Author: Randy Briesacher

When to Have Back Surgery and When to See a Chiropractor Instead

Many people think that surgery is the ultimate once-and-for-all “fix” for a problem area of their spine that has been injured.

They may believe that the answer to the question of when to have back surgery is if they’ve been living with it for more than a month or so.

And while in a very small percentage of back pain cases surgery has reportedly provided some level of relief…

It’s also true that the permanent changes that surgery makes to your anatomy can cause a host of new problems to appear, and that’s in addition to the inherent risks that come along with such invasive procedures.

For instance, one of the conditions that may result from surgery is referred to as “adjacent segment disease,” and it’s the number one reason low back pain surgical patients go back for more.

Now, odds are, surgery is not something most of us would turn to as a first or even second resort to find relief from our low back pain.

It’s likely that most of our neighbors would look for non-invasive back pain treatment in [your city / town / neighborhood] before considering surgery.

But some of us with chronic low back pain (which refers to pain that has lasted for more than 3 months) may have wondered if it’s something we’d have to seriously consider.

So, let’s consider it together, right now.

Why it Matters:

In one recent study, researchers found that those low back pain patients with disc issues who received chiropractic care experienced the same if not more relief than patients with the same condition who underwent invasive back surgeries.

The chiropractic patients found relief without any of the risks associated with surgery.

When to Have Back Surgery

Obviously, we specialize in providing non-invasive back pain treatment in [your city / town / neighborhood].

That said, because in this exercise we’re also examining when surgery should be considered, here’s another interesting finding that came out of that study…

It turns out that those individuals who didn’t find “great” results with chiropractic care were actually found to be great surgical candidates.

So, wherever you fall on the spectrum of low back pain – condition, duration, etc – if you’re wondering when to have back surgery, it makes sense to see a chiropractor first.

Either way, we’ll get you on the path to relief.

Let’s recap…

• It’s estimated that approximately 60% of patients with sciatica back pain who received chiropractic care benefitted to the same degree as if they had received surgery.
• On that note, it’s estimated that around 25% of patients who undergo back surgery may experience complications.
• Research strongly suggests that low back pain patients with disc herniations should consider chiropractic care before exploring surgical interventions.

Next Steps:

We understand that having any surgery is a big decision, and that it can be difficult to know when to have back surgery and when to wait.

Between the time you’ll have to spend away from work and the possibility of living with results that aren’t exactly fantastic, it’s smart to explore all available options.

If you’ve been looking for non-invasive back pain treatment in Mount Pleasant, we hope you’ll think of us.

In our practice, our goal is to help you avoid unnecessary and risky medical procedures and prescription medications for pain relief and healing in favor of natural and conservative treatments that are, well, often more effective (especially in the long-term).

However, if you are one of the few people who we sincerely think may benefit from surgery, rest assured that we will let you know.

In our practice, your wellness comes first.

And our compassionate team of healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best care recommendations based on your goals and our findings.

It’s how we believe healthcare should be delivered, and we’re here for you.

Here’s What Causes Low Back Pain… and It’s Not What You Think

Yes, it’s true.

Low back pain is something that a majority of us – well over 80% of the world’s population – will deal with at some point in our lives.

It’s also true that a majority of this community have considered seeking low back pain treatment in Mount Pleasant.

But, what causes low back pain exactly?

Most of us mistakenly think that any back pain we experience must be attributed to a single incident.

The time you picked up a box that was just a little bit too heavy.

The time you were hit square in the back with a baseball.

The time your best friend’s son decided to try The Rock’s (aka Dwane Johnson’s) infamous “People’s Elbow” on you while you were crouched down on the floor just trying to pick up some important papers (true story).

The truth is that it’s usually not just one incident contributing to your ongoing low back pain.

Let’s take a closer look at the low back and what you can do to turn the dial down on your nagging low back pain.

Why it Matters:

First, some fundamental anatomy.

