People searching “chiropractor near me” are usually wondering will chiropractic care help with back pain? The answer is usually YES! Back pain is the chiropractic specialty, although if you ask most chiropractors what their role is you will get varied answers such as “optimize nervous system function” “holistic pain management” “injury prevention” “athletic performance optimization” or even “posture correction”. At the root of all these however is a unique way to holistically manage chronic pain.
The different kinds of chronic pain that chiropractors treat are neck pain, back pain, headaches, shoulder pain, knee pain etc. 3% of ER visits in America are due to acute low back pain, and over 25 million Americans will visit their GP for treatment for chronic low back pain. Chiropractors are special in that they offer a way to manage pain holistically without the use of medications or invasive procedures.
How does is it work?
It usually works like this: your first visit to the chiropractor is an evaluation to assess if yours is a problem that they can help. That usually includes a detailed health history, orthopedic and physical exam, postural eval and x-rays. It may include other assessments like spinal scans or muscle tests.
After this, the chiropractor will determine if you are a good candidate for care and begin treatment which will usually include a combination of spinal manipulation (adjustments – either manual or with an instrument) exercises (like a PT would prescribe) and modalities (therapies such as traction, spinal decompression, muscle STIM, laser therapy etc).
Will I be Treated On That First Appointment?
A lot of people scheduling appointments to see if chiropractic can help with back pain are in fact in pain! This is why most people ask (and rightly so) “so will I be treated at my first appointment”? The answer varies, but the majority of chiropractors will not treat you the same day as your initial evaluation. This is why if you are wondering if chiropractic care will help back pain and you want to get adjusted, the doctor may not begin your treatment on that first visit.
It’s incredibly important for your spinal health for the chiropractor to assess whether your condition is one that can be safely treated with chiropractic care or if your condition is one that is necessary to refer to a specialist. Most chiropractors will not treat on the first appointment that you see them. But once it’s safely determined that your back pain is due to a condition that can be treated by a chiropractor, your treatment can begin right away.
Chiropractic Helps With Back Pain
The chiropractic specialty is managing conditions that cause low back pain, like disc injuries (slipped discs), arthritis, stenosis, sprains/strains, whiplash etc. It’s so effective at holistically managing pain. In fact, it’s played a vital role in assuaging the effects of the opioid epidemic.
Over prescribing of highly addictive medications is not a sustainable way to help people suffering with back injuries and pain. Noninvasive, holistic, comfortable chiropractic care is often a superb solution for managing your back pain.
Wondering if you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care? Wondering if chiropractic care will help with your back pain? Schedule your initial evaluation with us to find out or contact us to help you find a qualified practitioner in your area.