When Back Pain Hits, See a Chiropractor for Relief
By Stephen R. Farris
When back pain strikes, it can leave you with a helpless feeling, especially in the lower region of the spine. You don't feel like doing anything except sitting down or lying on your bed, hoping the pain will ease up and go away. Sometimes it will, but in most cases, it will linger on for a period of time.
You might grab some pain medications to help, but oftentimes it's only a temporary fix. And if the pain persists for long periods, there's always a chance of getting hooked on pain meds. Sometimes the best medicine is to keep moving, exercise and/or massage the area that hurts. It could only be a sore muscle or slightly pinched nerve. Exercising or massage could loosen up the muscle or nerve and provide relief.
If all else fails and the pain worsens, then it's probably time to pay your local chiropractor a visit to seek relief. So what can a chiropractor do? Let's take a look.
Initial Visit
During your first visit to a chiropractor, you should tell them about the area where the pain hurts the most. He/she will examine you and talk with you about treatment options and how long they may take. Chiropractors use a hands-on approach to manipulate the spine and realign it. It's all natural and there's no medication you'll need to take. Their primary goal is to give you relief so that you may return to your active lifestyle.
Exercise
Between your treatments, your chiropractor will suggest stretching exercises you may do at home to help speed up the recovery process for the area being treated. If you're not familiar with the stretches he/she suggests, simply ask them to demonstrate proper technique. They'll be more than glad to accommodate your request.
Nutrition
Not only can your local chiropractor help relieve your back, neck and joint pain, they can also give you tips and suggestions on proper nutrition. A healthy, balanced diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and lean portions of meat, such as fish, chicken, beef and turkey, can give your body the needed minerals and nutrients it needs to aid in the recovery process.
And if you have questions or concerns about your overall health and well-being, don't hesitate to talk to your chiropractor about those as well.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sacramento, Calif.