Longwood Chiropractor Back Pain Relief
Back pain is one of the ailments that affect many people every year. A good number of these patients are the elderly and athletic. Seeing a Longwood Chiropractor is one of the most effective ways to help deal with chronic pain in the back or acute discomfort. The pain or discomfort may be caused by injury, illness, or lifestyle issues such as living a sedentary lifestyle.
Chiropractic care can help manage pain by using different methods. It is best to see us carry out a thorough examination for people experiencing consistent pain in the lower and upper back that remains unresolved after using exercise or mild pain medication. The first thing we do during your first appointment is to get some medical history.
The history includes information such as the pain level, cause of the pain, how long the patient has had pain or discomfort, and if it has gradually increased in intensity or remains the same. Other questions we ask have to do with lifestyle habits, diet, sleeping habits, exercise habits, stress levels, and many others. We then carry out a physical examination that helps determine the severity of the injury or strain.
The medical history and the examination help us determine the kind of treatment we will administer for effective results. Because there are many ways to treat pain by chiropractic methods, we need to tell what is best for your condition. All this information helps to create an effective pain reduction and management plan. In the physical examination, we check spinal movement and mobility, and we may take some x-rays if necessary.
Different Types of Back Pain
We often categorize pain in either the lower back or upper back as acute pain or chronic pain. Acute pain occurs suddenly, which can be because of various reasons such as overextending the back, such as picking up heavy loads in the wrong posture, or a sudden awkward movement that causes the back muscles to overextend more than usual. Chronic pain is often a result of an injury, accident or incident, or disease. Stress can also cause chronic pain in the back. Chronic pain is pain that you have continually had for more than three months.
A strain is an injury in the back muscles or tendons due to tearing, twisting, or being pulled. A sprain, on the other hand, is when the back ligaments tear. Ligaments connect two or more bones in a joint and help maintain its proper range of movement. The signs of a strain are muscle spasms, cramping, and hampered movement. We can tell whether you are suffering from this type of injury during your physical examination.
When you come in to see us, we will check for pain in the whole back. Auto accidents tend to injure the entire back. When you’re in an accident, the force of the impact of the collision will place a lot of force on the spinal column, which can cause sprains, strains, breaking or fracturing bones, herniated discs, or spinal misalignments. Our Longwood Chiropractor team will help carry out treatments based on the severity of the injury and the kind of injury you have.
How We Carry Out Chiropractic Care
Based on the diagnosis we have arrived at after we have carried out a physical examination, we will come up with a variety of diagnoses. We broadly categorize the diagnosis from potentially severe muscle or joint strains to other more debilitating neurological conditions. Another diagnosis of pain in the lower back from your Longwood Chiropractor would be a nerve problem such as a pinched or compressed nerve in the back.
The final broad diagnosis is mechanical pain which is often from a sprain or strain. To get back pain relief from chiropractic care, we will carry out soft tissue therapy to relax and loosen sore muscles or those that are tight from little movement. Some of the treatments we use include manual release therapy, where we stretch the muscle while applying pressure.
We may also apply direct pressure on the sorest muscle, known as trigger point therapy. Another soft tissue therapy we use is our specially designed instruments to apply gentle sweeping pressure on the pain areas. Manual therapy also helps to regain joint motion and improve the function and range of movement where we will either stretch the joint gently or manipulate it with a quick gentle movement that stretches the joint.
We also recommend some simple exercises that you can do to help with the treatment. We also give you tips on maintaining good posture and may provide a posture aid belt to help you stand and sit straight. We also share proper load-lifting methods to prevent another injury.
Chiropractic Care Effects
We have found that different patients react differently to the treatments we carry out. Some patients will be relaxed, especially if the pain has dramatically reduced to the point where they can regain function and get comfortable after being in pain for some time. They tend to sleep well and improve back function quickly. Some will also feel energized after treatment because we have reset their back, and they can function much better than they were able to before. However, that does not mean we will not need to see them again because we recommend a couple of treatments to ensure favorable outcomes.
Some patients may experience some soreness and discomfort in the area of adjustment. However, this tends to be different from acute or chronic pain that they have suffered in the past. It usually happens because the muscles are working again if they have not been active for some time. It is for people who experience pain in the lower back or upper back because of leading relatively sedentary lifestyles. We also have found that patients who have older injuries in the back may experience some discomfort after an adjustment.
The reason for this is the old injury is reactivated for complete healing to take place and ensure a more permanent solution. If you experience pain and discomfort after an adjustment, we recommend using an ice pack for relief. If the pain is too extreme, we will place the patient after observation and readjust the treatment plan.
Benefits of Longwood chiropractic Care
There are many advantages to getting chiropractic care for back pain relief. Chiropractic Care is a safe treatment that helps our patients feel instantly better, and over time it is very effective for managing pain.
The first benefit is that the pain in the back will ease pain without surgery or using strong pain medication. The adjustments cause you to feel better without invasive surgery, which can have a long recovery time. As you continue the chiropractic treatments, you will find that back pain relief will be more permanent. Massage is gentle on the muscles and provides relief almost immediately.
It also helps you reduce your pain medication because you will get relief from the pain in your back. With the gentle movements and pressure applied, the pain reduction is immediate, and even though you may be uncomfortable after the first few treatments, you will not experience pain. The discomfort comes from your body trying to adjust to the new movements and range of motion. For patients on pain medication, you may take a milder pain killer and eventually stop your use of pain medication as you get better.
Compared to other treatment options for lower and upper pain in the back, chiropractic care is cheaper than surgery or sustained medical care by medication.
Longwood chiropractic adjustments are a more affordable option, and they give just as good or even better results than traditional medical treatments. After an adjustment, patients suffer from less pain and have an increased range of movement and better mobility. It results in better posture, improved athletic performance, and better mobility.
After Care
While we continue to carry out regular adjustments, it is essential that you also take care of yourself by carrying out the recommended exercises. Where you need to use an ice pack or stretch gently, do so for even more improvement in your back function and mobility. We are always available if you feel discomfort and will help you walk the journey until you feel much better.
If you would like to find out more chiropractic care or even find out if you can get help for back pain, you are welcome for a free consultation. We will provide a free consultation so that you can decide if this is an option for you.
FIND A BACK PAIN SPECIALIST
Dr. J. (Valerie) Johnson
OFFICE HOURS
Monday
7:30am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Tuesday
7:30am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesday
7:30am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Thursday
7:30am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Friday
7:30am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 5:00pm
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