Your low back is made up of 5 bones you’ll hear us refer to as the lumbar vertebrae, each with spinal discs in between them.

These bones protect your spinal cord which travels down through your spinal column and branches out to the left and right side in between each vertebrae.

Supporting the incredible structure that is your spine is a variety of ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

Knowing that, the “real” cause of your back pain is probably becoming clearer.

What Causes Low Back Pain

As it turns out, low back pain often occurs because the stress on a particular area of your spine has outweighed your body’s ability to adapt to and handle that stress.

And, of course, if the stress on any one area of the spine becomes too great, then an injury may occur.

When it comes specifically to what causes low back pain, the most common low back pain related injuries are sprains and strains, spinal disc bulges and herniations, and facet joint issues (misalignments, adhesions, etc).

The good news is that, in most cases, these injuries can heal pretty quickly with the right care.

We’ve helped many people seeking low back pain treatment in [your city / town / neighborhood]  just like you find natural relief from their low back pain right here in our practice.

To put that all together…

• Abnormal motion of the spinal joints and other structures in your low back can cause and contribute to ongoing low back pain.
• A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial found spinal adjustments to be more effective than NSAIDs for the care of low back pain.
• Research also strongly suggests that ongoing periodic chiropractic visits may prevent future episodes of low back pain.

Next Steps:

So, what can you do to relieve your low back pain?

What we’ve seen in our practice as far as what causes low back pain and how it should be treated aligns with what researchers have found.

The best way to reduce your risk of experiencing low back pain is to be proactive with your spinal health.

Daily movement, dynamic stretching, regular exercise, and ongoing periodic chiropractic adjustments are all examples of simple steps you can take to help keep your low back in tip-top shape.

And whether it’s been some time since your last adjustment, you’re finally ready for your first, or you’re looking for advice on the exercises and stretches that make the most sense for you, know that we’re here to help.

We provide naturally-based low back pain treatment in Mount Pleasant and more, and we’re here for you.

Just give us a call!

Research-Backed Ways to Relieve Sciatica Back Pain Without Surgery

Have you ever immediately stopped in your tracks or fallen to your knees because of a sudden onset of sciatica pain?

Perhaps your low back “locked-up” and pain shot down your leg after a simple sneeze or cough or you bent over to pick something up.

Talk about one of the most unwelcome surprises of your life!

And it can be scary.

After all, intense pain like that must be caused by something serious, right?

Well, as the leading chiropractor that treats sciatica in Mount Pleasant, we’re here to tell you that may not be the case.

In fact, finding ways to relieve sciatica back pain may be simpler than you think.

Why it Matters:

Let’s start with what typically causes sciatica back pain.

Sciatic pain is often caused when a spinal disc, excess bone, or overgrown ligaments begin to pinch on your low back’s nerves.

These nerves travel down your buttocks, down the back of your legs, and into your feet.

It might surprise you to learn that disc bulges and herniations are quite common as we get older, and a majority of the time, they don’t cause any pain.

That’s right.

As a go-to local chiropractor that treats sciatica in Mount Pleasant, we’ve seen it first-hand more times than we can count.

You can (and may right now) have various spinal disc issues that aren’t causing you any pain.

However, if a nerve in your low back were to become “pinched”, your body would almost certainly be sure to let you know about it with a jolt of pain.

That pain may have you thinking that one of the only ways to relieve sciatica back pain must be to “fix” that bulged or herniated disc by cutting it out with surgery…

But that’s often not the case.

Ways to Relieve Sciatica Back Pain

We’ve found, and research supports, that non-invasive conservative treatments like those offered in our practice are among the most effective ways to treat and relieve sciatica back pain.

Forget the scalpel.

Think stretching, exercise, and spinal adjustments.

Research indicates that each of these treatment options can help reduce the pinching or compression on your spinal nerves to provide clinically significant relief from the painful symptoms associated with sciatica.

