You’re in pain. Maybe it’s your back. Maybe your neck. Or knee pain. You’ve heard chiropractic can help. But you’re asking, “How much does a chiropractor cost?” You’re not alone. A lot of people wonder if it’s worth the money. Let me show you why people say the value justifies the cost.
More Than a Quick Fix
Chiropractic care isn’t just about cracking bones. It’s about long-term health. When you come in for a chiropractor full-body adjustment or treatment, you’re not just getting temporary relief. You’re investing less pain now PLUS your future well-being.
So, when you’re thinking:“How much does a chiropractor cost per visit near me?” The better question is, what’s the value of getting back to your best self?
I had a patient, Jill (not her real name, of course), who came in for lower back pain. She told me she hesitated to schedule that initial consultation because she worried about the cost of chiropractic care. She thought it was a one-time deal, like a massage, where you get one every once in a while. You feel better for a couple of days but don’t have any longer-term benefits.
After a few visits, she realized this was not like a massage. Her posture improved. Her headaches went away. And she slept better. She felt more productive at work and had the energy to spend the time with her family that she wanted. And best yet, she was experiencing lasting effects with continual improvement of symptoms.
Her quality of life changed, and suddenly, the chiropractor appointment cost didn’t seem as important anymore.
Chiropractor Cost vs The True Cost of Living in Pain
Think about the cost of staying in pain. Whether you’re feeling stiff, experiencing constant soreness, or having sharp jolts and tingling, you’re missing out on the things you love. Maybe it’s that morning run, a walk with your dog, a weekend hike, or simply sitting comfortably at work.
The price of not feeling good adds up.
It impacts your stress levels and your mental health. As the weight of discomfort and lack of mobility drag you down, you don’t feel like exercising or even moving much.
Or you’re putting less emphasis on eating healthfully. When your friends or family want you to do something fun with them, you question if you can keep up. So you say you already have plans. It’s a little lie, of course.
Then, you start having other physical health problems.
Now, I don’t like to focus on the negative too much. But I’ve heard from more than one patient just how quickly their pain took them to a place they don’t want to be again. Fortunately, in their cases, they came to see me. And with each chiropractic visit, we were able to help them feel like themselves again.
If pain is holding you back, the cost of a chiropractor is the price to live a more quality life, doing more of the things you love with the people you care about.
Does Insurance Pay for Chiropractic Cost?
Some insurance plans do pay for a certain number of visits per year. You should review your policy to find out. We can work with most insurers. You may only be responsible for a copay. Your insurer may require a medical diagnosis.
An example of a medical reason might be a moderate to severe spinal subluxation (vertebral misalignment), which can lead to chronic pain. We can confirm this diagnosis with imaging tests.
Your insurer may also consider neck pain, back pain, knee pain, neuropathy, headaches, and sciatica as acceptable diagnoses for covered treatment. After your full assessment, I’ll be able to determine your diagnosis. Then we can clear it with your insurance, so you know up front what they’ll pay.
Can I Use My Flexible Spending Account to See a Chiropractor?
If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer, you may be able to use those pre-tax dollars for chiropractic visits. This can amount to huge savings, especially if you’re in a middle to high tax bracket. However, to qualify, your treatment also needs to be for a medical reason and not general health.
You can also use you FSA funds to pay the copays or deductibles that insurance does not pay.
Can I Use My Health Savings Account for Chiro Visits?
If you have a health savings account (HSA), you can also use it for chiropractic care. According to the IRS, it needs to be for medical reasons, so this is very similar to FSA rules.
But even mild to moderate spinal misalignment can lead to more than back pain. And some plans do not pay for a chiropractic visit. You may have one and you’re wondering what the cost of chiropractic care might look like for you.
First, I’ll say this.
Even mild misalignments can cause pressure on the spinal discs (backbone cushions), nerve pain, worsening posture, and musculoskeletal imbalances. That’s when your knees, ankles, hips, neck, and shoulders try to compensate for imbalance somewhere else in the body’s movement chain. Then they hurt too!
Especially the knees. They really take the brunt of the pressure when the back is misaligned.
And it gets progressively worse as we age, if left untreated. So, if you’re a younger person already noticing these imbalances, seeing your chiropractor regularly now is an investment in greater mobility and function as you age.
A chiropractic adjustment along with Knee on Trac can get your whole posture posture realigned, stopping the added pressure and the pain.
Download our Knee on Trac brochure to learn more about this non-invasive answer to knee pain.
Download our Knee on Trac Brochure.
Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.
How Much Does a Chiropractor Cost without Insurance?
Now, when people ask this, they often compare it to other health expenses—an annual exam, health screenings, monthly prescriptions, specialist visits for an ongoing chronic condition.
If you’re one of the fortunate ones, you might have excellent insurance that pays all but a small copay. So, it’s hard to think about paying for a service out-of-pocket.
I understand. And here’s why that cost isn’t what you think.
Investing in Future You
Often, it’s more difficult to find value in preventing worsening health than it is to spend on managing chronic conditions. That’s why an estimated 60% of Americans have a chronic disease, costing the US economy $2 trillion dollars annually in treatment, lost productivity, family hardships, and other effects of living with chronic ailments.
But you and I both know that if you could skip the chronic conditions and feel better now and for decades to come, that’s an investment you want to make in your health. You don’t want to be part of that statistic.
And let’s say you already are—you’d like to make your current health problems that “thing that you used to have”.
It’s why health-conscious people like you spend money on vitamins, supplements, whole foods, a gym membership or home equipment, and other healthy choices.
Healthy people think proactively. They are taking steps now to prevent worsening problems
Feeling Better Now
If you’re already in pain, know that you don’t have to live like this. I can treat the root cause so you can move more freely and live the life you want to live. Depending on the severity of your issue, you can often start feeling better in 1-3 visits. We build personalized treatment plans around helping you feel your best.
What’s the cost of chiropractor care when you’re not living life fully? The cost of a chiropractic visit is more affordable than you think, especially when you consider the long-term benefits. You’ll be able to move better, feel better, and avoid future problems that could cost a lot more down the road.
Chiropractors Work with Your Medical Team
Are you currently taking pain meds with miserable side effects? Your doctor and I can work together to reduce your dose, as manual adjustments begin to alleviate the pressure on the body that causes pain. As a chiropractor, I work with medical teams to provide comprehensive and less-invasive solutions to chronic condition treatment, from diabetes care to headaches.
Chiropractic care is never one-size-fits-all. That’s why I work with each patient to create a plan that fits their needs and budget. The cost of a chiropractor visit depends on the treatment. Whether it’s a simple adjustment, a full-body realignment, or ongoing care, we create a solution that works for you.
While the back is often our focus, we offer comprehensive services to treat back pain, knee pain, neck pain, neuropathy, sciatica, and more.
The personalized plan you choose could include:
A regular chiropractic adjustment
Acupuncture
Dry needling
Ultrasound therapy
Shockwave therapy
Graston Technique
Knee on Trac
Nutrition and supplementation advice
Your first visit includes a complete assessment, consultation, and first spinal adjustment or other treatment based on your diagnosis. That’s a tremendous value!
