Author: Randy Briesacher

The Surprising Science About Surgery for Low Back Pain

Many people think that surgery can “fix” an area of their injured spine. While in rare cases, that’s true, the permanent changes that surgery makes to your anatomy can cause many new

problems in addition to the trauma and risks accompanying it. The changes that occur after surgery are called “adjacent segment disease,” They are the number one reason why people who have one surgery on their low back often return for more.

You will be surprised to know that a recent study found chiropractic care can provide the same relief as surgery for disc issues in the low back without any surgical risks. The kicker is those individuals who didn’t get great results with chiropractic care were found to be great surgical candidates. So, in most cases, it’s clear that anyone entertaining the idea of surgery should go to the chiropractor before going under the knife! • 60% of patients with sciatica benefitted from spinal manipulation/adjustments to the same degree as if they received surgery.

• Over 25% of patients undergoing spine surgery may have complications.

• Patients with disc herniations should consider chiropractic care before surgical intervention.

Next Steps: Having surgery is a big, irreversible decision. The time away from work, risks of anesthesia, the trauma to your spine, and results that aren’t exactly fantastic have led many doctors to question whether surgery is a good option outside of emergency cases. But if you are one of the rare people who may benefit from surgery, we’ll let you know. In our practice, our goal is to help you avoid unnecessary addictive drugs and risky medical procedures and find health and healing naturally. Our team 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.

What Causes Low Back Pain

Low back pain is something that over 80% of us will deal with at some point. But what exactly causes low back pain? Unfortunately, it’s not just one thing that causes low back pain, but there are some trends and information that we’ve uncovered about the primary causes and, most importantly- what you can do to avoid it.

Your low back is made up of 5 bones (lumbar vertebrae) with spinal discs in between them. The bones protect your spinal cord as it travels down and out the left and right sides between each segment. Supporting this incredible structure is a variety of ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Most low back pain occurs because the stress on a particular area of your spine has outweighed your body’s ability to adapt. An injury may occur if the stress on an area is too much. The most common low back injuries are sprain/strains, spinal disc bulges/herniations, or facet challenges. In most cases, these injuries can heal quickly with the right care.

• Abnormal motion of the spinal joints in your low back can cause pain.

• A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial found spinal adjustments to be superior to both placebo and NSAIDs in the care of low back pain.

• Periodic chiropractic visits may prevent future episodes of low back pain.

The best way to reduce your risk of low back pain is by being proactive with your health. Daily movement, dynamic stretching, regular exercise, and spinal adjustments are important steps to keep your low back tip-top shape. If you have questions about how you can take proactive steps to reduce your chance of low back pain, reach out to us today!

Science Says The Best Way to Treat Sciatica is…

You know how scary it can be if you’ve ever fallen to your knees in pain due to sciatica. Sciatic pain is 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 leg, and end up in your foot. Pain that locks up your low back and travels down your leg after sneezing, coughing, or bending over to pick something up is one of the least welcomed surprises you can experience. But do you know the best way to find relief?

You may find it surprising to learn that disc bulges and herniations are pretty common as we age, and most of the time, they don’t cause any pain. That’s right. You can (and may right now) have spinal disc issues that aren’t causing pain. However, if a nerve in your low back begins to get pinched, your body will let you know about it with a jolt of pain. It may seem like the only way to “take care” of a bulged or herniated disc is by cutting it out with surgery, but that’s not the case. The best way to treat sciatica is with the care offered in our practice. Stretching, exercise, and spinal adjustments reduce the pain associated with sciatica by reducing the pinching (or compression) on your spinal nerves.

• Controlled movement of your spinal joints can help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with sciatica.

• Surgery is a last resort, and it’s estimated that less than 5% of people with sciatica are good candidates for surgical intervention.

• A recent study found more relief (over 60%) with spinal adjustments than with spinal injections for people with lumbar disc herniations.

Having sciatica doesn’t mean that you are destined for surgery. Most people with disc issues and sciatica can get well using chiropractic care. Remember, your spine is resilient, your spinal discs can heal, and we’re here to help. Call us today if you have been struggling with sciatica.

