Q: I get back pain regularly and so does my friend of the same age. He has tried chiropractic and physical therapy in the past and felt it was not much benefit to him. This has discouraged me from giving a chiropractor a try to help me. Is it possible that my back pain is different than my friend’s pain and that I could get help from what a chiropractor does?
A: Almost 80 percent of the adult population will encounter some form of back pain. In fact, it could be said that this condition is nearly at epidemic proportions. However, there are many different types and locations of back pain, depending on the cause of the problem and the amount and duration of injury. Doctors of chiropractic are specialists in this field and know the sources and treatments of the various forms of ailments that create the symptom of back pain.
Back pain may occur suddenly and be sharp and fleeting. Or, it can be a dull and persistent ache. Symptoms may be localized to a specific area of the back such as the upper part, or radiate into the shoulders, arms, lower back, legs and feet. Sometimes pain is accompanied by neurologic symptoms such as numbness, tingling or weakness, as well with other conditions such as a headache, neck ache or soreness of areas locally.
Acute pain may begin suddenly with intensity and last a short period of time. Chronic pain can last for long periods of time, even for months or years. Acute and chronic pain can occur one after another. The pain can be caused from an illness such as osteoarthritis, over-exertion in a sport or other activity, repetitive movements, moving the wrong way or increased age. It can also be due to mental or physical stress or incorrect posture.
There are many anatomical parts associated with even a single vertebra of your spine that can create pain. It may be bone, joint, ligament, tendon, muscle, or nerve. Each of these general anatomical types has several specific parts to them as well. There are 24 moving vertebra of the spine to make it even more complex. Your chiropractor knows the ins and outs of the different types of backaches and can provide the proper care when needed. Moreover, the DC is excellent at diagnosing the exact problem and if your chiropractor knows that your specific problem is best handled by another type of treatment that he or she cannot provide, they are going to send you to the right type of doctor and communicate to them for you what is wrong and suggest a means to fix it.
Trembush’s office and providers volunteer community health talks free to the public of the Morgantown area on the following topics and dates. Each speaker is a representative of The Foundation for Wellness Professionals. We can also be reached at 304-225-9355 for questions regarding this community health service if your organization is interested in wellness speakers.
Upcoming talks:
— 6 p.m. Tuesday: A presentation on stem cell therapy.
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