If you need X-rays or MRI to understand the diagnosis better, I can order those to guide your tailored treatment plan.
I’d like to put your mind at ease. We’ve got options to fit your budget. I’m not going to try to sell you a complete package if all you need is a regular manual adjustment. That’s not how I do business. My goal is to ensure you get the greatest value from seeing a chiropractor regularly.
And the real value comes from making consistent improvements in your health. And I encourage you to explore how I can help you meet your wellness goals.
Invest in Health, Save in the Long Run
A lot of my patients come in thinking about the average chiropractor visit cost. They’re looking for a number. But after their first adjustment, many of them realize the value far outweighs the chiropractor cost. One patient, Tom, told me he used to spend more on pain medications and massages each month. After just a few chiropractic sessions, he didn’t need them anymore. That’s what I mean by value.
You might be searching for the chiropractor cost near me, but remember, it’s not about the one-time visit. It’s about how much better you’ll feel for weeks, months, or even years after.
Sarah, a mom of two, came in without insurance. She had sciatica and was on the fence, thinking, “How much does chiropractor cost? Can I manage this?”
After her treatment, she saw improvements not just in her pain, but in her energy. She felt like she could keep up with her kids again and wasn’t skipping work day when the pain was too much to bear.
She realized that chiropractic care wasn’t as expensive as the downtime she experienced when she couldn’t move without pain. It’s about perspective.
Your Health Is Worth the Investment
At the end of the day, you’re not just paying for an adjustment. You’re paying for a better quality of life. You’re investing in fewer sick days, more energy, and a body that feels good to live in. When you ask, “How much does a chiropractor cost?” think of it as investing in your well-being. And that’s something you can’t put a price on.
If you’re still wondering about the cost of chiropractor visits or need more details, feel free to reach out. We’ll find a plan that works for you and your budget. After all, health is your greatest asset, and it’s worth every penny. It’s time to schedule your consultation and first treatment.
Recover Faster and Perform Better: Chiropractic Solutions for Athletes Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common issue that can significantly impact the performance and overall well-being of athletes. Finding effective strategies for recovery is crucial to help athletes get back on track and prevent future injuries. Chiropractic care has emerged as a valuable approach in managing knee pain and promoting optimal recovery. TruSpine, a specialized chiropractic clinic in San Francisco, offers personalized treatment strategies for athletes seeking lasting relief and improved athletic performance. With their expertise in treating knee pain, TruSpine provides athletes with the tools they need to overcome their pain and achieve their goals.
Chiropractors Relieve Joint Pain in San Francisco
Common Causes of Knee Pain in Athletes
Knee pain in athletes can stem from various factors, including repetitive strain, sudden impact, overuse, and poor biomechanics. These factors can lead to common knee injuries such as meniscus and ACL tears, tendonitis, patella instability, and MCL tears. For example, soccer players are particularly prone to knee injuries, with up to 35% of professional players experiencing recurrent knee injuries. Surgery is often required to repair these injuries, and wearing a brace correctly can aid in recovery and prevent reinjury. It is important for athletes to be aware of these common causes of knee pain in order to take preventative measures and seek appropriate treatment when necessary.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Knee Pain
Chiropractic care offers a range of benefits for athletes dealing with knee pain. By addressing biomechanical imbalances, optimizing neuromuscular function, and improving joint function and posture, chiropractic care can enhance athletic performance, health, and competitiveness. Chiropractors are skilled in treating common knee conditions seen in athletes, such as lower back pain, muscle strains, and joint dysfunctions. Moreover, chiropractic care can prevent injuries, improve biomechanics, and accelerate recovery in athletes. Regular visits to a chiropractor for massage and adjustments can aid in both recovery and prevention. With the help of chiropractic care, athletes can experience reduced pain, improved function, and an overall better quality of life.
Chiropractic Strategies for Knee Pain Recovery
Chiropractors employ personalized treatment programs to strengthen the joint, heal damage, and prevent further injury. These programs may include various modalities such as heat and ice therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, manual manipulation, deep tissue massage, and stretching and strengthening exercises. Chiropractors work closely with athletes to create tailored treatment plans that address their specific needs and goals. By taking into account the athlete’s sport, level of activity, and individual circumstances, chiropractors can develop a comprehensive approach to knee pain recovery. Patients are often encouraged to continue therapies at home, complementing the in-office treatments for optimal recovery and long-term results. Through these personalized strategies, chiropractors can help athletes regain their strength, mobility, and confidence.
Exercises and Stretches for Knee Pain Relief
Incorporating specific exercises and stretches into an athlete’s routine can provide knee pain relief. Squats, lunges, leg presses, quadricep stretches, calf stretches, and knee range of motion exercises are examples of exercises that can help increase mobility, control, and strengthen the leg muscles [2]. These exercises focus on targeting the muscles around the knee joint, improving stability and reducing the risk of further injury. Additionally, knee mobility exercises performed at home, such as quadricep stretches, calf stretches, and knee range of motion exercises, can help prevent swelling, pain, and immobility. Massage therapy has also been shown to improve pain and range of motion in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. By incorporating these exercises, stretches, and therapies into their routine, athletes can support their recovery and maintain optimal knee health.
Tips for Preventing Knee Injuries in Athletes
Prevention is key when it comes to knee injuries in athletes. Implementing proper warm-up and cool-down routines before and after physical activity can help prepare the body and reduce the risk of knee injuries. Wearing appropriate protective gear and using proper technique during sports activities is crucial for injury prevention. Maintaining overall fitness through strength, flexibility, and balance training plays a significant role in preventing knee injuries. Chiropractic care can also help prevent and treat runner’s knee by increasing mobility, range of motion, and strength, as well as improving joint function and posture. Consulting with a chiropractor can provide personalized care and guidance for preventing knee injuries. By taking proactive measures and seeking professional guidance, athletes can reduce the risk of knee injuries and enjoy their sports with confidence.
Discover Lasting Relief with TruSpine’s Specialized Chiropractic Care
In conclusion, knee pain can significantly impact the performance and well-being of athletes. However, effective strategies for recovery and prevention are available. Chiropractic care has emerged as a valuable approach in managing knee pain and optimizing recovery in athletes. TruSpine, a specialized chiropractic clinic in San Francisco, offers personalized treatment strategies and lasting relief for athletes experiencing knee pain. By addressing the root cause of pain and providing tailored treatment plans, TruSpine aims to help athletes overcome knee pain and improve their athletic performance. With their expertise and commitment to patient-centered care, TruSpine is dedicated to helping athletes find lasting relief and reach their full potential. Explore TruSpine’s website at https://truspinesf.com/ to learn more about their specialized chiropractic treatments and schedule a consultation.
CTA: Take the first step towards lasting relief and improved athletic performance. Visit TruSpine’s website today.
