Back Pain Therapy Often Yields Early Benefits: Study

It is fine if you want to see a chiropractor, as long as you understand what he cannot do. There is no scientific evidence chiropractic manipulation can fix infections, eye problems, heart disease, kidney problems, tumors, etc. Neither can he rearrange (or adjust) your spine to remove an offending alignment in order to relieve your pain. An x-ray taken by your chiropractor before adjustment will look no different after adjustment provided the positioning is exactly the same. (Don’t do this, because the radiation exposure is unnecessary and excessive. In fact, most people with back problems don’t need x-rays by anyone.

However, a chiropractor (or a physical therapist) can stretch soft tissues, like ligaments, tendons, and muscles, to help relieve pain; and he can help patients who are fearful of using their backs understand that they can, in spite of their pain, be active. Mobilizing a patient with back pain is one of the first steps in resolving the pain.

He, or a threrapist, can also use ice, heat, stretches, massage, electrical stimulation, etc. to relax muscles in spasm and to relieve pain.

Taking repeated x-rays, keeping you in therapy for endless periods of time, selling balms or copper or elastic bracelets, etc. do nothing but add to your bill. This is true whether it is done by a chiropractor, a therapist, or a physician. Most back pains are limited entities. Chronic pain may require chronic care, but that is rare.

So, if your chiropractor, therapist, or physician insists on a lot of x-rays, repeated visits, months of care, etc., there is a chance that he is lining his wallet and lightening yours or your insurance company's. Get a second opinion.

Bill Yancey, MD

Whatyourdoctor dot blogspot dot com

Bill Yancey of FL 4:13PM August 26, 2012