The human spine is an intricate system of bones, cartilage, and nerves, and unfortunately, when something goes wrong, we feel it. Back pain can have many underlying reasons, but often no specific cause can be found. Back surgery is often looked at as the only solution for back pain but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service-Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, it only helps about 1 in 100 people — meaning surgery has a 99 percent fail rate.
Too often, people experience back pain that is even worse after their surgery, and when they go to chronic pain management clinics afterward, they are told they have to learn to live with low back pain. With the odds of back surgery stacked against you, it makes sense to try a non-invasive method before going through a risky procedure.
As intricate as the spine can be, it is also incredibly resilient. Your body often has the power to heal itself with just a little bit of guidance from a qualified chiropractor!
Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
When our spinal bones are out of alignment, often all that is needed is proper chiropractic therapy. This advice sometimes goes against common medical practices that dictate surgery is the only solution. When you experience agonizing back pain, it is normal to want what you believe will be a “quick fix;” however, surgery is not the be-all, end-all. In fact, surgery is not listed under proven treatments for back pain relief.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, the three proven back pain relief treatments are:
- Medicine
- Heat or cold
- Spinal manipulation (chiropractic care)
The truth is that, just as we are learning that non-invasive treatments for heart disease can be just as effective as bypass surgery and stents, non-surgical treatment for back pain should also be the first option.
A local, Jonesboro-based chiropractor will deliver a gentle, non-invasive therapy to reduce joint restrictions or misalignments, called a chiropractic adjustment. Adjustments can:
- Reduce pain and discomfort
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve joint mobility and flexibility
- Improve your nervous system function and spinal health
- Increase muscle strength
When these conditions are met, they allow your body to better manage symptoms caused by back pain.
The Truth About Back Surgery
Back surgery is plagued with uncertainty and should be the absolute last resort for pain management. According to a review in the Journal of Pain Research, up to 74.6 percent of low back spine surgeries failed to completely relieve pain and up to 35 percent of patients who had spinal surgery needed re-operation due to experiencing the same or worsened back pain. In fact, failed back surgery is so common that there is now a name for it: failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).
For example, spinal fusion operations performed for back pain are based on the theory that old or weak discs can hurt whenever the vertebrae move. Surgeons hope that, by stopping the movement, the pain will stop. However, disc degeneration is extremely normal and does not always cause back pain symptoms. This means that people are undergoing invasive surgery even though their pain may not be from that issue, thus their back problems will not be solved and the pain will persist after surgery.
Doctors often suggest having a second back surgery, called a revision surgery, and if the revision surgery doesn’t relieve your symptoms, doctors may even encourage undergoing yet another invasive procedure. Repeated surgeries not only lead to high medical costs but with the scar tissue from each successive procedure, the odds of a satisfactory outcome diminishes.
If it is a known fact that surgery will likely not solve your back pain, why keep getting the same surgery over and over again? Many of the people who come into our office for chiropractic care are those who have had failed back surgeries. We’re here to tell you that there is a better option.
Back Pain Causes and Symptoms
Most often, people suffer from back pain due to common reasons including overuse and misalignments, which can be treated with non-invasive chiropractic care.
Low Back Pain
One of the most common types of back pain is lower back pain. This takes place in a part of our spine called the lumbar spine, which is designed to support our bodies.
If you suffer from low back pain, you are not alone. A striking eight out of 10 adults struggle with low back pain during their lives. For most, the pain is short-lived, or acute, lasting less than three months; for others, ongoing discomfort and/or numbness moving down one or both legs (sciatica) can be crippling.
The causes of low back pain can be vague. In general, people with muscle tone that needs improvement or who work in jobs where they are lifting heavy objects or standing or sitting for long periods of time often struggle with low back pain.
Though low back problems are painful, the good news is that they are rarely caused by major problems with joints or bones. In fact, low back pain is often treatable with the right chiropractic methods.
Upper and Middle Back Pain
Upper and middle back pain, which can run from the base of your neck to the bottom section of your ribs, is not usually as problematic as low back pain because these bones and muscles do not carry the same load.
When this portion of the spine is misaligned, people may experience pain, a burning sensation, or numbness or weakness in the arms, legs, or belly.
Mid- and upper back pain is most often caused by overuse of the muscles and ligaments that support your spine. Osteoarthritis, herniated or slipped discs, and pinched nerves are other common causes.
Shoulder Pain
We use our arms, and therefore our shoulders, for a surprising number of things throughout the day. That’s why, when we experience shoulder pain, it can be especially debilitating.
Shoulder pain is most often caused by acute injury or overuse of the shoulder, particularly through repetitive motions. Misalignment of the shoulder is a common underlying problem of many of these issues. Chiropractic care can greatly reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain.
How to Treat Back Pain Without Surgery
Chiropractic care is your first line of defense when you experience back pain, regardless of where it is. Call Myshka Chiropractic in Jonesboro if:
- You are experiencing severe pain or other symptoms
- Pain is keeping you from work or from doing things you enjoy
- The problem persists after a few days
Chiropractic therapy to treat back pain can be remarkably effective. In fact, Dr. Susan Myshka has been able to help countless people with back pain problems for over 30 years.
Read What to Expect at the Chiropractor here.
Back Pain Doctor Jonesboro
Back pain can be miserable and even agonizing, but there is no need to rush onto the operating table. Why not try chiropractic therapy? Dr. Myshka, Jonesboro back pain doctor at Myshka Chiropractic can help relieve your pain and get you feeling as good as new!
Schedule an Appointment Today!
