Effective Spinal Therapy for Low Back Pain
By Debra Rodzinak
Two years ago, I pulled something in my back while exercising. I felt like a 95-year-old, hunched over and walking gently. I couldn’t stand up straight without excruciating pain. I decided to go to my doctor and he suggested I see a chiropractor while I was waiting to see the back specialist. Since my appointment with the back specialist wasn’t until a month later, I decided to give the chiropractor a try.
I will have to admit, I was skeptical at first, and a little scared. I had never been to a chiropractor before and didn’t know what to expect. What I found out changed my life.
Game-Changer
After a few sessions during the next week, my back pain subsided considerably to the point where I actually cancelled my specialist appointment. My chiropractor showed me what I had done wrong in lifting, and encouraged me to go back and try it again using the correct lifting method along with particular back exercises to strengthen my lower back muscles. He was right.
A study reported by PubMed in 2009 found that patients who received spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) had an immediate response to pain sensitivity in those who had lower back pain. This seemed to be true in my case. After one treatment, I woke up the next morning expecting to slowly roll out of bed and crawl to the bathroom. I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to stand up straight and walk down the hall with no pain, just a little soreness which went away in a few days.
Another study, this one reported in The Spine Journal, notes that patients who received SMT experienced a significantly greater reduction in perceived debilitating pain. This seemed to be true in my case of back pain.
I ended up going back to my chiropractor several more times for treatment of other back, neck, and hip pains I got during the next few years. Each trip brought relief to my stiff and sore joints and muscles.
If you experience back pain, consult with your doctor first, then drop by The Joint Chiropractic for an all natural, gentle adjustment. With no pesky insurance forms to fill out or long weeks of waiting for an appointment to see a specialist, The Joint features low prices that are often lower than insurance copays. Extended weekday and weekend hours makes a visit to the chiropractors at The Joint easy on your wallet as well as your back.