Chronic Back Pain & Chiropractic Treatments
Pain is one way our bodies try to get our attention. When that pain is chronic, people often feel overwhelmed, depressed and hopeless. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2010, low back pain is the number one cause of disability worldwide. Many people who suffer with back pain also suffer from depression due to the impact the pain has in other areas of their lives. If you suffer from low back pain, it is likely you already know how debilitating it can be.
X-Ray of spine are often needed to determine most successful approach.
Can a Chiropractor be a resource for your pain-management plan? Generally speaking, when treating a back pain issue, physicians like to start with conservative and cost-effective approaches first. For many patients, this includes a visit to a Chiropractor. Patients report a decrease in spinal pain with manipulation — particularly with non-specific low back pain. Let’s look at some of the research.
“Patients with chronic low-back pain treated by chiropractors showed greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients treated by family physicians. Satisfaction scores were higher for chiropractic patients. A higher proportion of chiropractic patients (56 percent vs. 13 percent) reported that their low-back pain was better or much better, whereas nearly one-third of medical patients reported their low-back pain was worse or much worse.”
– Nyiendo et al (2000), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
As of May, 2013 the Journal of American Medical Association recommends that patients with low back pain seek chiropractic care as a non-invasive/non-surgical way to manage low back pain.
Bottom line on chronic pain: it can exacerbate other health issues; including mental health issues. If you are one of the millions who live with prolonged back pain, a chiropractor may be a good option for you. Many patients have reduced pain and it is an economical option, as well as one that starts with the least amount of intervention. Your Chiropractor may also be able to give you lifestyle recommendations to reduce the strain on your back. Having a chronic condition means that in order to sustain a quality of life, each sufferer must find a way to navigate and diminish the moments that pain steals away.
X-rays at East End Chiropractic
Our goal at East End Chiropractic is to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, and we believe that in order for you to do so, it is important to take good care of your spine and joints. When you come to our office as a new patient, Dr. Olsen will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the root cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. The doctor may need to take x-rays to get a closer look at what’s going on. In the last year, we added x-ray equipment to our office. This has been a wonderful thing because, now, when the doctor requires x-rays to be done, we no longer need to refer our patients to an imaging center.
Are x-rays are required for all new patients? No. X-ray studies are only performed when the doctor deems them clinically necessary. Now, if you were x-rayed recently at another doctor’s office, and those x-rays pertain to the part of the body that we are focusing on, you probably will not need to have additional images done at our office.
A concern with x-rays is radiation exposure. When it comes to the dangers of radiation, the key factor is really the dosage. Thankfully, the effective dosage for spinal x-rays is very minimal (about 1.5 mSv). For more information, check out this website. Though the radiation dosage is minimal for spinal x-rays, we still take a number of precautions to reduce the incidence of unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient and those nearby. Our x-ray imaging system has been evaluated and cleared by the State of Tennessee’s department of Radiological Health, we use lead shielding to cover parts of the body that we are not imaging, and we do not x-ray women who are pregnant.
In review, we offer on-site x-ray imaging, we do so only when necessary, and we use the minimal dose of radiation necessary in order to obtain a quality image.
Sign a Contract?
We are frequently asked a question that is actually quite troubling to me.
The question is: “will I have to sign a contract to get care in your office?” Another variation of that question is, “how do I get out of a contract that I have signed with another chiropractic office?”
We do not require our patients to sign a contract for care. We do not require up-front payment for multiple visits.
We only charge fees for services rendered. We only prescribe treatment that is necessary, no more, and no less. Each patient is different, requiring a different treatment plan based on the patient’s NEED for care. We do not have a “package” to sell you for “unlimited visits,” because most patients do not need an unlimited number of visits. In fact, part of being a doctor is prescribing the right amount of care. Not too little, not too much. Furthermore, if the patient is not progressing at a satisfactory rate, this individual should have the freedom to seek care somewhere else, without the burden of having signed a contract.