Effective Knee Pain Treatment in San Francisco
At TruSpine, we understand the challenges athletes face when it comes to knee pain treatment and the importance of a holistic approach to recovery. We hope that our blog post on “Knee Pain in Athletes: Chiropractic Strategies for Recovery” has provided you with valuable insights and actionable tips to help you or your loved ones overcome knee pain and get back to peak performance. If you’re in the San Francisco, CA area and seeking professional chiropractic care for knee pain, our dedicated team is here to support you on your journey to recovery. Don’t let knee pain hold you back any longer – contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a pain-free, active lifestyle. Your athletic dreams are within reach, and we’re here to help you achieve them.
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that refers to the damage or disease of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. There are different types of peripheral neuropathy, including carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. This condition can have a significant impact on physical sensations, such as tingling, numbness, and burning sensations. It can also affect motor nerves, sensory nerves, and internal organs, leading to muscle weakness, balance issues, and digestive problems. Guillain-Barre syndrome and hereditary neuropathies like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 are serious forms of peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy can be a challenging condition to live with, as it can significantly impact a person’s daily life and overall well-being. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment, many individuals are able to effectively manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Peripheral Neuropathy in San Francisco
For example, Sarah, a 45-year-old woman, was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy after experiencing persistent numbness and tingling in her hands and feet. She also noticed that she was having difficulty with balance and coordination. After consulting with her doctor, Sarah underwent a series of tests, including nerve conduction studies and blood tests, to determine the underlying cause of her symptoms. It was discovered that Sarah had developed peripheral neuropathy as a result of uncontrolled diabetes.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can vary between individuals and depend on the type of nerve damage. Common symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain. People with peripheral neuropathy may also experience a lack of coordination and muscle weakness. Autonomic problems can arise, causing excessive sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, and digestive issues. It is important to seek medical care if you experience these symptoms to receive a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
In addition to these common symptoms, peripheral neuropathy can also cause changes in sensation. For example, some individuals may experience a loss of sensation in certain areas of the body, while others may have heightened sensitivity to touch. These changes in sensation can make everyday tasks more challenging and increase the risk of injury.
For instance, John, a 60-year-old man, began to notice that he was having difficulty feeling the temperature of objects with his hands. He would accidentally touch hot surfaces without realizing it, resulting in burns. John also experienced a constant tingling sensation in his feet, which made it difficult for him to walk comfortably. After consulting with a neurologist, John was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy due to his long-term alcohol misuse.
Causes and Risk Factors of Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can have various causes, including traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited disorders, exposure to toxins, and autoimmune diseases. One of the most common causes is diabetes. Other causes include infections, tumors, bone marrow disorders, and other diseases. There are also several risk factors associated with peripheral neuropathy, such as diabetes, alcohol misuse, low vitamin levels, infections, autoimmune diseases, and repetitive motion. Complications of peripheral neuropathy can include burns, infections, and falls.
It’s important to note that not everyone with these risk factors will develop peripheral neuropathy, and some individuals may develop the condition without any known risk factors. The exact cause of peripheral neuropathy can vary from person to person, and in some cases, the cause may never be identified.
For example, Lisa, a 35-year-old woman, was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy after experiencing persistent numbness and tingling in her hands and feet. She had no known risk factors for the condition, such as diabetes or alcohol misuse. After undergoing extensive testing, including blood tests and nerve conduction studies, Lisa’s doctors were unable to determine the exact cause of her peripheral neuropathy. She was diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, which means that the cause is unknown.
Diagnostic Tests for Peripheral Neuropathy
To diagnose peripheral neuropathy, doctors may use various tests. Nerve conduction studies measure the electrical activity of nerves and muscles, helping to identify any abnormalities. Electromyography (EMG) assesses muscle response to nerve stimulation and can help diagnose peripheral neuropathy. Blood tests may also be conducted to identify underlying causes or contributing factors to peripheral neuropathy. A comprehensive assessment, including a thorough medical history and physical examination, is crucial in the diagnostic process.
In addition to these tests, doctors may also perform a nerve biopsy to examine a small sample of nerve tissue under a microscope. This can provide valuable information about the cause and extent of the nerve damage.
For instance, James, a 50-year-old man, began experiencing tingling and numbness in his hands and feet. Concerned about his symptoms, he visited a neurologist who recommended a series of diagnostic tests. James underwent nerve conduction studies and EMG, which showed abnormal nerve function. Blood tests were also conducted, ruling out any underlying medical conditions. To further investigate the cause of his peripheral neuropathy, James underwent a nerve biopsy, which revealed inflammation in the nerves. Based on these findings, he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy caused by an autoimmune disorder.
Treatment Options for Peripheral Neuropathy
The treatment of peripheral neuropathy involves a multi-faceted approach. Lifestyle changes play a significant role, including maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and avoiding factors that can cause nerve damage. Medications may be prescribed to manage symptoms and treat underlying conditions contributing to peripheral neuropathy. Physical therapy can help improve strength, balance, and coordination. In addition to conventional treatments, alternative therapies like chiropractic care, acupuncture, and specialized treatments offered by TruSpine, such as chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, and acupuncture, can provide relief from neuropathy symptoms. Personalized treatment plans should be developed to address each individual’s needs, and may include other modalities like Graston Technique, Active Release Technique, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, and shockwave therapy.
It’s important for individuals with peripheral neuropathy to work closely with their healthcare team to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to their specific needs. This may involve a combination of different treatments and therapies to effectively manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
For example, Maria, a 55-year-old woman, was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy as a result of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. She experienced severe pain, numbness, and tingling in her hands and feet, making it difficult for her to perform daily activities. Maria’s treatment plan included a combination of medications to manage her pain, as well as physical therapy to improve her strength and mobility. She also sought alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, to complement her conventional treatment. Over time, Maria’s symptoms improved, and she was able to regain some of her functional abilities.
Trusted Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment in San Francisco
Recognizing the warning signs of peripheral neuropathy is crucial for early intervention and proper management of the condition. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, it is important to seek medical care for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. TruSpine, a chiropractic office specializing in neuropathy care, offers personalized treatment strategies to address peripheral neuropathy and provide lasting relief. By visiting their website and scheduling a consultation, you can take proactive steps towards managing peripheral neuropathy and improving your quality of life. Don’t let peripheral neuropathy hold you back – reach out to TruSpine today for expert care and support.
At TruSpine, your well-being is our top priority. If you’ve recognized any of the warning signs of peripheral neuropathy discussed in this blog, don’t wait to seek help. Our experienced team in San Francisco, CA, is here to provide the specialized care and support you need to manage and alleviate peripheral neuropathy treatment and symptoms. Don’t let this condition limit your life any longer. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a more comfortable and fulfilling future. Your journey to relief begins with TruSpine, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
A back strain or sprain is when the muscle tendon or ligament goes beyond its stretch capacity where the muscle fibers get sometimes a little bit shredded or there are micro tears. Now I like to compare that to a rubber band. If we stretch a rubber band to its normal limit, it’s going to bounce right back. If we stretch the rubber band beyond its limit, then it may not take its normal shape or form and it may be too loose and vulnerable. And so that’s exactly what’s happening to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
To be precise, muscles are the belly of the muscle fiber, while the tendons will connect the muscle to the bone, and the ligaments will hold the different bony structures together. So all these structures are what make up parts of the back and there are hundreds of them and each one is vulnerable to a strain or sprain.
