Should You See a Chiropractor for Back Pain?

Should You See a Chiropractor for Back Pain?

Back pain is one of the most common types of pain people suffer from. One of the best forms of treatment for back pain is chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors are experts in treating upper and lower back pain. They also treat neck pain, and many other spine-related conditions.  

What Type of Conditions Does a Chiropractor Treat?  

A chiropractor treats conditions relating to the upper back, lower back, and the neck. Pain in these areas may be caused by an injury, poor posture, disc problems, or muscle spasms. Chiropractors also can treat pain in the head, shoulders, arm, hip, knee, ankle or foot.  

Auto accidents are one of the most common causes back and neck pain. Chiropractors are experts at treating is pain, such as whiplash. They also can treat back pain for women who are pregnant or are postpartum.  

How Can a Chiropractor Help with Back Pain?  

A chiropractor can provide pain relief for back pain using natural treatments. These can include manual adjustments (spinal manipulation), dry needling, cupping, and muscle and soft tissue work.  

By going to a chiropractor first to treat your pain, you avoid the risk of injections or surgery. These can be invasive and cause complications and longer recovery times. They can also lead to drug-dependency issues such as opioid addiction.  

pain holding his lower back because of pain needing to go to the chiropractor

What Type of Treatments Does a Chiropractor Offer? 

A chiropractor offers treatments such as manual manipulation, dry needling, cupping, soft tissue work and joint mobilization to holistically treat back and neck pain. These treatments work to release tension in the muscles. They help deliver blood and oxygen back into the area of injury or pain. Manual (or spinal) manipulations correct any misalignments in the body. Misalignments can lead to imbalances that cause pain or discomfort.  

A chiropractor can also prescribe you a series of at-home exercises. These exercises will help strengthen the surrounding areas around your injury. They can also provide tips and guidelines for other exercises that will not cause pain.  

What Should I Expect at My First Chiropractic Visit?  

During your first visit to the chiropractor, you will meet with a doctor to discuss your area of pain. You will also go over any medical history. They will discuss any concerns you have about treatment and answer any questions.  

Next the doctor will complete a full examination. This will assess the aspects of your pain and the surrounding areas. They will also check for any movement intolerances or imbalances. The chiropractor will look at your body’s alignment, muscle tone, and nerve function. They will review how your body is moving, your flexibility, and anything contributing to the symptoms you’re having. 

After the exam, the doctor will review their findings. They will create an individualized treatment plan specific to your pain and injury. The doctor will also work with you to prescribe at-home exercises. These will help you progress in your treatment quicker. They will also ensure you see longer lasting results.  

At Kaizo Health, we offer all our patients a free downloadable app. Our app allows you to view your at-home exercise plan, communicate with your care team and even earn rewards. 

Are Chiropractic Treatments Safe?  

Chiropractic care is completely safe, gentle and a natural path to a healthy recovery. It’s a natural form of treatment without the need of medication or drugs. We recommend ensuring that the chiropractor you are seeing is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic. They should use evidence-based techniques. Evidence-based techniques have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective. 

You may feel sore after your initial few visits because you are working the joints and muscles. This soreness typically dissolves in 24 hours. This can actually be a good sign that the body is naturally working to heal itself. 

Chiropractic care, especially combined with rehab exercises, restores the body’s function. It works to reduce pain and prevent injuries from occurring in the future.  

picture of man getting chiropractic adjustment for his back pain in maryland

How Often Do I Need to See a Chiropractor for Back Pain?  

Most people start off seeing the chiropractor once or twice a week. Each individualized treatment plan is created based on the patient. The exact number of treatments might differ depending on the severity of pain or injury. Treatments will decrease once a patient starts to see progress in their symptoms. Once a patient has completed all treatment appointments, they will receive another evaluation. If the chiropractor believes the patient is better, they will discharge the patient. 

Sometimes a patient will need to come in for follow up treatment for their back or neck pain. But our goal is always to provide pain-relief for the long haul and not have to see our patients again!  
 

Get Treated at Kaizo Health    

Our goal at Kaizo Health is to always get you back to feeling 100%. Our doctors provide treatment to help you be pain-free. We also have a dedicated team that will work with you and your insurance. We want to make sure you get the most from your benefits. You should experience relief for as little cost to you as possible. If you are ready to experience relief from the pain, make an appointment to see us now.    

Kaizo Health offers locations in Rockville, MD; Landover, MD; Fort Washington, MD; and Fairfax, VA. Our doctors an evidence-based approach by combining chiropractic care and individualized rehabilitative exercises. We provide the treatment and resources you need to recover your health. We are here to help! If you’d like more information, check out our blog. You can also take our free virtual self-assessment on app here