Chiropractic Care: A Non-Invasive Alternative to Back Surgery

In writing this blog, I know that there are thousands of our fellow Americans that will have low back surgery this year. Many are never informed by their doctor that a series of chiropractic adjustments might handle their problem.

In my many years of practice, I have had patients enter my clinic and after their second or third low back surgery, they are still in pain! I’m often told that they were not informed that chiropractic adjustments could help them. 

Even after their surgeries, I help them feel better again! So, please read on and enjoy this article.

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Chronic lower back pain is a common condition in adults today. It’s something I address at my clinic every day, and if you’re suffering from back pain, I want to take a moment to explain the different treatment options available to help you with that problem. 

I’ve had plenty of patients come to my clinic for chronic back pain over my career, and a lot of them came to see me after seeing their primary care doctor first. Many times, I’ve had a patient tell me that their doctor recommended back surgery to fix their chronic pain issues. Now, back surgery can absolutely be a necessary treatment in some cases. However, there are about 500,000 lower back surgery procedures done in America each year and this is not a simple solution. It involves: 

• Surgery itself
• Anesthesia
• Prescription painkillers
• Lengthy convalescence 
• Physical therapy in many cases

It’s unfortunate that so many people go this route, because I’m certain they don’t know there’s an easier and much less traumatic way to address their back pain: chiropractic adjustments!

What Causes Lower Back Pain?

Before we go any further, let’s take a quick look at what might be causing your lower back pain in the first place. In many cases, it can be attributed to:

• Spinal Misalignment: When one or more vertebrae in your spine become misaligned, it can cause immense pressure and pain throughout your back. This is often caused by things like poor lifting techniques, lifting heavy objects, sleeping awkwardly, and the list goes on!.
• Sciatica: This is a common condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back all the way down your legs into your feet, becomes pinched due to a Spinal Misalingment. This can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in your lower back, all the way down your legs into your feet!
• Sedentary Lifestyles: If you’re sitting down all day at a desk, then sit on your commute home, and relax all night sitting in front of the TV, you’ve got a sedentary lifestyle. And if your posture is not great, or if you don’t get frequent exercise, this can contribute to your lower back pain which is caused by a Spinal Misalignment.
• Spinal Misalignment:  So, you are probably seeing a pattern here.  Spinal Misalignment has shown up a few times now because in essence it is the Spinal Misalignment that is causing the problem.  You get a Spinal Misalignment, then the dreaded pinched nerve, weakened muscles, decreased strength of the connective tissue holding the bones in place, bad posture and a more sedentary lifestyle due to lower back pain.

How Chiropractic Care Relieves Back Pain

Now, I’m sure you’re wondering how chiropractic care can help alleviate this chronic back pain you’ve been dealing with. It’s quite simple. Chiropractic care is a drug-free, non-invasive form of healthcare that focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones) and nervous system. When your spine is properly aligned, your nervous system can function at its best. And when your nervous system is functioning at its best, your body can heal itself easily.

If your back pain is caused by a misaligned spine, pinched nerve, or bad posture, the solution isn’t surgery. All you need is chiropractic adjustments. As a chiropractor, I use a variety of techniques to adjust the spine and relieve pressure on your nerves. These adjustments help reduce inflammation, improve range of motion, and decrease pain. I also like to recommend my patients get Pressure Point Therapy, which is a simple technique that relieves painful knots of energy along the nerve pathways in the body. 

Why See a Chiropractor Before a Physical Therapist

Some people are recommended by their primary care doctors to go see a physical therapist for chronic back pain. While that’s not a bad idea, I would recommend you see a chiropractor first. You may be wondering, “If physical therapy can help alleviate my chronic back pain, why do I need to see a chiropractor?” And that’s a valid question. The answer is simple: because the spine must be in alignment before physical therapy techniques such as exercise and massage can work. 

If your spine and other joints aren’t aligned properly, then getting physical therapy to treat your chronic pain is kind of like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. You might get some temporary relief, but the underlying problem is still there, and so is your chronic pain. When you see a chiropractor first and get your spine aligned, then the physical therapy will be much more effective in treating your chronic back pain. 

Visit Mattingly Chiropractic for Natural Back Pain Relief

Chiropractic care is a natural, surgery-free way to alleviate chronic back pain. If you’ve been struggling with back pain, and especially if your doctor has recommended you to have back surgery, I invite you to schedule an appointment at my clinic. I’ll be more than happy to offer a second opinion and help you get pain free naturally. 

Call us at (314) 310-6454 to schedule your appointment today.