What does pain from back strain or sprain feel like?
So a back strain or sprain may feel like a muscle pull, a stiffness, or a tenderness. Sometimes it can get to a point where it completely puts you out, meaning that you might be on the ground unable to move. Because we have multiple spasms in the back. When that happens, there are very specific exercises and stretches that we can chat about and have notes about on our website.
But if it gets to a point where the pain is unbearable, we definitely recommend seeking out medical attention, whether it’s with your primary care or your chiropractor, or even an Acupuncturist.
if it feels more like a tenderness. Sometimes if you go in and you get checked by palpating or pushing on the bony parts or the muscle parts, it feels tender. Well, that could also indicate having a sprain or strength. And that’s important to differentially diagnose for any sort of more disc pain or more a structural deeper pain.
Sometimes back sprain or strain can actually affect the quality of life. It can limit how far you can walk. It can limit what home chores you might be able to do. And at that point, it’s important to take a pause, possibly get officially diagnosed, and get to a place where you can do some stretches and exercises to help alleviate the pain. Other things that can really help alleviate pain are Icing and resting.
There’s definitely a multitude of causes. Sometimes a cause of a back sprain or strain could be overactivity. So doing a sport that could be more of a high impact sport such as running, jumping, box jumps, or jump rope, sometimes it can be doing a repetitive activity using your back multiple times in a row with forward folds or forward bends can cause a back sprain or strain.
There are definitely certain risk factors that may also cause back strains that could be a weight issue. The simple truth is that carrying extra weight impacts the body. That can make you more likely to have back strain. Also twisting and quick motions can cause that, especially if the muscle is not warmed up yet. A lot of back sprains and strains tend to happen more in the mornings versus the evenings because the muscles haven’t had a chance to warm up or get more active.
What are the symptoms of a back sprain or strain?
Some of the symptoms could be a tenderness to touch at the structure of the back. Sometimes it can be more of an acute pain where it feels almost like a spasm. Sometimes when we’re having spasms it’s even hard to move. So, having rest and being still would be the best way to give relief to your back. The best way to rest your strained back is going to be on your back with your knees bent.
Sometimes it can cause an inability to move in a normal posture. So if you’re walking or standing you might be in a little bit more of a hunched-over forward position because of the spasm from the strain. Sometimes back sprains and strains can be worse to the point where you may feel it in the buttocks, the hamstrings, and even the legs. At that point, it’s important to go seek a professional to make sure that it is purely muscular and there’s no nerve involvement.
Sometimes back sprain and strain can last 10 to 14 days. A lot of back strains may even resolve on their own. But if it doesn’t, and it lasts beyond that 14 days, it’s important again to seek some sort of professional guidance.
To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.
How is a back sprain or strain diagnosed?
It’s important to look at not only the clinical aspect of it and the history of how the injury occurred, but also possibly some sort of imaging. With the clinical history, it’s usually from quick motions or repetitive tasks, so it’s important to get a thorough history of the injury. But if it gets to a point where the pain is unbearable and it’s harder to diagnose based purely on the clinical history, it’s important to get some imaging through an MRI most likely. An X-ray is going to look at strictly the bone structures, while the MRI is going to be looking at the muscular structures, the tendons, and the ligaments. And so that might be the best way to diagnose your back sprain or strain.
How does back strain affect the body?
A lot of times, back strain can affect the body in a way to create inflammation within the body and that can lead to pain. And of course, with pain, we have definitely some tools in our toolbox to help alleviate some of that pain. Most people tend to go with anti-inflammatories, Icing, and rest to resolve their back pain. A lot of back pain does self-resolve, but there are a few instances where it can last for quite some time.
Can back strain or sprain be cured?
Yes, of course. Yes, for the most part, back strain or sprain can be cured. As I mentioned, a lot of its self-resolving. But if it’s not, then it’s important to get again the cocktail of medications, meaning pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, resting and Icing, 10-15 minutes every hour as needed at the area of pain.
If it does not resolve in the first couple of weeks, it’s important to seek out professional guidance. If it’s something a little bit more intense, it may require some treatment. And that’s where Chiropractic and Acupuncture care can really benefit in shortening that recovery period.
Who is more prone to Back Strain & Back Sprain?
Back strain and sprain are partly age-dependent. When we’re at a younger age, a lot of the back strain can self-resolve and get better a lot quicker with the shorter recovery time. When we’re over the age of 60, it may require more time, even up to a couple of months for it to completely resolve with the guidance of a professional healthcare provider that can help with therapy while you’re doing self-therapy or self-medication at home as well.
What are the best treatments to manage your back sprain or strain?
So to manage your back pain, there’s definitely a happy medium between being active and resting. A little bit of too much of either one can cause your back pain to get worse. It’s important not to be completely sedentary because that can dehydrate the muscles and tighten up the muscles. So it’s important to get a little bit of activity in during the day. Now, that doesn’t mean high-intensity activities, it usually means light walking, and light stretching. This can help to alleviate your back pain as well as have adequate rest in between. The best way to get your rest is going to be usually on a sturdier surface, maybe on the ground with your knees bent to help flatten out the back and take pressure off your back.
Physical therapy
A doctor or a chiropractor may also recommend physical therapy or rehab exercises to help reduce your back pain.
And sometimes that is with a physical therapist and sometimes that may be just rehab exercises at home. Light stretches and non-high-impact sorts of exercises can help to reduce pain and inflammation at those specific structures. A physical therapist may recommend more regular exercise, mostly on a daily basis with some rest days built into it.
Alternative treatment
For the best treatment of your back pain, your doctor may recommend, Icing, heating, ultrasound, shockwave, and laser therapy as other alternatives to help aid in the recovery of your back pain. In addition to that, here at Truspine, we offer great services at our clinic in San Francisco such as chiropractic care, and acupuncture care, and we have great referrals for massage therapy as needed.
Home remedies for back strain or sprain
Things that you can do at home on your own, in addition, could be again taking pain medication, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and basically kind of the do-it-yourself exercises at home.
What are the best coping mechanisms for your back strain or sprain?
Now with coping mechanisms, there’s a multitude of options. What we want to be doing is definitely core strengthening. That’s going to be the most important thing to help prevent your back strain from getting worse or coming back. Now there are definitely some do’s and don’ts in terms of what you should be doing while going through back strain or sprain at home.
Do’s and Don’ts while coping with your back strain and sprain
That’s going to be limiting your sitting, especially on the couch, as well as driving for long distances. This can round your back and over-stretch the muscle fibers in the lower back, making your back vulnerable, and causing inflammation. So you definitely want to limit your sitting. You want to vary between sitting and standing as much as possible. You want to go on light walks if you can, to create movement in the back. Also, you want to make sure you practice correct posture, which means standing or lifting posture.
