Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America. In fact, the National Library of Medicine points out that nearly 8 out of 10 people suffer from it at some point in their lives. In many of these instances, back pain can be attributed to muscle strain – perhaps you spent too long bent over weeding your garden, or maybe you slept in the wrong position after a long day of hard work.
In these situations, the discomfort goes away on its own. However, that’s not the case for all patients. If you’ve tried over the counter pain medication, heat or ice packs, and rest to no avail, it might be time to consider visiting a chiropractor. Why make an appointment with a chiropractic office rather than your family doctor? Actually, there are quite a few reasons.
Your Doctor Can’t Treat It
If you decide to visit your primary care physician for help with back pain, chances are good that you’re going to be more than a little disappointed with the results. In fact, a Consumer Reports study found that only 34% of patients seeing a doctor for back pain were satisfied with the outcome. That might surprise many people, but it makes a lot of sense. Your primary care physician can only offer a limited number of options if the condition isn’t caused by an underlying disease or illness. He or she may be able to write a prescription for pain medication, but that’s only managing the symptoms, not treating the underlying problem. A chiropractor has the experience, training, and skill necessary to help resolve the true issue, not just provide a temporary fix for the discomfort.
No Surgery
For severe, prolonged lower back pain, most doctors will eventually recommend surgery. Spinal surgery has definitely advanced in recent years, but it remains an invasive, lengthy, potentially dangerous process. Chiropractic treatment is completely noninvasive, and provides you with a solution to your discomfort without the worries and fears that come with surgery (as well as no lengthy recovery time). Often, results are seen after just a single session, providing immediate relief to your pain.
No Prescription Medications
Sure, pain medication can be incredibly helpful, but that comes at a cost. All medications have side effects, even if they aren’t immediately detrimental to your health. Simple ibuprofen, when used over an extended period of time, leads to damage to the stomach lining. Tylenol is famous for causing liver damage. And these are over the counter drugs. Imagine the damage caused by stronger prescription medication. Add to that the financial cost, and you have a compelling reason to try an alternative that doesn’t require prescription medication. If you need more proof, only 45% of people who are prescribed medication for back pain found it to be beneficial (and only 22% of those taking OTC pain medication found relief).
More Than Just Back Pain
While lower back pain might be the most common reason for visiting a chiropractor, you’ll find that these professionals are able to provide solutions for many other conditions. The right practitioner can help with headaches, migraines, hip pain/sciatica, neck pain, and even ear infections and other conditions. If you think chiropractic care is limited to eliminating back pain, it might be time to take a second look.
Beyond the Spine
As mentioned, a chiropractor can help with many other problems beyond back pain. In fact, most take a holistic, whole-body view of health that goes far beyond musculature or spinal manipulation. While the body is certainly comprised of different parts, it’s a single system. When something is lacking in one area, it has an effect on the whole. Your chiropractor will be able to examine you and recommend changes to things like your diet and amount of exercise to improve your overall health, not just your back pain.
A Complete Treatment Plan
If you think that chiropractic care is relegated to a single session, or a limited series of sessions, you might be surprised to learn that your chiropractor will actually come up with a complete treatment plan for your condition. During your initial consultation, your health and physical condition will be assessed, and then the chiropractor will create a treatment plan based on the extent of your injury, your general health, the condition of your spine, and your overall goals.
Immediate Relief
With conventional, Western medicine, relief can be a long time coming–if it comes at all. With chiropractic care, you may be able to find complete relief after just a single session. Most patients report a significant amount of relief after their initial session, with complete relief by the second or third. All this and you don’t have to take any pills or set foot in a surgical center.
As you can see, there are plenty of compelling reasons to consider a chiropractor to help with your back pain. Whether you suffer from injury-related pain, or you simply have on again/off again discomfort in your back, a chiropractor can assess the situation and create a holistic, noninvasive solution that will have you feeling better than ever in no time at all.
Of course, the right practitioner can also offer additional solutions. At Advanced Chiropractic and Holistic Wellness Center, we can help with problems ranging from allergies to blood pressure, cholesterol, infection, and even learning disabilities and mental health. Dr. Cohen practices holistic, integrated medicine that treats the underlying cause of your ill health, rather than focusing on simply treating the symptoms. In addition, there’s no “one size fits all” service here. Each consultation is customized around your unique physiology for personalized treatment unlike anything you’ve experienced.
Contact our office today to learn more about our services or how Dr. Cohen can help you on the road to better health and whole body wellness.