Although chiropractic is dedicated to finding and correcting vertebral subluxations (also known as spinal misalignments), many patients seek chiropractic care to alleviate pain and other health-related symptoms. One main condition that chiropractic patients seek relief from is lower back pain.

Estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017–18 National Health estimate about 4.0 million Australians (16% of the population) have back problems. It is estimated that 70–90% of people will suffer from lower back pain in some form at some point in their lives.

Even though lower back pain plagues many people, finding the exact cause can be a challenge. However, chiropractors are trained extremely well to help with spinal issues, not only to help alleviate your pain but also find the cause of the problem.

As you seek help from your local chiropractor, you’ll want to keep the following things in mind:

1. Prevention Is Key

Prevention is often the best cure for low back pain. When a patient sees a chiropractor, they’ll not only find relief for the low back pain they’re experiencing, but they’ll also learn ways to prevent such pain in the future. By using proper exercise and ergonomic techniques, they can ease their pain before it even starts. Amazing results are easily obtained simply by patients listening to the instructions given by their chiropractic doctor.

2. Available Treatment Options for Back Pain

Fortunately, there are many treatment options for low back pain. Based of the diagnosis provided by your Doctor of Chiropractic, he or she will be able to suggest treatment options that will benefit you the most. Options for lower back pain treamtment may include one or more of the following:

• Spinal adjustments delivered either by hand or by an instrument like an Activator
• Hot or cold compresses
• Physical therapy modalities like Interferential Therapy or TENS
• Massage Therapy or some other form of soft tissue work
• Spinal decompression therapy

3. Getting Relief From Lower Back Pain

If you were prescribed pain medication by a medical doctor before seeing your chiropractor, it may still be required to help reduce your pain levels. The good news is that you may be able to decrease your pain medication quicker than usual as spinal misalignments are corrected, nerve compression is alleviated and inflammation is reduced. That alone is well worth the investment of time and money to see your local chiropractor.

4. Lower Back Pain Rehab Through Exercise

As your care progresses from pain relief to rehabilitation of the spine, your chiropractor will recommend certain exercises to help strengthen your core muscles which, in return, will help stabilize and protect your lower back. Typically, these exercises are demonstrated for you and performed at the chiropractic office to make sure you understand how to do them without re-aggravating your original complaint. Once you’ve been educated on their purpose and know how to perform them correctly without supervision, you’ll be able to continue them at home in conjunction with the spinal adjustments you receive at the office during maintenance care.

5. Surgery May Be Avoided

Depending on your condition, you may be able to avoid surgery if you choose to see a chiropractor before your injuries or pain become worse. In some instances, a chiropractor can help you to avoid surgery entirely by helping correct the problem instead of just masking it through pain relief.

The key is to make sure you follow the recommendations of your chiropractor after a thorough consultation and examination are performed. Part of the examination procedures may require X-rays or MRIs. These not only benefit the chiropractor when he or she is developing your treatment plan but will also give you the peace of mind that the problem will be found.

The bottom line is that a chiropractor is the ideal professional to consult with for any unexplained pain in the musculoskeletal system. They’re not only well-qualified to treat conditions like low back pain but also achieve great results in a very affordable and effective manner. If you or a loved one are suffering from low back pain, gives us a call. We’re here to help!