Lower back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability in the United States and globally. It is estimated that 7.5% of the global population suffers from LBP, and many of these cases are idiopathic, or without an identifiable cause.
The most common treatments for LBP include rest, over-the-counter pain relievers, physical therapy, and cortisone injections. Chiropractic care can also alleviate back pain, often when other therapies cannot.
What does a chiropractor do for lower back pain? Find out in this guide.
What Does a Chiropractor Do for Lower Back Pain?
A chiropractor for lower back pain will relieve your pain, help you relax, and improve your quality of life. They offer an array of services and customized treatment plans to achieve your goals and meet your unique needs.
Relieve Your Pain
The cornerstone of chiropractic treatment is the spinal adjustment. Also known as spinal manipulation, this technique applies pressure to targetted areas of the spine.
Pain relief results for many reasons. One is that back pain can be caused by improper alignment of the spinal column. The misalignment can put pressure on local nerves, compressing them and leading to pain.
Spinal adjustments can restore alignment to the spine, decompressing nearby nerves and leading to pain relief.
Help You Relax
Experts believe that chronic idiopathic pain is a psychological issue, not a physical one. Multiple mental health conditions are linked to chronic LBP, including stress disorders.
For people suffering from LBP that is psychological in nature can benefit from chiropractic, too. Chiropractors offer massage services designed to help patients relax and destress.
Massage can also release muscle tension to target any physical stress that could be contributing to your painful symptoms.
Improve Your Life
A unique service chiropractors offer that many doctors do not provide is lifestyle and nutritional counseling. The goal of these services is to help patients manage back pain in the long term and prevent chronic symptoms from returning.
You will learn the best diets, exercise routines, rehabilitative exercises, and sleep habits to prevent injuries and promote lower back pain relief.
Additionally, chiropractors aim to treat pain naturally. They do not recommend addictive prescription drugs or cortisone injections, and they work hard to keep you from having to resort to surgery to alleviate your symptoms.
Signs You Need Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
So, you suffer from back pain, but you aren’t sure if your symptoms are ‘bad enough’ to see a chiropractor. Experiencing any level of back pain deserves medical attention, especially since it can get worse without treatment.
The consequences of untreated back pain range from weight gain and mental health symptoms to long-term disability and loss of work. This is not even to mention the potential costs associated with job loss or back surgery.
With these potential complications in mind, you should look out for the following signs. If any of the following applies, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor and local chiropractor as soon as possible.
Pain
Pain is the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong. It is often a symptom of tissue damage or injury, though not always. Sometimes, it indicates a neurological or psychological issue that needs addressing.
Feeling pain is not something to ignore. This is especially true if your pain does not respond to over-the-counter painkillers or is resistant to other treatments.
The good news about treatment-resistant pain is that chiropractic care may help, even when other therapies can’t.
Headaches
Back pain that comes with headaches can be even more worrisome. It is possible for headaches to co-occur with but not be caused by LBP. For example, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) can cause headaches and back pain.
However, headaches and lower back pain often indicate a misaligned spine. In studies of these two conditions, researchers have found a connection, particularly between chronic LBP and the development of chronic headaches.
Poor Mobility
Back muscles, including those in the lower back, help the trunk move and bend. Walking, standing, and even sitting also engage these muscles, making them crucial for optimal mobility.
If your back pain has started to affect your ability to get around, seeking treatment is a must.
Chiropractors can help not only with improving your back pain symptoms but also ensure these symptoms don’t limit your ability to live your life.
What to Expect from Chiropractic for Lower Back Pain
If it’s your first time seeing a chiropractor, you may wonder what to expect from your first appointment. Your first appointment will involve a comprehensive health assessment before the chiropractor designs a treatment plan.
The Initial Health Assessment
The initial health assessment will allow you to explain your symptoms. The chiropractor will want to know any potential injuries or incidents that may be causing your lower back pain.
You will also receive a physical exam. The physical exam looks at how well your trunk moves. The chiropractor will look for stiffness and pain as a result of moving your body and spine.
A Tailored Treatment Plan
Once your chiropractor understands your symptoms, possible causes, and your level of mobility, he or she can design a treatment plan. Remember that the treatments in your plan will be customized to the severity and cause of your symptoms, among other factors.
Your chiropractor will also recommend self-care activities to support the prescribed therapies. These recommendations may include maintaining proper posture, getting more exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding prolonged sedentary activities.
FAQs About Going to a Chiropractor
Still looking for answers to your questions about chiropractic for lower back pain? Here are answers to some of the web’s most frequently asked questions on this subject.
What Is the Best Chiropractic Technique for Lower Back Pain?
The best chiropractic technique for lower back pain is manual therapy, such as trigger point therapy and myofascial release. This technique involves applying a high amount of force to the spine- a chiropractic adjustment.
Adjustment techniques chiropractors often use for lower back pain include the diversified full spinal technique, the Thompson drop technique, and the Logan Basic technique.
After the initial session, your chiropractor may recommend mobilization techniques. These are less forceful spinal manipulations that improve mobility. Your chiropractor will also prescribe movement and stretching to supplement therapy during this phase.
What Are the Side Effects of Chiropractic Adjustment?
The side effects of chiropractic adjustments include discomfort, pain, fatigue, and headache. These symptoms typically disappear within a few hours or up to a day. If they do not go away, consult a medical professional.
Discomfort is the most common reaction to chiropractic care, affecting up to 83% of patients. Pain, fatigue, and headaches are less common, occurring in 23% or fewer of patients who see a chiropractor.
Who Is Not a Candidate for Chiropractic Care?
People with certain pre-existing health conditions are not candidates for chiropractic care. These health conditions include but are not limited to:
- Severe arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- A high risk of bone fractures
- Spinal cancer
- Spinal tumors
- Severely pinched nerves
- Joint infections
- Bone infections
You can find out if you are a good candidate for chiropractic by talking to your doctor.
What Types of Back Pain Do Chiropractors Not Treat?
Chiropractors may not treat types of back pain that result from fractures, tumors, infections, or neurological problems. Some of these conditions may be within a chiropractor’s scope, but chiropractic is usually a supplement to more intensive therapeutic interventions.
Back pain caused by soft tissue and facet joint injuries, degenerated discs, or pinched nerves are more common types of back pain a chiropractor can treat.
How Long Does It Take a Chiropractor to Fix Lower Back Pain?
How long it takes a chiropractor to fix lower back pain depends on numerous factors, including the severity of someone’s symptoms, whether the pain is chronic or acute, and the underlying cause.
Acute lower back pain may require up to 12 treatment sessions taking place over two to four weeks. Chronic lower back pain may require an additional six treatment sessions per episode.
In rare cases, someone with severe chronic back pain may require ongoing treatment sessions. A chiropractor may recommend one visit per month or up to one visit per week to treat the problem.
Is It Worth Going to a Chiropractor for Back Pain?
Yes, it is worth going to a chiropractor for back pain, especially if you are searching for a non-invasive way to treat your symptoms. The side effects and risks are mild, and care may be able to replace your need for addictive prescription pain medications.
Chiropractic is an excellent supplement to other treatments, but it should never be used as a replacement for traditional medical care.
See a Chiropractor in Northwestern Florida
So, what does a chiropractor do for back pain? A chiropractor alleviates painful conditions, including lower back pain. These treatments are non-invasive, have relatively few side effects, and are safe and effective.
Are you searching for a ‘chiropractor near me’? Waterside Chiropractic has locations in Panama City and Pensacola, Florida, and we are currently running a promotion for new patients like you!
Book an appointment at one of our Northwestern Florida locations to get up to a $200 value in free services!