muscle spasm.  Chiropractors are proficiently trained in the art of manipulation with their hands by studying over 75 courses and 4,500 hours of instruction in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting.  Once they complete this feat, they must complete continuing education each year to retain their licensure in the state in which they practice.  This ensures the safety of the public and the competency of the practicing Chiropractor.  Moreover, a chiropractic manipulation is safe and effective when performed correctly but there can be associated risks with manipulation.  Some of the population believes that Chiropractors are known to cause strokes, which is entirely untrue.  Most individuals who suffer a stroke after a manipulation had the signs of the stroke prior to the manipulation and they weren’t read as red flags by the practicing doctor.     

There are thousands of Chiropractic clinics available around the world.  Every chiropractor’s approach is unique and different.  Some Chiropractic clinics focus on sports injuries or sports rehabilitation.  They may work on athletes or people who train for marathons or triathlons more than others.  You may want to consult with your friends, neighbors or family to acquire a referral for a chiropractor in your area, as they may know of a good local Chiropractor who can be trusted. 

Locations

Chiropractic clinics are located within a number of different areas.  A chiropractor can be located within doctors’ offices, rehabilitation centers, physical therapy clinics or even some hospitals or back specialty care clinics.

Therapies

Every Chiropractor’s approach is different.  Some Chiropractors will use different machines to assist in the recovery time, while others only use adjustments and traction devices to hold the adjustments.  Some Chiropractors may also assist in diet and nutrition.  They may have different programs available to patients who are struggling with their diet and nutrition needs.  Some Chiropractic clinics also offer on-site massage therapy. This is great before or after receiving the adjustments.  The massage therapist works side by side with the Chiropractor.  Your chiropractor can communicate the areas that need further assistance or attention. 

Insurance

Massage and chiropractic care may be covered by most your insurance policy.  You can call ahead to see if your Chiropractor or in house massage therapist will be covered by that particular insurance company.   Usually co-pays range anywhere from ten dollars and up depending on the actual insurance policy allowance for Chiropractic care.  You can call your insurance to find out how much is covered yearly or monthly for your chiropractic needs.

A chiropractic adjustment consists of a precise thrust given in a designated line of drive at a defined depth and amplitude.  A Chiropractor is the only skilled professional who can deliver such a thrust safely and effectively.  There are many different Chiropractic techniques that re-align the vertebra including but are not limited to: Diversified, Thompson, Blair, Hole-in-one, Sacral-Occipital technique, Activator, Gonstead, and Chiropractic Bio-Physics. 

Subluxation

Chiropractors determine what needs to be adjusted in the human body by assessing for subluxations.  According to www.chiro.org, “subluxation” originates in the Latin words “luxare” which means to dislocate and “sub” which means somewhat or slightly.  Chiropractic exists as the first profession to coin the term subluxation and it still surrounds the philosophy today.  Chiropractors believe that a subluxation is caused from trauma or tight muscles that pull the bones of the spine or extremities out of its proper alignment.  Subluxations cause the bones to press on the nerves, which in turn disrupt nerve conduction to crucial bodily organs.  This causes diseases to manifest within the body and typically causes symptoms within the individual. 

Conditions Treated

Chiropractors treat many conditions including low back and neck pain, sinusitis, headaches, whiplash, scoliosis, sciatica, canal stenosis, disc herniations, ear infections, and many more.  Chiropractors are proficiently trained in college completing over 75 different courses and over 4,500 contact hours in classroom/lab and clinical experience.  They use the art and science of palpation to statically and kinetically find subluxations accurately.

The vertebral column in the cervical spine is made up of 7 tiny vertebra, transverse foramina for the exit of nerves and essential arteries.  The first vertebra called the atlas supports the head by resting on the condyles of the occipital bone.  The atlas, or the second vertebra contains a dens which extends up into the atlas allowing for most of the pivot or rotation movement of the cervical spine.  The other 5 vertebra collectively allow for rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral flexion. 

Hyperlordosis

The cervical spine forms a lordosis, the thoracic spine a kyphosis, and the lumbar spine again a lordosis.  The cervical and lumbar spine form first and the kyphosis later forms when the child learns to crawl.  The cervical lordosis should range from 35-45^o.  If the lordosis is above this, chiropractors call this a hyperlordosis, below this range is referred to as hypolordosis.  A hyperlordosis ultimately leads to an anterior head carriage posture and typically internally rotated (rounded) shoulders leading to an upper crossed syndrome.  A hypolordodic cervical spine may be so straight that it’s termed a military neck or a straight neck syndrome.  This is equally as imbalanced as the one discussed previously.  More often than not a patient will express a hyperlordosis in the younger years and as they age will express a hypolordotic cervical spine.  These abnormal cervical positions cause hypertonic muscles (spastic) and stretch the opposite ones.  This can lead to pain, dysfunction, limited range of motion, and many times inflammation.

During a spinal adjustment, a patient may feel a crack or hear a pop in their back.  Research shows that the popping noise is caused from small pockets of air in the tissue fluid that surround the joint.  The air pockets ‘pop’ when the joint tissue is stretched during a spinal adjustment.  The procedure does not cause any serious pain, but the patient may experience sore or tight muscles after treatment.  After 2 to 3 more sessions, the patient will experience an improved range of motion in the spine and more movement in the lower back.  Pain will subside in the problem areas as sessions continue.  Many chiropractors will explain different exercises and techniques for bending to prevent pain from reoccurring.

Benefits

Chiropractic spinal adjustments have proven to be safe and effective for treating lower back pain. Patients can look to chiropractic treatment as a natural method of healing as opposed to prescription drugs or surgery.  The chiropractor will apply force with his or her hands to the subluxed part of the spine.  The adjustment will correct vertebral subluxations and decrease pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, and tension. 

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

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There are many types of spinal doctors that deal with spinal issues and dysfunction. It may be confusing as to whom you should seek for care when experiencing a problem with your spine or any other sort of musculoskeletal disorder. Depending on what type of health issue, it is important to be evaluated by the correct physician for optimal health restoration and a quicker recovery time.

When to see a Chiropractor

A chiropractic physician is a licensed doctor that practices healthcare more preventatively and conservatively than most medical doctors. A chiropractor focuses mainly on the anatomy and function of the spinal column but also on musculoskeletal disorders as well. Generally, a chiropractor treats a wide variety of patients suffering with anything from mild muscular strains to non-surgical neurological disorders. They are also available to offer nutritional counseling, modalities such as traction, heat and ice therapy, electric stimulation, ultrasound, and typically provide massage therapy services at their office as well. If a patient seeks care from a chiropractic physician and it is found that they suffer with a more serious underlying health condition that requires a different form of treatment from a different type of doctor, they will be referred to the proper specialty immediately.

References Cited in this Article

www.about.com

www.bls.gov

www.acatoday.org