So you want to make sure that you’re using more of the lower extremities or your hips when you’re bending to pick something up. Whether it’s light or heavy, you want to make sure that you’re not bending at the low back and bending more at the waist. So having correct posture while you’re standing and sitting and lifting are very, very important.
Best sleeping position for back strain and sprain
Sleep ergonomics is just as important if you’re a back or a side sleeper. It’s important to have possibly a pillow underneath the knees as a back sleeper. Pillow between the knees for side sleeping which can help keep the pelvis in neutral, so that way you’re not waking up with back pain and setting yourself up to feel pretty good for the rest of your day.
Stretching your body
Sometimes it’s nice to do stretches before you go to bed or even first thing in the morning, and you can even do both. I think it’s important to keep it loose before and after sleeping. Sleeping is a catatonic state which keeps the muscles stuck in one position, sometimes dehydrating the muscles because we’re not drinking enough fluids at night. It is important to do those stretches before going to bed as well as the first thing when waking up as prescribed by your primary care.
Hydrate body
Of course, during the day, it is important to drink enough water to keep the muscles hydrated. The general rule for drinking water is going to be half your body weight in ounces and that seems to be a pretty good thing to do to keep those muscles hydrated and flowing well.
Quit smoking
Well, another important piece is quitting smoking. It seems kind of out there, it seems kind of random. But smoking is a big risk factor for atherosclerosis, which can also cause calcification in the arteries and can cause you to have back pain. So reducing smoking can help with that, but also just decreasing inflammation in the body as well. So that’s an important piece.
Avoid stress
Also avoiding stressful situations for your back, which could be mental stress or physical stress. If you have a big deadline at work, that can cause mental stress, which can cause you to change your posture, causing more stress on your back. It’s important to take micro-breaks, especially if you’re going through an 8,10, or 12 hours/work day. Take those breaks to either lie down decompress or get a glass of water or even just close your eyes and meditate. So those are the coping mechanisms to help with your back strain or sprain.
Conclusion:
When you are suffering from a back strain or sprain, you may find it very difficult to sit in one position for a long time. It can also put your active lifestyle to a halt.
Are you feeling back pain? Well, that could be a back strain or sprain. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get your first phone consultation with us or even an in-person consultation where we can take a look specifically at what you might have.
Whether it’s a back sprain or strain or whether it is nerve related or joint-related. We have the experts to help you figure out and diagnose your back pain.
You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor to get correctly diagnosed. Your first treatment is included.
Your back is out of your line of sight most of the time. So you may not think about it much — until it hurts. But your back is central to your ability to work, play, relax, be intimate, and generally live a high-quality life. When back pain steals that from you, you need a plan to stop the pain and reclaim your life.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone is different, so in this complete guide to back pain, we’ll take a deep dive into it. First, what is back pain? Then…
Back pain causes
Back pain symptoms
Home remedies that work
Effective ways to prevent back pain
Back pain treatments. We’ll include both holistic and conventional medical treatments.
What Is Back Pain?
Back pain usually refers to generalized pain in the back. It’s one of the main reasons people seek medical treatment. It’s also the most common cause of disability not just in San Francisco, not just in the United States, but around the world.
The causes of back pain are many. And we’ll take an in-depth look at each of them. But regardless, back pain affects the muscles, bones, joints, discs, and ligaments. Back pain is always a symptom of dysfunction within these structures.
Localized vs. Radiating Back Pain
Some people experience back pain in one area, and always that area. We call this localized back pain. For example, you may have:
Lower back pain
Back pain middle
Back pain lower left side
Back pain lower right side
Back pain upper middle
Back pain in the middle of the back
But it can also radiate from a source (or root cause) of the pain. This radiating back pain (also called traveling pain) can move around, so you may be unsure what you’ve done to cause it.
It can even make its way down your legs and into your feet. In fact, a lot of people experience stress first in their lower back.
What happens is the pain causes the joints and the muscles to stiffen up. Then inflammation forms around it. And that constant inflammation irritates the body. This is actually what causes low back pain—most of the time.
Ultimately, back pain is more mechanical that anything else. It starts with misalignments in joints and muscles. Fortunately, this is what chiropractors help with, and with excellent results.
To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.
Back Pain Symptoms
What does back pain feel like? It may seem like a silly question since you may be experiencing it right now.
What is back pain caused by here in San Francisco? Back pain has several causes that impact people across the nation and the world, but they tend to be interrelated. In San Francisco, a lot of us work desk jobs with long hours and often struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
But more generally, it could be related to age, activity levels, weight, and other physiological conditions. You might be surprised to learn that psychological factors can also cause back pain.
If you’re in your 20s or 30s, you’re more likely to have a disc issue while those 60s, 70s & older could be at a higher risk for things like degenerative disease or osteoporosis. Below, we’ve created an extensive list of common back pain causes.
Dysfunction/Misalignment in the Musculoskeletal System
Back pain is caused by dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system (muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, and bones) and the nervous system (particularly the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system). Of these, the joints contribute the most because they direct how the other tissues move.
Spinal Subluxation
A commonly overlooked back pain cause, a subluxation occurs when one or more of your vertebrae shift out of place. Physical trauma, chronic stress, and a prolonged poor diet can lead to this condition. Untreated, subluxations cause a domino effect on the body— back pain, bulging discs, herniated discs, and loss of mobility, just for starters.
Bulging or Ruptured Disc
Your discs are gel-liquid-filled cushions found between the individual bones in your back. Their job is to prevent bone-on-bone contact and to avoid pinched or irritated spinal nerves/ This allows you to achieve a full range of motion without pain.
However, when a disc bulges, it can push against the nerve instead of protecting it, causing irritation. If that bulging goes untreated, the disc can burst, leaking that gel-like substance. We call this a ruptured or herniated disc.
Your nerves do not like this gel. It’s very irritating.
Repetitive Stress
Poor posture, prolonged sitting, and unsafe lifting can weaken components and sections of your musculoskeletal system, causing uneven stress. In the end, you develop the dysfunction experienced as back pain.
Weight-Related Factors
We would do you a disservice if we ignored the fact that excess weight can cause back pain. Weight gain definitely plays a crucial role in back pain and how the back works in general.
If you have more weight to lift, move, and carry, this can take a toll on the body in so many ways. That extra weight puts more stress on the structures of the spine such as the discs, the joints, and the nerves.
Inflammatory Diet
A study of over 3000 participants by the University of Pittsburgh found those eating inflammatory foods were 42% more likely to suffer from lower back pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a decaying spine. As the spine wastes away, it causes more pressure down on the discs, irritating the nerves.
Arthritis or Osteoporosis
In the older community, degenerative conditions like these may cause back pain. The medical industry considers back pain an “age-related” wear-and-tear disease, and somewhat unavoidable.
Even here, back pain treatments do exist. However, prevention and slowing the process are certainly better options, which we will discuss in depth.
To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.
