If you’re experiencing back and neck pain — especially pain brought on by a traumatic event such as a car accident, then you may find that mainstream medical care isn’t that helpful in treating your pain and helping you get back to your normal life. In fact, it’s recently been found that acetaminophen, the over-the-counter drug most often recommended by doctors to address back pain, is no more effective than a placebo. Prescription drugs can be even more dangerous, and only mask pain, instead of addressing the underlying cause of that pain.
For that reason, the kind of unique treatment plan seen by a chiropractor is often a better choice. Chiropractors are doctors (holding the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, rather than the Medical Doctor degree), so you’ll be in good hands. Here’s what might be included, depending on your individual symptoms:
- Chiropractic Adjustments
A chiropractic treatment plan is mainly centered around, predictably, chiropractic adjustments. A chiropractor uses the hands (or sometimes adjusting tools) to manually manipulate the joints to correct alignment problems and relieve pain. These treatments are very safe and have virtually no side effects — although some patients feel a little soreness when the mobilization of joints engages muscles that haven’t been being used — so it’s at least worth trying them before invasive medical procedures.
- Massage Therapy
Often, chiropractic clinics have in-house massage therapists to help soothe sore muscles and work out knots. These massages aren’t simply intended to relax you; although you may also feel more relaxed after a massage, today’s trained massage therapists are experts in anatomy and can do more focused work that relieves pain long-term.
- At-Home Exercises
Most chiropractors won’t leave you on your own as soon as you’re out of the office, either. You can ask for exercises and stretches to do at home that will also aid in your recovery. Just be sure to actually ask for guidance, instead of taking it into your own hands, as the wrong exercises could damage your already sensitive back.
Are you looking for a unique treatment plan including chiropractic, massage and at-home therapy? Discuss your needs in the comments.
