Do Chiropractors Really Help Patients With Back Pain?

Do chiropractors help patients suffering from lower back pain? Of course! There are actually many ways a chiropractor can assist with this. 

One way is by making sure you get enough spinal and joint mobilization, which helps increase your range of motion to ease pressure on the spine and joints. 

Another way is by using a gentle traction technique to push the vertebrae back into their proper position. This relieves nerve interference from being pinched or restricted in any direction for too long. 

To learn more about how a chiropractor can help if you suffer from lower back pain, keep reading this blog!

A Closer Look At Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments in the world. It affects between 50% to 80% of adults at some point in their life and it's a leading cause of disability, resulting in more than 1.1 billion lost workdays and 2.5 million people who cannot go to work each year due to back pain. 

Pain relief is often sought through over-the-counter pain medicine, but this option is only temporary and can result in additional side effects. 

How a Chiropractor Can Help With Lower Back Pain

Spinal manipulation has been around for centuries. For example, in China, they’ve been using spinal adjustments to treat back issues for over 2000 years. 

The goal of chiropractic spinal manipulation is to realign vertebrae that have been misaligned. This can help improve circulation and restore mobility to an area that has been damaged by injury, poor posture, or disease. 

Spinal manipulation helps provide immediate relief from pain but also helps prevent further injury and improves overall health in the long run.

Here are some of the most common lower back pain issues a chiropractor can help with, through spinal manipulation:

Pain From Arthritis

Arthritis is a common cause of lower back pain. When joints are inflamed or degenerated, they can rub against one another, causing inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and pain. Chiropractic care can help reduce inflammation by manipulating the affected joints to bring them back into alignment. 

Pain From Bone Spurs

Damage from bone spurs is a common cause of lower back pain. Bone spurs are formed when the ends of bones become rough and jagged due to irritation and stress. 

These bone spurs can irritate or pinch nearby nerves causing pain in the lower back and other areas of the body. Chiropractic helps reduce pressure on these nerves, providing relief from pain caused by bone spurs. 

Injury 

Injury is another common cause of lower back pain. Whether it’s an accident or something that happened over time like an RSI — repetitive strain injury — an injury can be painful and cause a great deal of discomfort for those affected. Chiropractic promotes overall health by improving circulation and reducing localized inflammation.

Spinal Disc Degeneration

As a person ages, their spine can start to degenerate and lose its ability to support the body. When the spinal discs lose their ability to provide cushioning and shock absorption, they become a source of pain. Chiropractic treatment addresses disc degeneration by restoring the body's ability to maintain healthy fluid movement and supporting spinal stability. 

Sciatica

Sciatica is a common cause of lower back pain. When the sciatic nerve becomes pinched or irritated, it can cause pain and numbness in the lower back and legs. Chiropractic treatment can help reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve, providing relief from pain. 

What Can You Expect From Your Doctor During a Chiropractic Treatment?

When you go to a chiropractor looking for help with lower back pain, your doctor will first determine the extent of your injury before moving on to the next step.

Only after a thorough physical examination — which might also include X-rays and questions to understand the cause of the issue — can the doctor determine the cause of pain and its severity. 

During your consultation, you will be asked to lie down on a chiropractic table. Your doctor will then use their hands and elbows to move your spine into alignment through gentle manipulations.

In some cases, they'll also use different adjustment chiropractic methods and techniques such as a hand-held Activator Adjusting Instrument. 

Depending on how you feel and how your body responds to treatment, your doctor may adjust you once or several times. In general, more chiropractic consults are needed for long-term results.

Conclusion

If you are experiencing lower back pain and are seeking relief, you should know that a chiropractor can help. To get back on track, visit us in our Los Gatos chiropractic center. We understand how debilitating it can be to quit doing the things you love because of pain, so we are here to help.

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