Upper Back Pain Relief Methods

Chiropractic Session

Many people will encounter upper back pain once in their life, but they don’t need to turn to pain medication or surgery for relief.  Instead, they can choose alternative, non-invasive methods such as chiropractic care or acupuncture.  During a chiropractic visit, the physician will use their hands to release pain in nerves caused by misaligned joints and bones.  The most commonly used method is called a spinal adjustment in which the doctor uses gentle force to realign the spine.  The goal of manipulation is to restore mobility and movement in the spine, resulting in decreased back pain.  Doctors may also use other treatments for a spinal adjustment including massage, exercise instructions, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and traction.  Lower back pain takes time to heal as there is no magic cure, but chiropractic treatment is a way to temporarily relieve pain. 

Acupuncture Treatment

Many studies are showing that acupuncture relieves back aches for a long period of time and effectively cures the condition. 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.  More individuals are seeking acupuncture treatment as an alternative to pain medication and surgery, as there are no negative side effects to acupuncture.  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.  Sometimes patients will need to go through 5-10 treatments before experiencing any positive effects from treatment.