Top Healthcare Organizations Recommend This For Low Back Pain…

According to The Lancet, low back pain is the number one source of disability globally. And, if you’ve dealt with low back pain in the past, you understand how much it can alter your daily life. Even simply standing up straight can feel like an incredibly impossible task. Because of how debilitating it can be, many top healthcare organizations have begun to publish recommendations for the best ways to manage low back pain. Their suggestions may surprise you.

The care provided by chiropractors ranks at the top of many leading healthcare recommendations to relieve low back pain. Movement-based strategies such as spinal adjustments, controlled exercise, and dynamic stretching are some of the most effective ways to reduce low back issues. Not only are movement-based strategies good at providing fast relief, but emerging research shows that they may be able to offer a preventative effect when continued over time. The days of taking drugs and medications for back pain are over. Prescriptions are now rarely recommended as a first option due to their dangerous side effects and lack of results.

• The American College of Physicians supports chiropractic care for the treatment of back pain.

• Harvard Health and the Mayo Clinic have published numerous articles highlighting chiropractic and movement-based treatment options.

• Clinical care guidelines discourage the use of medication for back pain due to the risks, dangers, and lack of results. We’re happy that major, trusted healthcare organizations have evolved to support natural ways to relieve low back pain. Contact us today if you or someone you know is struggling with back pain. Our practice can provide you with a thorough evaluation to determine the source of your problem and the treatment needed to help you find relief.

4 Steps to a Healthy Birth

With all of the advancements in medical science, it may be surprising to discover that most maternity care does not reflect the best scientific evidence. A woman’s body is designed to grow, birth, and nourish a baby. The natural birth process is relatively simple; it’s been going on for hundreds of thousands of years!

Using intravenous lines, continuous monitoring, and restricted movement can often make labor more difficult by increasing stress, interfering with the natural process, and increasing the complication rate. The World Health Organization recommends four care practices that promote, support, and protect a normal birth process.

• Let labor begin on its own. In many cases, inducing labor can increase the risk of complications for both mother and child. • Move and Change Positions During Labor- Moving around can help labor progress and may shorten the total labor time.

• Bring a loved one or doula for support. Labor support has been shown to reduce the likelihood of cesarean section and improve the birth experience.

• Avoid Interventions That Aren’t Necessary- Continuous electronic monitoring hasn’t been shown to provide better outcomes for the baby and may increase the risk of the mother having a C-section.

Next Steps: Having a child is a special time, and no decisions should be taken lightly. But it’s essential to understand and respect our body’s natural ability to navigate the process. Our role is to help empower you to create the birth experience you desire and make it as comfortable as possible! Our practice is proud to work with midwives, doulas, and OB-GYNs in our community.

NSAID Risks: Making Smart Healthcare Decisions During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, you’re not immune to aches and pains. Over 85% of women are estimated to deal with back pain during pregnancy. Finding relief without the use of medicine is almost always the best route. Even over-the-counter medication can be dangerous to take before and during pregnancy.

All medications have side effects, and these are often heightened during pregnancy. For instance, a drug like acetaminophen has been linked to a greater risk of challenges such as ADHD and asthma. However, medication use around conception may be the most dangerous. NSAID has been linked to a 59% increased risk of miscarriage.

• Taking NSAIDs can increase the risks of asthma and hypertension in newborns.

• NSAIDs cross from mother to baby easily through the placenta and can influence the production of prostaglandins.

• Finding organic pain solutions before conception and throughout pregnancy is a smart decision.

Tips to Relieve Back Pain During Pregnancy

It’s estimated that over 85% of women experience back pain during pregnancy. As a woman enters her second and third trimesters, the growing baby pulls your center of gravity forward, increasing your lower back’s curve (or lordosis). That increased stress on your lower back often leads to back pain.

Spinal adjustments are considered a highly safe and effective evidence-based option for pregnant women to relieve back pain during pregnancy. Additionally, chiropractors can provide specific exercise and stretching recommendations. A recent study found that patients who received care from their OB-GYN and chiropractor had greater reductions in pain and improved quality of life than those who only saw an OB-GYN.