Psychological Back Pain Causes
Poor stress response, depression, and anxiety can contribute to back pain and make it seem worse. Several studies have demonstrated that people with overwhelming mental stress conditions have more back pain and experience it more severely. In fact, mental stress at least plays a role in most low back pain cases.
This may be due to practical reasons. For example, feeling depressed may cause you to spend more time in bed, exercise less, or not eat a nutritious diet.
Any and all of these would lead to weakness and dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system over time. But researchers also believe people with certain mental health conditions feel pain more intensely, primarily because pain-relieving neurotransmitters like serotonin are less present.
Spinal Stenosis
A less common cause of back pain, spinal stenosis involves a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord travels. If this condition is caused by dysfunction of large structures, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, a chiropractor can help.
Humans are complex and all of our systems are connected.
For this reason, all—or several—of these back pain causes can be at play at the same time. Because of the interconnectedness of back pain causes, you need a holistic back pain treatment.
For back pain, exercises, nutrition, chiropractic, back pain stretches, and conventional medical care may be needed to address all the back pain causes and help you finally feel back pain relief.
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Back pain, especially very new back pain, can self-resolve with rest, stretching, and even some exercise. Yoga poses and back pain relief exercises specifically target soft tissues. They reduce inflammation, release tension, and help the body naturally re-align itself. As long as there is no traumatic injury, these are generally the first interventions people try. And they work!
But if your back pain lasts more than two weeks, we very highly recommended that you seek out professional care, especially if it’s interfering with your daily activities. It’s important to see your family doctor or chiropractor.
We’re of the mindset of “Prevention First”. If your back pain is currently occasional and generally mild, these preventive measures may stop it from progressing to a more severe condition.
Exercises
A good exercise regimen prevents most back pain causes. But if you’ve already developed back pain, you need a personalized exercise regimen that specifically targets the tissues that experienced dysfunction, as well as, promotes whole body strength and function, since it’s all connected.
That may mean having your toolbox of exercises and stretches that you feel are having an impact, a positive impact on your back.
Exercises may include a core strengthening regimen and stretch. These can tone, strengthen, and enhance function between musculoskeletal components. They can decompress the spine, allowing it to move more freely and naturally.
Two good ones are the Cat-Cow and Child’s Pose yoga stretch. So those would be important stretches to possibly include in a back pain scenario.
With that said, you want to build whole-body strength as well. So weight training is an important aspect of preventing back pain. Putting weights on yourself tells your body to turn on muscles, which could help to keep your core nice and strong.
Using a more structured approach with a trainer can also be very beneficial to keeping your back nice and strong. And of course, maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy weight enhances exercise’s ability to prevent the recurrence of back pain.
Nutrition
Like any health issue, what you eat matters. Your body needs proper nutrition to function at its best. For back pain treatment and prevention specifically, eat more anti-inflammatory food like vegetables, nuts, beans, and seeds. And eliminate inflammatory foods, most importantly sugar and processed foods.
Other Preventive Lifestyle Changes
Additionally, consider some other lifestyle changes to prevent back pain:
Move more
Avoid prolonged sitting
Quit smoking
Set up a good sleep regimen
Commit to good sleep ergonomics
Work on your sitting posture, especially at your workstation
Alternate between standing and sitting
Limit couch time
Replacement is always a better strategy than focusing on what you’re trying not to do. So, as an example, instead of saying, “don’t spend too much time on the couch”, replace it with more active hobbies. Even daily walks can help.
All of the above are important, but by far, bad posture tops the list of back pain causes, so we’ll dig into this topic more deeply to really get at the core of back pain treatment and prevention.
Good Posture for Prevention and Relief
So, there are 3 scenarios where you can make the biggest difference with good posture. Stand, sit and sleep ergonomics are very important.
One of the most important elements of good posture is your pelvic position. Always keep the pelvis neutral, especially when sitting. Making sure you’re ergonomically set up at the workstation, makes this easier.
If you find yourself resting on one hip or sitting awkwardly at the tip of your seat, ask why?
A neutral pelvis is one in which the base of the spine and pubic bone is on the same plane. At the same time, the left and right hips are in the same plane. In other words, your body isn’t twisted. You’re not under more pressure on one side or other, front or back. The pressure is applied neutrally. When in this position, the spine curves slightly.
Good Sleeping Posture
Sleep posture is critical because you spend a significant amount of time in one or a few positions.
What are the best sleep positions for back pain?
Back
Side
In that order. The worst position is on your stomach, which puts stress on the spine.
But even if you are a back or side sleeper, there are some right and wrong ways of back/side sleeping that can cause or worsen back pain. And note, even if you were able to sleep in a certain position when you were younger, that doesn’t mean that position will work for you now.
Back Sleeping
If you’re a back sleeper, it’s important to have a pillow underneath your knees. This is to help keep the pelvis nice and level. A low pillow or no pillow under your head is best.
Side Sleeping
If you’re a side sleeper, then place a pillow between the knees while keeping the knees on one plane, which can also keep the pelvis level.
If you sleep on your side with one knee raised, you likely wake up with back pain because your pelvis is not neutral. The spine is twisted. But the simple act of putting a pillow under your knee can return your pelvis to neutral.
Side Sleep Posture
Good Posture When Sitting
Similarly, back pain when sitting occurs when the pelvis is not neutral. Your desk setup should encourage a neutral pelvis and good posture as a whole.
And simple things like adjusting your monitor height to eye level can do this. Keep your keyboard and mouse pretty close to you. This will help you maintain your hip-torso angle above 90 degrees more naturally.
You also want to choose a seat that’s going to be very ergonomic for your body type. Sometimes, you might have to experiment a little bit to find the right one.
And it goes without saying, if you’re sitting for 8 hours a day, that will be way too long for most people. Build in breaks to get up and move more.
Good Standing Posture
Another thing that could be pretty important is standing posture. Keeping your legs evenly apart so that way we’re not standing on undistributed weight as well as taking breaks, that’s important. But you shouldn’t remain in one standing position for too long. Dynamic standing and moving around keeps your body from resting into a bad standing posture.
Dynamic Posture
Ideally, you shouldn’t stay in one rigid position for extended periods whether sitting or standing. Set up your workspace so that it encourages you to move around to reach things.
Sit-stand routines are great. But you don’t want to sit for 4 hours and then stand for 4 hours. Ideally, you’ll alternate every 1-2 hours.
If you have to sit to work, make sure that you’re getting up every 45 minutes to an hour, moving around, walking, taking stretch breaks or water breaks and then coming back into sitting again.
Lifting Posture
Avoid heavy lifting if possible. Team lift or use lifting support devices when you must lift something heavy. If you want to prevent back pain, set your ego aside and prioritize your health.
If you must, it’s important to know what proper lift posture is. Everyone says, “lift with your knees”. But they rarely explain what this means.
Make sure you’re centered with the heavy object in front of you. Keep the heavy items close to your body to keep them close to the center of gravity. Never try to lift from the side.
Bend your knees. Simultaneously, allow the hips to go back and the chest to come forward.
