Benefits Of Chiropractic Care For Chronic Back Pain
Chronic back pain from an auto accident, work injury or a fall can make it painful and difficult to go about your daily routine at work, school and home. Chiropractic care offers a safe and effective alternative to the traditional options of surgery and pain medication.
What is chiropractic care for back pain
Chiropractors use a series of gentle manipulations to help re-align the vertebrae (the bones) in your back and ease the inflammation to the muscles and tendons surrounding your injury. Most chiropractors use this therapy in conjunction with at-home exercises, diet modifications that relieve unneeded joint stress and boost your immune system, and massages that keep your muscles from getting tense.
Some clinics will also make lifestyle recommendations, such as advice on what desk chair to use or what shoes to buy. Chiropractic care uses more of a total body approach than simply focusing on your one part of your body, such as your back. Chiropractic care offers a number of advantages over traditional treatments for back pain.
Advantages to chiropractic care
1. Less expensive. Off-patient chiropractic care is much less expensive than having invasive back surgery. Not only are the procedures less expensive, but chiropractic care doesn't necessitate time off of work. Most insurance companies cover chiropractic care for patients with chronic back pain.
2. No recovery time. Unlike surgery, where a patient has to take time off of work and school to recover from the procedure, chiropractic patients can go directly from the clinic back to work or to other activities. There's no recovery time needed.
3. No potential addiction. Pain medications that are routinely prescribed for back pain, such as Percocet and Vicodin, can be habit forming. According to RxList.com, patients who take such medications for chronic pain may become physically addicted to them.
4. Easy and convenient. Instead of having to drive to a hospital, get checked in and spend at least 48 hours under care, chiropractic treatment is done on an out-patient basis. You can find a chiropractic clinic in most every city around the United States. Many have convenient evening and weekend hours, so you don't have to take time off of work or school to get treatment.
While chiropractic care isn't the right choice for every patient with chronic back pain, such care is convenient, less expensive than surgery and is less hazardous than potentially-addictive pain medications. Speak with a professional about how chiropractic care could help your chronic back pain.