Let’s take a closer look…

• Controlled movement of your spinal joints can help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with a sciatica attack.
• In a recent study involving patients with lumbar disc herniations, researchers observed that participants reported more relief (over 60% more) with spinal adjustments than with spinal injections.
• It’s estimated that less than 5% of people with sciatica are good candidates for surgical intervention, and, for that reason alone, surgery should be considered a last resort.

Next Steps:

Let’s set the record straight once and for all…

Having sciatica pain does not mean that you are destined for surgery, and you don’t have to just learn to live with it for as long as possible until that day comes.

A majority of people with disc issues and sciatica can get well using chiropractic care.

And you can be one of them.

There are other ways to relieve sciatica back pain, and it starts by seeing a chiropractor that treats sciatica in Mount Pleasant.

Your spine is resilient, your spinal discs can heal, and we’re here to help.

Just give us a call to get started!

Top Healthcare Organizations Now Agree on What to Do for Low Back Pain

Would you be surprised if we told you that low back pain may well be the number one source of disability across the globe?

You might.

Would you be surprised if we told you that we were 99.9% certain you had experienced back pain in the last month?

Probably not.

After all, everyone deals with neck and back pain at some point in their lives, right?

 You. Your family and friends. Your coworkers and acquaintances. Everyone.

And as someone who’s dealt with low back pain in the past, you more than understand just how much it can alter your daily life.

You may even be among the many who know that some days just standing up straight can feel like an incredibly impossible task!

You likely have spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what to do for low back pain relief.

And it’s for those reasons that many major healthcare organizations are weighing in with their recommendations for the best ways to take care of low back pain.

What they have to say may surprise you.

Why it Matters:

Their verdict: conservative care options should be explored first for the care of low back pain.

So, if you’ve been looking for a low back pain chiropractor in [your city / town / neighborhood], you’ve made a smart decision!

It’s becoming clear that the days of taking drugs and medications as a widely accepted front-line treatment are coming to an end.

Pain prescriptions are now rarely recommended because healthcare professionals and patients alike are becoming more and more aware of the potentially dangerous side effects that come with them.

Researchers are also continuously sharing findings that indicate those same medications aren’t delivering the long-term relief patients are looking for.

However, they’ve found that the conservative care provided by chiropractors like us can be particularly effective for the care of low back pain.

In fact, our care ranks at the top of many leading healthcare organizations lists for what to do for low back pain relief.

What to Do for Low Back Pain

Movement-based strategies such as spinal adjustments, controlled exercise, and dynamic stretching are a few of the most effective ways to relieve low back issues.

As the top low back pain chiropractor in Mount Pleasant, we’ve seen the results first-hand.

And not only are movement-based strategies good at providing fast relief, but research strongly suggests that such conservative care interventions may also offer a preventative effect when continued over time.

The use of heat, massage, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi or yoga, and low-level laser therapy can also be beneficial for both back-specific and overall function improvements as well as improvements in your overall health-related quality of life.

Did you know…

• Acute back pain is defined as lasting less than 4 weeks, subacute back pain lasts 4 to 12 weeks, and chronic back pain lasts more than 12 weeks.
• The World Health Organization supports chiropractic care and other non-invasive interventions for the treatment of acute, subacute, and especially chronic back pain.
• In addition, Harvard Health, The Mayo Clinic, and other established healthcare organizations have published numerous articles highlighting the benefits of chiropractic and movement-based treatment options.

Next Steps:

As you may imagine, we’re satisfied that so many major, trusted healthcare organizations now actively advocate for non-pharmacological ways to find relief from low back pain.

As a conservative care based practice, we believe in focusing on treating the root cause of an issue and ongoing prevention rather than treating and masking the symptoms.

We have the know-how and real-world experience to help guide you on what to do for low back pain and towards the best treatments that would benefit your unique situation.

So, if you or someone you know is struggling with back pain, and you’ve been considering seeing a low back pain chiropractor in Mount Pleasant, reach out to us today.

Our team of compassionate professionals will work with you to get you the individualized treatment needed to help you find relief.