Back pain is common and a major reason people take time off work. But getting back on your feet as quickly as possible is important. A doctor can diagnose a back problem by asking about your symptoms and doing a physical exam. Other tests may include an MRI or CT scan to reveal issues such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis. For more information, click Visit Website to proceed.
Chiropractors are known for treating back pain, but many people do not realize these professionals can also help treat several other conditions. Their services include manual therapies like massage, manipulation, and trigger point therapy that release tension in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons around the spine. They also use traction devices to stretch the spine, reduce pressure on the discs, and relieve nerve compression (nonsurgical spinal decompression).
Most commonly, chiropractors perform a type of treatment called spinal manipulation or adjustment. This is a hands-on therapy that involves applying controlled thrusts to the spine. It works to correct bones in the spine that have moved out of place, a condition known as spinal subluxation. It helps to relieve back pain and restore function. Spinal manipulation is the only type of chiropractic care that Medicare Part B covers.
A chiropractor may also use other types of manual treatments to ease back pain, such as myofascial release and trigger point therapy. These techniques work to relieve tension in the muscles, ligaments, and
Chiropractors also use traction therapy to stretch and massage the back. They also use electrical stimulation, including the most common form, TENS, to block pain signals from being sent along the nerves and to release the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins. They may also utilize hydrotherapy, including cold or hot stimuli, to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain.
Osteopathy is an approach to manual therapy that seeks to find the cause of your pain, not just treat the symptoms. It’s a primary healthcare profession that can diagnose back problems and is often used alongside other treatment options, such as physiotherapy. It can help with rehabilitation and prevention of future episodes of pain.
There are several causes of back pain, the most common being problems with the musculoskeletal system – the bones of your spine (backbones or vertebrae), disks, and muscles. This can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild pain and stiffness to sharp, unrelenting pain or numbness in the legs. The back supports the upper body’s weight and can be easily strained through bad posture, lifting heavy objects, or twisting or bending awkwardly.
Your osteopathic practitioner will take a full case history to discover any factors that may have contributed to your current condition, for example, previous accidents/fractures, significant life events (like childbirth), surgeries, or habits (like smoking). They will then perform a comprehensive osteopathic examination, including palpation of the spine, hips, sacroiliac joints, and other soft tissues such as ligaments and muscles. They will also examine your breathing, mobility of the joints, how your spine moves, and any patterns that have developed that could be sustaining your back pain.
The osteopathic treatment they will use depends on the underlying cause of your back pain. It will generally include gentle manipulation and mobilization of the spine, articulation of the spine, and soft tissue massage. They might also use myofascial release techniques to stretch out tight muscles and lymphatic pumping techniques, which are based on the theory that a blockage in fluid flow around the body can contribute to health problems, including back pain. They also teach you simple home exercises to do between treatments to help improve and maintain the outcome of your treatment. These include arching and relaxing the back, sitting on hands and knees to lift your head off the ground and lower it toward the ceiling or floor, or simply putting your arms behind your head and pulling them up towards your chest.
Physical therapy, or PT, is one of the most beneficial and long-lasting treatments for back pain. Unlike medications and injections, PT is designed to treat the root cause of your pain. During your initial evaluation, your therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan to address the root causes of your pain and reduce your symptoms.
Your physical therapist will ask questions and thoroughly examine how your spine and supporting structures function. They will also consider your current health and lifestyle to help you make the best decision for your recovery. For example, your PT may suggest certain activities to prevent further injury or increase your recovery speed.
A therapist can also help you learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of your back injury so that you can seek prompt care. For instance, if you feel a sudden sharp pain in your back, if it is accompanied by numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, or if it is accompanied by fever, night sweats, bladder or bowel incontinence, see a doctor immediately.
Once your therapist has an idea of what is causing your pain, they will use passive and active therapeutic techniques to alleviate the symptoms. This may involve heat or cold therapy, massage or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), or specific stretching and strengthening exercises.
Your therapist will also educate you on how to take better care of your back and teach you the skills to prevent back injuries and pain in the future. This includes recommendations on proper posture, lifting, bending, sleeping, and sitting positions.
PT is a safe and non-invasive treatment that patients of all ages can use. Unless there is a reason that a patient should not undergo PT, such as surgery or a life-threatening emergency, patients are advised to undergo a trial of PT before considering other treatment options. Research has shown that people who experience PT recover faster than those who do not. Moreover, PT is more cost-effective than other treatment options, such as medications or injections.
Back pain specialists focus on managing pain safely and effectively without surgery. They use various nonsurgical techniques, including pain medications, physical therapy, and exercise, to help patients manage their back pain. They may also suggest acupuncture and spinal manipulation as part of their treatment plan.
Most people who have back pain can get better by learning to manage it with lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and over-the-counter or prescription-grade anti-inflammatory drugs. A specialist may recommend other treatments, such as a nerve block injection, where an anesthetic and steroid are injected into the area of the spine that’s causing pain. Or they may try radiofrequency ablation, where a needle is placed in the spinal cord and zapped with an electric current created by radio waves to short-circuit pain signals. Pain specialists may also try transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, where low-voltage electric pulses are delivered through pads attached to the skin to interrupt pain signals in the brain or stimulate the production of natural painkillers.
A physiotherapist can teach patients exercises and stretches that strengthen the core muscles that support the spine, improve flexibility and balance, and promote good posture to protect the back. They may also prescribe a course of back-pain-specific exercise to speed up the recovery process and prevent future back problems.
Massage can ease back pain by loosening tight muscles and promoting the circulation of blood and fluids to the affected areas. It can also reduce stress, a common cause of back pain. Studies show that regular massages over ten weeks improved pain and function for people with chronic back pain.
In some cases, if the back pain is severe or has not responded to other treatments, a specialist may prescribe muscle relaxants and narcotics to relieve pain temporarily. They may also suggest a procedure known as spinal manipulation, where a trained practitioner manipulates the skeletal system to return it to its normal position. This can help heal the area by releasing the pressure on the spinal nerves, discs, and vertebrae