Recently, many of our patients have been commenting on a well-publicized article published in the New York Times regarding back pain. The original article can be read at this link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/health/lower-back-pain-surgery-guidelines.html
In the past, the medical treatment for low back pain included a significant reliance on prescription pain medications such as pain killers and muscle relaxants. Additional medical procedures to treat back pain included cortisone injections, epidural injections and spinal surgery. Treatment protocols such as these go back decades in the medical community.
In February 2017, the American College of Physicians released new guidelines addressing the treatment of low back pain. Physicians are now instructed NOT to offer prescription drugs as the first line of defense in back pain. As the opioid epidemic in the United States has reached new heights, the overuse of prescription pain killers has become a major problem in our country.
The American College of Physicians now recommends conservative treatments first in response to back pain. Suggested treatments include chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy, exercise and acupuncture. Additionally, the guidelines stressed the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle while trying to overcome back pain.
These guidelines mark a tremendous shift in the medical and chiropractic community. Over the past century, Medical Doctors and Chiropractic Physicians are at odds over how to approach back pain. Generally, Medical Doctors are more inclined to recommend prescription pain killers, injections and invasive surgery, while chiropractors encourage spinal manipulation, exercise, lifestyle change and other forms of conservative care.
At Precision Chiropractic and Massage Center, our treatments are completely aligned with the new recommendations regarding back pain. The most common treatment we provide is precise corrections to the alignment of your spine.
Often, people say that their back has “gone out.” What does this mean? Simply put, the bones in our spine and associated areas (such as the shoulder and pelvis) can move out of place. These movements may be as small as millimeters. However, when a bone shifts out of place, it puts pressure on adjacent structures such as nerves, ligaments and tendons. Poor spinal alignment results in secondary conditions such as pain, reduced range of motion and lack of flexibility. Correcting spinal alignment helps relieve these secondary conditions.
Our office provides an all-inclusive solution to clients. We do not simply provide chiropractic adjustments and send you on your way. Instead we prescribe exercises that will help your road to recovery. Our massage therapists use specialized techniques to relieve muscles tension and retrain your muscles in the appropriate manner. Additionally, we discuss aggravating factors that may be contributing to the problem such as exercise routines, workplace ergonomics and sleep positions. We even offer holistic supplements that help individuals manage their symptoms and expedite their recovery.
The recent changes to the medical management of back pain are completely aligned with our philosophy at Precision Chiropractic and Massage Center. We will offer you an all-inclusive solution to address your back pain and get you functioning and optimum.
