Chiropractic Options for Back Pain Treatment
One of the most common forms of body pain is back pain. Wait staff, labourers, and even homemakers can experience this form of pain. In many cases, the pain will go away with some minor over the counter medication and rest. There are times when the treatment doesn't work and you need to look for more long term and longer lasting options. If you are experiencing chronic back pain, here are some of the ways a chiropractor can help.
Spinal Alignment
The first step that a chiropractor will take is to x-ray your back and determine the alignment of your spine. They may also offer a physical exam to go alongside the x-rays. They will then begin to look at the alignment issues that may be causing the back pain. In some cases, it is a curvature of the spine or an alignment of the spine that can be fixed or treated with spinal manipulation done over the course of several visits. This form of spinal alignment and manipulation can be corrective and can last several days to several weeks.
Pain Management
Though the chiropractor will perform alignments and adjustments to your spine to help relieve pressure causing your back pain, they will not stop there. The adjustments may relieve the pressure, but they may not relieve the pain totally. The pain relief and management can come over several visits. For this reason, the doctor will use other techniques such as massage therapy to help soothe the muscles surrounding your back area. The massage therapy may be offered as a weekly treatment to further help with back pain treatment and management.
Heat and Cold Therapy
You may think that a chiropractor will only offer spinal manipulation and massage. Most of the chiropractors will also offer heat and cold therapy as a form of treatment as well. The heat and cold therapy for back pain treatment is generally a routine of using cold and hot packs on your back in the area of your pain source. The packs are left on for 10 minutes or more each day to help reduce inflammation that can cause pressure on the spine and further back pain.
When you are ready to seek out treatment for your chronic back pain, consider these treatments and visit your local chiropractor. They can offer you a consultation to determine your issues and what treatment options may be best for you. They can also help with insurance questions, pricing, and changes to your long-term treatment plans as needed.