Tag: chiropractor

Discover the Truth about Lower Back Pain Causes

When most people think of lower back pain causes, they immediately think of injuries caused by lifting items improperly or sitting at a desk for an extended period of time. Those things certainly cause the majority of the lower back pain that doctors treat every day. However, they aren’t the only causes of lower back pain.

One of the lower back pain causes that is often overlooked is a kidney infection. Obviously, not all lower back pain will be caused by a kidney infection but it should definitely be kept in mind, especially if a person doesn’t recall injuring their back in any way, shape, or form recently. Kidney infections are often accompanied by a fever. Most often, the fever can spike rather high. Kidney infections are a serious emergency and need to be treated right away. If left untreated, permanent kidney damage can result.

Another potential lower back pain cause is having a spine that isn’t aligned properly. Proper alignment of the spine is crucial not for just lower back health but body health in general. Pinched nerves and reduced blood flow can result if a person’s spine is even the tiniest bit out of alignment. Thankfully, a misaligned spine is easy to fix.

A trip to the chiropractor’s is usually all that’s needed to get everything straight again. If the problem is particularly bad or been left untreated for a long time, multiple trips might be needed to get everything perfectly in alignment again. Fortunately, most chiropractor appointments are inexpensive. Even if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover a chiropractor, you should still be able to afford the appointments you’ll need.

A pinched nerve is also one of the lower back pain causes. Pinched nerves can be extremely painful, depending on where the nerve is pinched at. You can get a shooting pain from a pinched nerve when you move certain ways. Occasionally, the pain can even feel like a constant stabbing pain. Either way, a pinched nerve will need to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

Obviously, the most common lower back pain causes are muscle injuries of one sort or another. Muscle injuries tend to be throbbing in nature while nerve injuries feel like stabbing, shooting pains. Since muscle injuries to the lower back are fairly common, it’s easy to find products you can purchase over the counter to help ease the aches and pains you may be feeling. Medications, heat wraps, and ice are commonly prescribed. Exercise and stretching can help heal an injured lower back quickly and prevent injuries from happening in the future.

Lower back pain doesn’t need to be a part of life. It can be avoided all together in most instances. All you need to do is listen to what your body is telling you, learn proper lifting techniques, and become familiar with the various lower back pain causes. Being educated about them will help prevent injuries in the future.

Chiropractic Care: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you suffer from joint pain? Do you find it difficult to move or function from day-to-day? If so, you can benefit from chiropractic care. But wait! What is it? What are the benefits? What types of procedures are offered? If these are some of the questions you have, continue reading on for the answers.

Question: What is chiropractic care?

Answer: It is medical care that is deemed natural. Chiropractors will rely on the x-rays and MRIs to make proper diagnosis, but that is usually it in terms of medical tools and technology. They operate with a hands on approach. This approach is known as manual therapy. Often times, most physicians only treat the problem causing symptoms of pain and discomfort. Chiropractors want to treat these symptoms too, but they go directly to the source and fix it.

Questions: What type of problems can chiropractic care treat?

Answer: Just about anything. If you suffer from pain and discomfort, a chiropractor should be able to provide you with relief. This relief may not be immediate, as diagnosis and proper treatment plan must first happen. Chiropractic care typically involves therapeutic massages or realignment. It has been used to treat the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis, whiplash, and sports injuries.

Question: Who can undergo chiropractic care?

Answer: Just about anyone. You will rarely find any restrictions or age requirements. If they do exist, they are the doctors own personal preferences. Chiropractic care, when properly performed, is safe for individuals of all ages, including children and the elderly. In fact, pregnant woman can benefit from it. For most, it makes birth easier and less painful.

Question: What type of schooling and experience must chiropractors have?

Answer: Requirements vary depending on state. What you want to look for, as a patient, is a doctor with a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. There are various tests that one has to undergo and pass. Once again, these vary by state. To receive a state license, more testing is required. As for schooling, it is usually an ongoing practice. New techniques are developed each year and tips are regularly shared between professionals. Many chiropractors continue their schooling and attend yearly chiropractic conferences. This is not usually required, but done to better their skills and treatment.

Question: Does chiropractic care work?

Answer. Yes. Many individuals and some medical professionals write off chiropractic care as a questionable form of alternative medicine. This is not the truth. In fact, chiropractic care is very successful. Millions of men, women, and children have used the services of a chiropractor worldwide. Many opt for continued treatment and care. They wouldnt if they didnt notice an improvement in mobility and a reduction in pain.

Question: Can I do my own chiropractic care at home?

Answer: No, you shouldnt. Many mistakenly believe that since chiropractic care involves using the hands, it can be done at home. Yes, manual therapy does involve the use of the hands, but it is much more than that. Precision is required. Chiropractic adjustments are used to decrease pain and improve mobility in locked up joints. Yes, the hands apply force, but if you are not accurate more damage and pain is likely.

Question: Is chiropractic care long-term?

Answer: It depends. It all depends on the severity of your pain, the frequency, and your chiropractors choice of treatment. For example, if headaches are caused by spinal distortion, vertebrae realignment is performed. A chiropractor may suggest a few follow-up appointments, but treatment is usually short. On the other hand, those suffering from osteoarthritis deal with pain and daily. Therapeutic massages will reduce the pain, but continued treatment is best for long-lasting pain relief.

Question: What makes chiropractic care better than traditional forms of medicine?

Answer: A lot. For starters, it is important to note that chiropractors do not discourage seeing a primary care physician. Chiropractors specialize in alleviating pain and improving mobility, not curing cancer or treating the flu. As for the benefits, there are no drugs. Chiropractors are unable to perform surgery and write prescriptions. Your treatment is 100% natural. This is less intimidating and the recovery time is short. In fact, there rarely is a recovery period. Continued physical therapy or therapeutic massages may be suggested, but there is never any hospitalization.

