What is Back Pain?

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Currently, researchers are examining the use of different drugs to effectively treat back pain, in particular, chronic pain that has lasted at least 6 months. Other studies are comparing different health care approaches to the management of acute low back pain (standard care versus chiropractic, acupuncture, or massage therapy). These studies are measuring symptom relief, restoration of function, and patient satisfaction.

Can Chiropractors Really Help Back Pain?

Many people search for alternative treatments for back pain. They tire of the exercise requirements and don't want to take anti-inflammatories or over the counter pain relievers any more. One treatment option is visiting a chiropractor. They are health care providers who use a different method to try to relive the pain. When you would go to them is one of the key decisions. Since we know that most back pain will disappear in matter of a few weeks with little or no treatment and that using pain relievers and doing some light exercise could speed hat up. When would a person fit in the alternative of going to see a chiropractor?

Many studies show that chiropractic care will give relief to a person's back pain that is at least equal to conventional back treatments. The reason that many people are reluctant to give it a try is that they are not familiar with the method a chiropractor uses and it scares some people. Others find it too intrusive a method, as it is very much a hands on process. The only way to decide if this type of back pain relief is what you should choose is to better understand what's done.

A chiropractor is taught that the reason for back pain is that there is something that has caused restricted movement in the spine. Therefore, using the practice of manipulation, the doctor will adjust the person's skeletal frame in whatever way they feel will fix this. Often it includes a forced movement that will make a loud crack. This is not a bad thing, but if you are going to see a chiropractor its something you will have to get used.

Chiropractic treatment for back pain has many forms other than manipulation which is the one most people are familiar with. They also use massage, electrical muscle stimulation and stretching.

Being treated at a chiropractor isn't for everyone. If you have osteoporosis, have had spinal surgery or a stroke it's not a good idea. As a matter of fact if your are thinking of going to see a chiropractors you should first see your health care provider and see if they feel that there is any reason you should not try this kind of treatment. Perhaps your health care provider can even recommend a chiropractor that they are familiar with or have at least heard of someone with a good reputation. Then call the chiropractor and see them first for a consultation. Explain your back pain and see what they would recommend. Only then can you decide if you want to pursue this type of alternative treatment.

There are relatively few risks connected to trying this treatment for your back pain. Very infrequently neck manipulation can cause some problems. On very rare occasions there can be some damage done to the blood vessels in the neck, which can result in a stroke, but this almost never happens and shouldn't prevent you from trying this method of pain control.

Written by: Scott Parat