• 92% of pregnant women are advised by their doctor to exercise during pregnancy.

• Choosing the right pillows and finding the best stretches can dramatically reduce neck and mid-back pain during pregnancy.

• The mechanical low back pain that women experience during pregnancy can often be relieved with spinal adjustments.

How Your Body Changes During Pregnancy

A woman’s body undergoes many transformations during the nine months of pregnancy. Some of these changes are visible, such as an expanding belly, while others are well known, such as morning sickness and backaches. However, a few body changes may be unexpected and catch some women by surprise.

During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is produced to help loosen the joints and ligaments of the pelvis, preparing for the birth process. Relaxin relaxes ligaments in the pelvis, but it also stretches the joints and ligaments all over the body. This is one reason women develop back pain or sciatica (pain that starts in the back and travels down the leg into the foot). As the ligaments become looser and the center of gravity is pulled forward due to the growing baby, a woman’s low back, or lumbar spine, can become over-stressed and painful due to these changes in biomechanics.

• Relaxin is a hormone produced during pregnancy to relax the joints and ligaments to prepare the pelvis for birth.

• All of the other joints and ligaments of the body also become “looser” due to relaxin, which changes their movement patterns.

• These changes, while welcomed, often result in low back pain and other joint pains throughout pregnancy.

Beyond the Pill: Non-Opioid Care for Chronic Pain

If you’re dealing with chronic pain, now is the time to tackle it naturally. But how do you deal with chronic pain without using opioid pain medication?

One of the problems with pain medications is that they only treat the symptoms; they aren’t doing anything to resolve the source of your pain. If you are looking for a long-term solution, the cause needs to be addressed. Altered biomechanics, or movement patterns, tend to be a common issue for many people dealing with chronic spine pain.

To get things moving on the path toward relief, we have found a lot of success with a plan that typically encourages:

• Whole Body Movement with Daily Exercise

It may seem impossible to get out and get active when dealing with chronic pain, but it may help you see some relief from your symptoms! For example, if you’re dealing with chronic back pain, regular walks can help relieve the stiffness and soreness of back pain.

• Specific Spinal Joint Movement with Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractors are an excellent resource for anyone who is dealing with chronic pain. New research has shown chiropractic care is at least as effective at relieving pain as many medications, without the risks or dangers associated with drugs. The likelihood of filling an opioid prescription is reduced by over 50% for people who see a chiropractor.

Next Steps:

You don’t need to keep struggling with chronic pain. Researchers have found that chiropractic care and active exercise can effectively reduce your symptoms and address the cause. If you or someone you know has struggled with chronic pain, please reach out to us today so that we can help provide you with options for relief that don’t include the dangerous medications that have created the current opioid epidemic.

Opiates vs. Opioids: What’s the Difference?

Opioids and opiates have caused millions of people looking for pain relief to enter a cycle of addiction. The scary part is that many people dying from opioids aren’t recreational drug users looking for the next high; they were people prescribed these drugs by their doctors to treat chronic pain.

To understand how this epidemic has happened, it’s essential to understand the differences between opioids and opiates.

Opiates describe drugs derived from the flowering opium poppy plant. Morphine is an example of an opiate. These drugs have been linked to physical dependence, increased tolerance, and addiction.

Opioids are synthetic or made in a lab. When opioid receptors in the brain become activated, they produce feelings of pleasure and pain. All opioid drugs act on these receptors. Some are up to 50 times more powerful than heroin. Opioid drugs used to treat pain include oxycodone and hydrocodone. These drugs are highly addictive and dangerous. Oxycodone exhibits the highest risk of abuse and poses the most significant dangers. It affects the nervous system in the same way as heroin.

• Opioids can have a negative impact on your emotions, breathing, digestion, and movement. • Fentanyl, a pain-relieving opioid, is 100 times more potent than morphine.

• Opioids are highly addictive and not meant to be used for chronic pain.

Current medical guidelines no longer recommend using opioids for most spinal pain. If you’re struggling with pain, movement based care such as chiropractic is often the best way to accelerate the healing process and put yourself in a position for long term relief. Call us today if you want to explore a relief path that doesn’t include medications.