Test the object weight. If it’s extra heavy but doable, spread your legs slightly and to either side. This can reduce strain.
Grasp the object firmly. Unbend your legs, using them to lift the weight off the ground. As you do your torso will naturally move back and your hips forward until your back is in a vertical position and legs straight.
Heaving Lifting Posture
But you’re using your back, aren’t you? Well, yes. The difference is that when lifting with your back you use your back as a lever. When you lift with your legs, your back still comes up, but it is supported by your much stronger leg muscles.
Prepare for Heavy Lifting
If you know that you’re going to have a day of heavy lifting, say to move to a new apartment, it’s important to have a good routine or a toolbox of stretches and exercises that you can do before and after that difficult task to reduce the risk of injury. Joints, muscles, everything works best when you warm it up first. The after exercises can cool inflammation and allow the back to recover.
Ergonomic Products to Prevent Back Pain
This is definitely important, especially because we are in San Francisco Silicon Valley. Most of us are sitting in front of our computers for long hours on end. It’s important to set yourself up so that way we’re not adding to the damage.
A few products that are just essential:
Lumbar Support – Something behind your lower back to help keep that nice lumbar curve
Seating Cushion – It can reduce pressure points so you’re less likely to move into a poor posture to compensate for pressure-sore points on the body.
Seating Disc – You can get them on Amazon. It almost looks like a half-a-ball you can sit on top of. It encourages you to engage your core more often. It’s like you’re sitting on one of those nice big fitness balls without it being too distracting for you or your co-workers.
Ergonomic keyboard and mouse – Properly positioning these can reduce strain on the upper back and wrists.
Foam roller – I have a nice 36-inch foam roller at home and at the workplace. When you take breaks you can use it on the floor or wall.
How to Diagnose Back Pain
Of course, the first part of diagnosis involves listening to what your problems are and testing how well you can perform daily tasks. But sometimes imaging is called for. This can identify issues that are hard to spot and confirm our original diagnosis through objective means.
X-ray is going to be looking at the bone structure to look at the alignment and disc spacing. An MRI will look more at the soft tissue and the liquid. So that will be like the discs and the nerves. Each has its place in showing us what we’re looking for.
We’ll get an X-ray if we’re suspecting a bone or joint issue, an alignment issue. An MRI might be taken more if we’re maybe assuming there might be a disc or a nerve irritation going on.
If your back pain is paired with nerve pain, then a nerve conduction velocity test or an NCV test might be done by your primary care doctor as well. Other things could be a CT scan and blood work if there are other suspecting causes for your back pain.
Best Treatments for Back Pain
Now, I always get the question of what are the best treatments for back pain and there are many different types of treatments out there. But there are some clear winners.
Chiropractic Care seems to be at the very top of that. Most types of back pain respond well to chiropractic care over a long time window. Most back pain is due to misalignment of the bones and other connected structures—something chiropractic care can fix over a series of sessions.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture helps by addressing muscles and nerves. In combination with chiropractic care, they address the whole musculoskeletal system.
It’s important to note that neither chiropractic nor acupuncture is a quick fix. They take longer than your traditional or conventional forms of care but offer a more long-term solution because you’re treating the cause.
For this reason,if back pain is severe and causing significant disability, some people choose to receive back pain injections or oral medication while working on the root cause.
Combining holistic treatment with conventional back pain treatment can be very effective. This is called Complementary Medicine or Complementary Treatment. If this is the route you want to go, you’d need to also talk to your primary care doctor.
TENS
A (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) or TENS unit is one holistic method that can provide some more immediate relief. Although IT IS temporary, so it’s important to also work on correcting what’s behind your back pain symptoms.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is also very complementary to both Chiropractic and Acupuncture Care. It can loosen up physical tension and reduce the impact of psychological stress so that your body is in a better state to heal.
Over-the-Counter Medicine
If you choose not to request pain injections or prescription medications from your primary care physician, you still have some options for instant relief. Temporarily, you can take OTC pain medications when you need them.
But even OTC medications shouldn’t be taken long-term. That’s because they can cause hearing and liver damage among other concerns, so it’s important to keep your chiropractic appointments. That way, you’ll not need those medications long.
OTC back pain medications include Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, etc. These are also anti-inflammatory, which can support the healing process. You may choose to pair them with a prescription muscle relaxer.
Steroid Injection
If your back pain is very severe, your doctor may even suggest getting a back pain injection, such as a steroid injection (corticosteroid injection). Back pain medication can be very effective at taking care of the immediate problem, so you can work on fixing it long-term.
Injections can be very beneficial. In fact, they really give you pinpoint relief in the area where you’re feeling the most amount of pain. However, again, long-term use can cause known medical side effects.
Other Back Pain Treatment Options
Sometimes it’s necessary to get surgery.
We want to do everything possible to avoid that. And that’s why I do what we do as a holistic health clinic. I don’t want you to feel like you have to take your last resort and have surgery. Often back surgeries work by limiting how your back can move, which can cause a lot of discomforts, disability, and the need for lifelong pain medication, so this is not something you don’t want if you don’t have to.
I work with patients who are trying to avoid surgery. Together, in most cases, we can keep you from getting to that point.
To prepare for a low back pain consultation at our clinic follow this back pain appointment checklist:
List out any medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter and herbal or homeopathic remedies.
Write down any solutions you’ve tried and how they worked. How often were you doing these things and for how long did you try this? Did you experience some relief, temporary or partially?
Do you have an idea what caused your back pain? Did it start suddenly or has this been gradual?
How does it affect your daily life? Are you struggling at work or sleeping? Maybe you can’t pick your child or grandchild up anymore? Or you had to give up a hobby you love. If you’ve lost something due to back pain, one of my goals is to help you get back what you’ve lost.
Wear loose-fitting clothes. So avoid jeans or a thick sweater, because we want to make sure that we have access to different parts of your body, especially if it’s your back. We want to make sure we have access to your back. But, also, we want to make sure that you’re comfortable as we’re having you move around during your session.
We’ll ask for some information ahead of time so the visit goes smoothly. Your appointment may last 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the severity of your back pain.
Possible Imaging
We may want to take imaging. So, we will refer you for maybe either an X-ray or an MRI, as discussed earlier, depending on what we may think your back pain is due to or what your cause might be.
Now, if imaging is necessary, that doesn’t mean that we cannot start treatment right away. It just really is on a case-by-case basis.
Consultation and Orthopedic Exam
So, at your appointment, we’ll do the consultation and an orthopedic examination. So, muscle testing. This involves pushing in the areas that you feel are painful, so we can get a better idea of the severity of your pain and where it is precisely.
Range of Motion and Ability
We’re going to have you moving around to test your range of motion. Can you bend forward? Can you extend backward? Are you able to pick an item off the ground? Are you able to get on our chiropractic table easily?
Treatment Plan & Possible First Treatment
If we do feel like you’re a good candidate for our therapy, we’ll discuss a personalized treatment plan.
At our clinic, we have several tools and techniques that work well for different types of back pain.
