One quarter of all adults report suffering from pain in the lower back, and spend over $80 billion on treatments. Surgery, especially disc fusion, is becoming more common. About one-quarter of these operations are not successful and need to be done again. One operation is risky enough, but two? For many sufferers, chiropractic is the answer to chronic lower back pain.
The lumbar (lower) spine gets a lot of wear and tear over the years. Medication and injections are standard treatments, but they can be ineffective or, at most, offer temporary relief. In the case of prescription pain management meds, addiction is often an unwanted result.
Spinal fusion surgery is becoming more common. It is a way to stabilize the problem, but one in five people who have this treatment end up back on the operating table, according to new studies. What’s more, some research suggests that only 5 percent of back pain sufferers are good candidates for any surgical intervention.
Sometimes an operation is a must, but not always. When nerves are involved, many people experience relief from lower back pain through chiropractic care.
Regular chiropractic adjustments can provide relief from problems like nerve compression, milder cases of spinal stenosis and chronic strain. Realigning the spine can alleviate pain from a host of symptoms.
Your chiropractor is a professional who specializes in pain management for back and neck conditions of many types. An initial evaluation is a very affordable way to gain new insight, get a second opinion, and possibly save you from living with constant discomfort. It may even be able to help you completely avoid the scalpel.