BACK PAIN

Back pain often attacks without warning. It can be a sharp stabbing thrust or it may sneak up on you as a dull throbbing that does not seem to ease up. Findings have shown, in at least one survey, 'that pain is the number one health complaint, and back pain is the second most common pain. Thousands upon thousands of people in the u.s. will experience disabling low back pain at least once during their lifetime. The problem is so bad it has become a major concern of industry and workers' compensation insurance carriers. The estimated cost of lower back problems in the U.S. alone is in the billions.

MANY CONDITIONS CAN PRECIPITATE BACK PAIN

Back pain can result from muscle and tendon strain and sprain; muscle tension, brought on by emotional stress; poor posture, brought on by weak or un-exercised muscles; muscle spasms caused by overexertion or over-use. Back pain can result from disease of the spine such as the various types of arthritis and tuberculosis. Back pain also can be brought on by disease elsewhere in the body, called referred pain. And there are so many other things that can precipitate back pain that a person suffering from this condition can become very confused about what to do.

WHAT CAUSES BACK PAIN?

Most conditions that can precipitate back pain, and there are more than those mentioned above, have at least one thing in common-nerve irritation. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines pain as "a feeling of distress, suffering or agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings." There can be no pain unless these specialized sensory nerves are stimulated (irritated), resulting in the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. When spinal vertebrae misalign even slightly, or their normal mobility is altered, sensory and motor nerves can be irritated or even damaged. This is known as a vertebral subluxation complex, or biomechanical lesion commonly shortened to just ...subluxation. Chiropractors have found subluxations to be one of the most common causes of nerve irritation, thus one of the most common contributing factors in back pain.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

Correcting the underlying cause is the only way to effectively treat back pain. All the pain pills, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications that are usually prescribed by the medical profession to relieve the pain will do little or nothing to correct the cause. When drugs do not correct the condition, physical therapy, exercises and sometimes braces are used in addition to the drugs. When that fails to bring satisfactory results, in severe cases, surgery may be recommended.
Since back pain is most frequently caused by a "pinched nerve," (nerve irritation) and nerve irritation is primarily caused by subluxation, correcting the subluxation is likely the only treatment that will correct the cause of the back pain. Masking the pain with pain killing drugs, muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory drugs or surgery is not the answer. At times medical intervention and even surgery may be necessary. However, drugs have side effects that are sometimes very severe, and surgery is a procedure of last resort with many complications.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Chiropractic is not an extra strength" muscle-relaxer" or "anti-inflammatory drug." Chiropractic adjustments are not a specific treatment for back pain. In spite of this, people that suffer with back pain are seeking chiropractic care in greater numbers than ever because chiropractors treat one of the most common causes of back pain -"pinched nerves" caused by subluxations-and have a high level of patient satisfaction. Chiropractors are the most qualified health care professionals, because of training and experience, to analyze and treat vertebral subluxations that are the number one cause of "pinched nerves." Today, because of our stressful lifestyle, poor eating habits, environmental pollution, lack of proper exercise, etc., millions are suffering from subluxations and nerve irritation. This condition can cause malfunction in the body and lead to diseases-back pain included, and many people may not even know they have a problem until the symptoms become severe and in some cases so severe it is too late for complete restoration of health. Why? Because:

THE ABSENCE OF PAIN DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THE PRESENCE OF HEALTH

Pain is not a disease process, it is only a symptom. You can have a serious health problem with or without pain. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines pain as "a feeling of distress, suffering or agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings." There can be no pain unless these specialized sensory nerves are stimulated (irritated), resulting in the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. In this case, back pain is felt only when these nerves are irritated. People without pain might be considered, unfortunate because they may think the absence of pain means they are healthy and this may cause them if to delay proper treatment. Those that do have pain should not eliminate or cover up the pain with pain killing drugs. This does nothing to correct the cause and may also delay proper treatment. The cause must be corrected before long-lasting relief and health can be restored. Therefore, it is important to understand that the absence of pain does not necessarily mean the presence of health.

THE SPINAL CHECKUP

Doctors of chiropractic analyze the spinal column for the vertebral subluxations that can affect nerves, bones, muscles, even blood and lymph vessels. A spinal checkup should be done periodically even if you feel fine because spinal subluxations may be causing serious harm to your body -sometimes for years-without your knowledge. If your chiropractor finds you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and I relieve the nerve irritation. This allows normal" flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves pain.

DON'T DELAY PROPER TREATMENT-CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC ...NOW!

When you have back pain, or anyone of hundreds of named conditions or a pain without a name, delaying proper treatment is dangerous and can result in a major health problem. Seek a chiropractic examination immediately to see if yours is a condition which comes within the scope of chiropractic. The pain you suffer may be because the cause of the pain has been ignored and proper treatment has been delayed. Even if you are seeing other health care providers, it is still advisable to see a chiropractor to make sure your spine is subluxation free and your nervous system is functioning normally because everyone needs a healthy nervous system.

INDEPENDENT STUDIES PROVE CHIROPRACTIC GETS RESULTS

Note: These are well known studies that I have personally used in my office PR since their publication. They have been reprinted in many publications since. Numerous independent studies have been done, including those by the British Medical Research Council, Florida Workers Compensation Study, the Utah Workers Compensation Study, and the: California Workers' Compensation Study. These studies compared chiropractic care against traditional medical care in thousands of low back cases. The results were strikingly similar. All the studies showed the frequency and duration of absence from work due to low back pain were less in those treated by chiropractic. Because of the shortened disability time, the average cost of chiropractors services was: more than 50 percent lower than that of medical doctors for the same conditions. The results show that chiropractic care is more effective than medical care in cases involving low back pain. Why? Because chiropractors treat the underlying cause of low back pain nerve irritation caused by subluxations. Medical treatment is for the relief: of symptoms, not the cause. Muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killing drugs do nothing to correct the underlying cause of low back pain.