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Chiropractic Care and Headaches

Do you suffer from constant or severe headaches? If so, you may do what most Americans do. That is simply just reach for the medicine cabinet. Yes, most over-the-counter products can relieve headache pains, but that relief is short-lived. Instead of masking the pain with over-the-counter products, seek a proper diagnosis and long-term relief. You can do so with chiropractic care.

What is chiropractic care? It is a field of medicine. Some classify it as alternative medicine. It all depends on who you ask and their openness towards the subject. Traditional physicians rely on their knowledge, medical tools, and medication to treat pain. Chiropractors focus on manual therapy. The hands and usually the hands alone provide it. Common treatments offered by chiropractors include therapeutic massages and manipulative realignments.

Doesnt a chiropractor only specialize in back pains? This is a common misconception. Chiropractors tend to focus on the spine, but you may be surprised how many ways the spine and its condition impacts our body. Many chiropractors have years of experience helping patients diagnose, treat, and manage all types of pain, including headache pain.

Why should you see a chiropractor if you suffer from severe or constant headaches? Headaches have many causes. Daily stress cause most, but there may be a more serious underlying problem. For example, those who have chronic muscle contractions may experience a spinal distortion, a cause of headaches. Car accident victims commonly suffer from whiplash. If improperly treated, this can also lead to headaches. Without treatment, the pain will continue and it may get worse overtime.

How does chiropractic care help headaches? It all depends on their cause. If everyday stress is to blame, a chiropractor may suggest relaxing exercises at home or regular in-office therapeutic massages. If headaches are caused by spinal distortion, a vertebrae alignment may be performed. This alleviates the pressure from nerves, which should reduce headache pain and frequency.

Will the headaches stop after seeking chiropractic care? Yes and no. First, it is important to remember that headaches are caused by many factors. If your cause is due to spinal distortion, vertebrae realignment will help. This will reduce the frequency of headaches caused by this specific problem. But, you may get another headache from just having a bad day at work. You and your chiropractor will work together to achieve long-term pain relief. In addition to therapeutic massages, trigger factors will be discussed. You will later need to avoid these triggers.

What should you ask your chiropractor after treatment? Many patients mistakenly believe they are treated and no longer need to seek treatment. Chiropractic care does not mean long-term care. Before parting ways, however, pick your chiropractors brain for suggestions to later prevent headache pain or lessens the severity. As previously stated, trigger factors need to be eliminated. Not only that, proper posture is important. This is a chiropractors specialty. Ask them about natural ways to prevent pain, including relaxation and proper posture.

In short, headaches have many causes. Daily stress is not the only cause. Dont mask the pain. See what you can do to get long-term and long-lasting relief. So, the next time you get a severe, long-lasting, or recurring headache, dont head to the medicine cabinet. Instead, head to your local phone book. Find the contact information for a local chiropractic care specialist and see what they can do for you.

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Chiropractic Care and Back Pain

At one point in time, we all experience back pain. For some, it was just exercising too hard or improperly lifting a box. These types of back pains are usually minor and the pain will subside with time and self-care. There are however, instances in which back pain is more serious and when medical care is needed.

When suffering from back pain, most individuals head to their primary care physician. If this is your only option, this is fine. But, if you have the financial resources needed to pay for your own appointments or if chiropractic care is covered by your health insurance, head to a chiropractor. Why? Because the care is better and safer.

What is chiropractic care? Chiropractic care is the natural practice of medicine. It relies on manual therapy. This involves the use of the hands. Medical tools, such as sonograms, x-rays, or MRIs, may be used to diagnose a problem, but the hands only usually provide treatment. Popular procedures performed by chiropractors include therapeutic massages and chiropractic adjustments. This involves using precise force to thrust a joint back into place or to extend it past its current ability to move.

How does treatment for back pain vary from traditional forms of health care? If you visit your primary care physician to seek pain relief, he or she will usually tell you to take an easy and prescribe pain medication. This only temporarily relieves the pain. Not all forms of back pain heal themselves. A slipped disk or another spinal or joint problem may be to blame. Pain pills and rest will not solve the problem, but chiropractors do. They will manipulate the spine and the back to elevate pain and improve mobility.

Does chiropractic care automatically mean ongoing care? No. Many people mistakenly believe that once you visit a chiropractor, you must continue going. Some chiropractors do recommend continued care, but not always. For example, if an adjustment or spinal manipulation is used, you may need to return for a small amount of therapy or just a follow-up appointment. During that appointment, your chiropractor will share ways to stop pain at home. This will include showing you how to properly lift boxes, sit at a computer and so forth. They may ask you to return in another six months to monitor the progress.

How does one find a chiropractor? Unless you already knew the benefits of chiropractic care, you might not have given chiropractors any thought. You may have driven by two or three offices a day and never noticed. It is easy to find chiropractors. They are everywhere. Your town or a nearby town should have at least two to choose from. As for how you can find them, local phonebooks, online business directories, insurance providers, recommendations from those you know, and by performing a standard internet search.

How does one choose a chiropractor? You now know how to find chiropractors, but how do you choose one? If covered by health insurance, check with your provider. Some offer moneysaving discounts to those who go with special in-network providers. If not, opt for a chiropractor who accepts your insurance. If uninsured, opt for the chiropractor with the most affordable rates or one who offers flexible payment plans.

In conclusion, if you suffer from back pain or discomfort, dont suffer in silence any longer. Dont just mask your symptoms. Recurring back pain is a sign that something is wrong. A licensed chiropractor cannot only find the problem, but treat it with no surgery, non-invasive procedures, and with no medication.

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