Chiropractic Care For Your Back Pain: What You Need To Know
If you ever suffer from back pain, chiropractic care may be a treatment option you want to consider. Chiropractic care includes manual manipulation of the spine to help relieve back pain and improve overall bodily function. The following are some things you should know about chiropractic care for back pain:
How Does a Chiropractor Treat Back Pain?
If you are looking for a more conservative approach to treating your back pain rather than going through an invasive surgical procedure, chiropractic care may be an option. The chiropractor will manipulate your spine to improve the mobility of the joints, including the neck, middle and lower back, and the pelvis. This manipulation can help improve muscle tightness, which is often the root cause of back pain. Chiropractic care also helps treat the nervous system by reducing the irritation that causes pain and numbness in the back, arms, and legs.
What Should You Expect at Your First Appointment?
At your first chiropractic appointment, you will provide a medical history just like you would for other medical providers. You will be asked questions about the genesis of your pain, how long you have been in pain, the impact the pain has had on your life, and any other symptoms you have. You will also have a series of X-rays taken to see the current condition of your spine. Depending on your condition and your provider, you may also be asked to do some bloodwork. The chiropractor may have you do a series of exercises prior to your spinal manipulation. This includes seeing how well you can bend, turn, and twist. Your chiropractor will then perform the spinal manipulation.
Does Spinal Manipulation Hurt?
After your treatment, you may notice some soreness. You might also feel tired. These symptoms should go away by the next day.
How Often Should You Go to the Chiropractor?
The frequency of your visits to the chiropractor will vary based on your condition. You should expect to see your chiropractor on at least a weekly basis until your pain begins to minimize. If your back pain is especially painful, you may initially see the chiropractor daily. If your pain subsides but reemerges later, plan to make an appointment to see your chiropractor as often as you need to feel relief.
Back pain can be debilitating, but not everyone wants to take medication or have invasive procedures to treat it. If you are interested in seeing a chiropractor for your back pain, visit a local practitioner in your area to learn more about your treatment options.
