Back and neck pain are extremely common, and almost everyone will experience one or both in their lifetime. There are numerous causes of pain in these areas, and if treatment does not occur, the pain can become chronic and make an individual susceptible to additional injuries.
For many injuries of the back and neck, chiropractic care can deliver professional medical advice and effective treatment that not only can result in pain relief but also treats the cause of the problem, so the issue does not return.
The American Chiropractic Association has found that chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment for certain types of pain without resorting to harmful or addictive medication.
Back pain is a leading reason for disability, and it results in missed work and various doctor appointments. Low back pain is more common, but upper back pain occurs as well.
The various causes of back pain include:
Injuries to the back can occur from a traumatic event such as a car accident, sports accident or fall. However, injuries can also result from repetitive motions or lifestyle habits such as sitting for long periods of time.
Lifting incorrectly and poor posture are also a common causes of back injuries. A back pain injury can result in severe pain, general achiness, muscle spasms, a burning sensation or radiating pain to other areas. Certain movements may also exacerbate the symptoms.
Many of the causes of neck pain are similar to those that cause back pain: Arthritis, muscle sprain, disc degeneration, disc herniation, and nerve pressure. Neck pain often originates in the cervical spine area or neck muscles.
Symptoms, including chronic neck pain, can result from a variety of things, including:
Whiplash is a common reason people seek chiropractic for neck pain. It results from a blow to the head and neck, such as from a rear-end car accident. This motion causes injury to the soft tissues and nerves of the neck, which can lead to pain and other symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and headaches.
Although some rarer causes of neck or back pain, such as cancer, require medical attention, chiropractic can help treat many individuals with pain. Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on the musculoskeletal system, and especially the nerves. The nerves make up the spinal cord, and they control everything in the body.
Nerves exit between spinal vertebrae at different levels of the spine. Because the spinal bones can move, they can place pressure on the nervous system, whether it is the spinal cord itself or individual nerves, which results in dysfunction.
Short term results of nerve pressure may include muscle tension or pain. If left untreated, this can result in not only symptoms such as pain and numbness, but it can also cause the organs to not work as efficiently.
A chiropractor receives extensive training to find the areas of nerve pressure and move the spinal bones in a particular manner to remove the pressure and restore proper function. This is an adjustment or spinal manipulation, and it is a major part of the treatment process.
Many medical treatments for pain just cover up symptoms. In contrast, chiropractic takes a full-healing approach to care and focuses on fixing the root of the problem. The main purpose of chiropractic adjustments, like through procedures like cervical manipulation, is to remove nerve pressure, which is often the cause of the injury. As a result, not only does pain go away, but the body functions better as a result.
Chiropractic treatment keeps nerve signals flowing, and this can prevent a variety of other problems. If nerve pressure remains untreated, symptoms get worse and the shape of the spinal column can change, which leads to degeneration, arthritis, and bulging discs. Getting a chiropractic adjustment as soon as symptoms appear is better than waiting, as acute issues are easier to treat than chronic ones.
A chiropractor is also able to detect spinal misalignments even before symptoms appear. People who are proactive start getting the care they need, and this can help maintain range of motion and often prevent symptoms from showing up at all.
For example, many symptoms from car accidents show up hours or days after the crash. If someone schedules an appointment immediately after a wreck, the chiropractor can perform spinal alignment and before the patient even knows there’s a problem.
Chiropractic is so effective because it is specific. General adjustments in the area of pain are not as effective as adjustments specifically targeting the areas of injury. To find the cause of the symptoms, the chiropractor conducts a thorough physical exam that analyses ranges of motions, joint mobility, muscle strength, nerve function, reflexes and other orthopedic functions.
The chiropractor also palpates the spine and associated soft tissues. He or she may also use motion palpation to detect which spinal bones are stuck. The chiropractor may take X-rays of the spine. This shows misalignments as well as the amount of degeneration in the spine, which gives an indication of how long the problem has been there. At the completion of the exam, the chiropractor knows how best to care for the patient and how many visits it may take.
A chiropractor for back pain and neck pain focuses on using natural approaches to heal the whole body. Even though spinal misalignments and associated nerve pressure may be the main issues, a chiropractor may recommend additional therapies to help heal injured muscles, so the patient feels better faster.
During a visit, the chiropractor may apply hot or cold treatment, use relaxation techniques, or apply muscle stimulation to prepare the muscles for the adjustment. This is more common for acute pain.
Once the patient completes the initial phase of care, the chiropractor may recommend a treatment plan with exercises or manual therapies to stabilize the area, which prevents the issue from returning. Depending on the situation, the chiropractor may also recommend massage or acupuncture.
If you are experiencing pain, there is a good chance you would benefit from seeing a back pain chiropractor. At Chiropractic Approach, we can treat pain caused by various things, and we can sometimes prevent chronic issues. We accept some health insurance plans including no-fault and workers’ compensation.
Contact us today to schedule an initial visit or consultation.
We are always ready to welcome you to our center!
Our doctors and staff at Chiropractic Approach, P.C. are dedicated, engaging, and are focused on your chiropractic needs. We use contemporary treatment techniques and are consistently adapting our practice to the latest and most effective treatment options available to chiropractors. All our Doctors are Board Certified.
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Wed 9:00 – 7:00 p.m.
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Fri 9:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sat 9:00 – 2:00 p.m.