It is not illegal for a practice to do this. However, it does bring up some ethical questions. It is very important to question the motive of any contract BEFORE you sign it. Remember, a contract is typically written for the benefit of the person writing the contract, not the one signing the contract! Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to discuss setting an appointment for care. We also appreciate any feedback.
Tips For Traveling By Plane
Guest Post by Marah Harrington, Office Manager at East End Chiropractic.
I will admit it: I am a terrible traveler. Over the years, I have flown so much that I’ve developed a long list of travel habits and, if I’m being honest, I always arrive at my destination with neck and back pain. So clearly I’m doing something (or many things) wrong… but what?
My biggest problem is that I am a carry-on queen. If at all possible, I will not check a suitcase. I once talked my husband into traveling with only a carry-on when he and I went on a three week trip (8 flights). Not only did we not have enough clothes with us, we were also miserable from lugging around heavy suitcases in airports and onto planes. Needless to say, he hasn’t taken my advice in the matter since. I don’t blame him!
I happen to have married someone who travels quite a bit for his job so I try to visit regularly when he is gone for long stretches. This past weekend, I headed up to New Hampshire and before I left, Dr. Olsen gave me a few tips for traveling by plane.
- Check bags that are more than 5-10% of your body weight. Overhead lifting of any significant amount should be avoided. We always end up twisted in strange positions when trying to get a heavy bag in the overhead compartment quickly so we are not holding up the line behind us. If you are lifting something overhead, be sure to stand right in front of the overhead compartment so your spine is not rotated.
- Bring a small pillow to place behind your lower back when you are seated on the plane. Airplane seats are built to accommodate people of all sizes. The way this is accomplished is by hollowing out the back of the seat, thereby removing all lumbar support. No lumbar support = unhappy back.
- Move around as much as possible. End seats are best for this and offer us the opportunity to get up and walk around. Middle and window seats offer more of a challenge. Try to keep the space under the seat in front of you clear so you can stretch your legs out a big and move your feet around.
- Bring a neck pillow. This will help you steer clear of the inevitable kink in your neck that happens when you fall asleep on the plane. A neck pillow may not completely prevent the problem, but it will certainly help.
- Use proper technique when lifting luggage off the carousel. Bend both of your knees, keep your back straight and in the upright position, and move your feet instead of twisting your back when trying to get your luggage off the carousel. Those belts move fast. Be ready.
Armed with these guidelines, I headed to the airport. Let me tell you, they made a world of difference for me! I am happy to report that I did not arrive at my destination with sharp pains in my neck and back. Hopefully the above tips will prove helpful to you as you prepare for your next plane ride.
Happy travels!
How to Know Whether to See an Orthopedist or a Chiropractor
When people suffer back pain, they may not know whether to call an orthopedist or a chiropractor. Both medical professionals deal with skeletal system abnormalities. An orthopedist, typically an M.D. or D.O., is a physician who treats musculoskeletal conditions that require surgery or medication (fractures, severe back arthritis, severe disc herniations, etc). A chiropractor (D.C.) is a physician who treats musculoskeletal conditions (primarily neck pain, headaches, back pain, sciatica) that do not require drugs or surgery.
For most musculoskeletal conditions, it is best to consult a chiropractor first, as the treatment provided in a chiropractic office is less invasive than treatment provided by an orthopedic surgeon. Most conditions do not require surgery or medication. If your chiropractor determines that you should be referred to an orthopedist, neurosurgeon, or other professional, that referral will be made.
A good analogy would be the relationship between a dentist and an oral surgeon. The dentist can take care of most dental issues, such as fillings, cleanings, whitening, most extractions, root canals, etc. However, sometimes the dentist will find it necessary to refer a patient to an oral surgeon for more complex surgical situations.
Likewise, your chiropractor can treat most musculoskeletal conditions, such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, joint pain. In certain cases, however, the chiropractor may decide that a referral to an orthopedist or neurosurgeon may be the best way to approach the condition.