Chiropractic adjustments
Dry needling to soften up muscles and soft tissues
Acupuncture to reduce soft tissue dysfunction and restore balance in the musculoskeletal system
Nutritional intervention
Home exercise
Shockwave Therapy, to reduce inflammation
Laser Therapy, to reduce inflammation or quickly alleviate more severe pain
Massage therapy
If more cutting-edge technologies like laser and shockwave therapies are warranted for your back pain, we will definitely let you know on your first visit.
In most cases, we’ll be able to begin your first chiropractic treatment during your initial appointment.
And by the end of your visit, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what it’s going to take to get your type of back pain better and what that looks like in terms of a care plan.
Getting Back Pain Relief
We look forward to seeing you at our San Francisco clinic soon. Look out for Truspine. Schedule your first consultation including your first treatment.
Many of you might have experienced back pain in your life at least once. Being an unpleasant situation, we try to eliminate it as soon as possible. Today, we will know about types of back pain conditions and Chiropractic Treatment for back pain relief.
Back Pain and its Types
We can separate back pain into two broad categories: upper back pain and lower back pain. Doctors consider upper or mid back pain as one part and the other one as lower back pain. Both types of back pains require different treatments.
Some of the specific back pain issues include facade syndrome, disc herniation, lumbar sprain strain, day-to-day backaches due to sitting for a long time, sleeping incorrectly, and other reasons. These issues are treated differently with chiropractic or acupuncture techniques.
Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain
The majority of the people suffering from back pain want relief from it and hence choose chiropractic treatment. It is a non-surgical treatment that focuses on spinal manipulation and mobilization. The theory behind this treatment is that the proper alignment of the spine, muscles, and surrounding structure enables our body’s self-healing process without medication or surgery.
Chiropractic treatment is an alternative method for patients suffering from pain in their joints, muscles, connective tissues, bones, and tendons. This treatment uses the manipulation technique to restore the mobility of joints that get restricted due to tissue injury caused by some reasons.
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Patients suffering from back pain have two primary options: visit a regular doctor or go to the chiropractor. There is a difference between a regular doctor and a chiropractor because the regular doctor falls under conventional medicine, and the chiropractor comes under holistic medicine.
In conventional medicine, doctors prescribe a combination of muscle relaxers, pain relievers, and inflammatory reducers. These medicines usually help the patient manage the pain, but they do not necessarily cure it. At the same time, chiropractors go to the root of the problem, which can be a stuck joint, a muscle sprain, or a strain that they focus on.
How does Chiropractic Treatment work on Back Pain?
There are a few different ways in which chiropractors treat the back pain of patients. The use of chiropractic adjustment for specific joints is one of these ways. HVLA technique or high-velocity low amplitude thrust technique is used to unstuck the particular joint. To identify these sticky joints, expert chiropractors use the feel or touch approach.
The other techniques used by chiropractors include the Graston Technique, which is a soft tissue technique. They also use the active release technique, which involves manual therapy. Knowing where the inflammation has formed and which joints are stuck is important for this Treatment. Chiropractors use the palpation technique for this purpose. Once they are aware of the root cause to focus on, the treatment is provided to the patient accordingly.
To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.
Number of sittings and duration required for Treatment-
This is a major concern for almost all patients with back pain. Most patients want to recover soon so that they can enjoy their life again. The number of sittings required for treating back pain and the duration of recovery differs from person to person. The reason behind this is the severity, and the delay in starting the treatment is different in each case.
Chiropractors try to provide relief from back pain at the earliest. In the case of chronic back pain, the time required for recovery is more than the general backache. The number of sittings needed is more in such cases. Some people have an assumption that they have to visit a chiropractor for a lifetime, which is wrong. You can stop the treatment once you feel the relief and the chiropractor gives you some exercises for a future course.
Advantages of Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain-
Chiropractic treatment provides you with many health advantages and relief from back pain. Some of the chiropractic benefits are as follows-
Relief from neck pain and back pain-
Chiropractic treatment relieves patients suffering from back pain and neck pain. Chronic pain takes time to recover, but this treatment helps to achieve good results.
Non-surgical treatment-
Chiropractic treatment is a non-surgical option available for back pain and joint pain patients.
Help in treating Scoliosis-
The abnormal curvature developed in the spine is known as Scoliosis. This causes abnormal posture and back pain. Chiropractic treatment helps in treating patients with Scoliosis.
Relief for patients with Sciatica-
The sciatic nerve gets damaged due to some pressure and causes severe pain from the lower back to the legs. This condition is referred to as Sciatica. Chiropractic treatment provides relief to patients with Sciatica.
Helps in reducing inflammation-
Chiropractic treatment reduces inflammation and provides relief to patients.
Helps in joint pain and muscle tension-
After getting chiropractic treatment, people suffering from joint pain and muscle tension experience relief.
Improved athletic performance-
This benefit is more inclined towards the sportspeople or athletes. Chiropractic treatment improves the performance of sportsmen and athletes.
Side effects of the Treatment-
Like other therapies, some patients experience side effects after having chiropractic treatment sessions. These side effects include extra soreness in the area of pain, inflamed muscle, and pushback in the joint. In such cases, chiropractors always recommend at-home palliative care. It includes stretching and icing, which helps manage pain after treatment sessions.
Conclusion
Now we have understood the concept of chiropractic treatment and how it provides relief for back pain. Being a non-surgical treatment, it avoids further health issues. Thus, we can say that- ‘Chiropractic treatment is a Blessing for patients suffering from back pain.’
To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.
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Most of the people deal with sore muscles, due to the thrashing they take from running and find ourselves in need of a massage therapist from time to time. Possibly you even get consistent massages to keep those sore muscles under control. Perhaps you’ve had your eye on a massage gun to help manage the muscle spasms and pain. If that’s the case, let me introduce you to the Hydragun, a tool which is best for your muscle recovery needs.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, up to 80% of the population will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetimes. Therefore, finding specialized back exercises can diminish the suffered symptomatology. The following exercises are most recommended for people with debilitating back pain. However, for people with moderate or severe back pain, we recommend a San Francisco Chiropractor‘s assessment first.
One of the first things a lot of people do when they realize they’re dealing with back pain or injuries is seek out others who have had similar experiences. Back pain is one of those things you don’t mess around with or handle casually; there are usually a few options as to what to do about a given problem, and it can be reassuring – or simply educational – to get advice from a chiropractor you know or trust.
Many people injure their backs while bending or lifting objects in the wrong way. A recent survey taken by the American Physical Therapy Association reports that nearly two-thirds of the Americans experience low back pain, and nearly half of the cases are due to improper bending and lifting techniques.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a condition characterized by the improper movement of the SI joint. It usually begins with the instability of the pelvis and low back. Pain can radiate from the back to the legs and imitate sciatic nerve pain. The pain caused by this condition is called sacroiliac joint pain.
One of the most common causes of low back and neck pain is degenerative disc disease, and despite its name, it’s not a disease, but natural occurrence caused by aging.
