Chiropractic care for back pain

Chiropractic care is a way to diagnose and treat health problems that affect the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of the body. A health care provider who provides chiropractic care is called a chiropractor.

Hands-on adjustment of the spine, called spinal manipulation, is the basis of chiropractic care. Most chiropractors also use other types of treatments as well.

What Happens During a Visit to a Chiropractor?

The first visit most often lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Your chiropractor will ask about your goals for treatment and your health history. You will be asked about your:

• Past injuries and illnesses
• Current health problems
• Any medicines you are taking
• Lifestyle
• Diet
• Sleep habits
• Exercise
• Mental stresses you might have
• Use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco

Tell your chiropractor about any physical problems you may have that make it hard for you to do certain things. Also tell your chiropractor if you have any numbness, tingling, weakness, or any other nerve problems.

After asking you about your health, your chiropractor will do a physical exam. This will include testing your spinal mobility (how well your spine moves). Your chiropractor may also do some tests, such as checking your blood pressure and taking x-rays. These tests look for problems that might be adding to your back pain.

Treatment begins at the first or second visit in most cases.

• You may be asked to lie on a special table, where the chiropractor does the spinal manipulations.
• The most common treatment is manipulation done by hand. It involves moving a joint in your spine to the end of its range, followed by a light thrust. This is often called an "adjustment." It realigns the bones of your spine to make them straighter.
• The chiropractor may also do other treatments, like massage and other work on soft tissues.

Some people are a little achy, stiff, and tired for a few days after their manipulations. This is because their bodies are adjusting to their new alignment. You should not feel any pain from the manipulation.

How Many Treatments Will You Need?

More than one session is most often needed to correct a problem. Treatments generally last several weeks. Your chiropractor may suggest 2 or 3 short sessions a week at first. These would last only about 10 to 20 minutes each. Once you start improving, your treatments may be just once a week. You and your chiropractor will talk about how effective the treatment is based on the goals you discussed in your first session.

What Conditions Does Chiropractic Treat Best?

Chiropractic treatment is most effective for:

• Subacute back pain (pain that has been present for 3 months or less)

  Subacute back pain

  Low back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficult...

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Flare-ups of chronic (long-term) back pain

  Chronic (long-term) back pain

  Low back pain refers to pain that you feel in your lower back. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficult...

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Neck pain

Who Should Not Be Treated with Chiropractic?

People should not have chiropractic treatment in the parts of their bodies that are affected by:

• Bone fractures or bone tumors

  Bone tumors

  A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within a bone. A bone tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Severe arthritis

  Arthritis

  Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis....

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Bone or joint infections
• Severe osteoporosis (thinning bones)

  Osteoporosis

  Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Very rarely, manipulation of the neck may damage blood vessels or cause strokes . It is also very rare that manipulation may worsen a condition. But the screening process your chiropractor does at your first visit is meant to see if you might be at high risk for these problems. If you are, your chiropractor will not do neck manipulation.