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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.

Supporting Expecting Families Through a Healthy Birth

Bottom Line:

With all of the advancements in medical science, it may come as a surprise to you to learn that mother nature may very well know best when it comes to supporting a successful delivery for expecting mothers.

But when you think about it, maybe not.

After all, a woman’s body is designed to support and nourish a baby, the natural delivery process is relatively simple, and it’s been going on for hundreds of thousands of years!

So, what do you need to know as an expecting mother or member of an expecting family?

Read on.

Why it Matters:

In order to keep labor and birth as safe as possible, and to minimize the risk of complications, it is essential to respect the simple, natural, physiologic process of delivery.

That’s something our team knows all too well, and a big reason pregnancy and chiropractic care are suited for one another.

The use of intravenous lines, continuous monitoring, and restricted movement can increase a woman’s overall stress levels which, in turn, can potentially interfere with the natural birthing process.

In other words, there are other ways to support an optimal delivery.

The World Health Organization recommends four best care practices to support a healthy birth.

Here’s a brief overview…

• The WHO recommends letting labor begin on its own, as inducing labor can increase the risk of complications.
• Next, the WHO recommends women move and change positions throughout labor to help it progress and potentially shorten the amount of time spent in labor.
• The WHO also recommends bringing in a loved one or doula for support to help both improve the birth experience and potentially reduce the likelihood of C-section.
• Finally, the WHO recommends avoiding interventions that aren’t necessary such as continuous electronic monitoring which hasn’t been shown to provide better outcomes for the baby and may increase the risk of C-section.

Next Steps:

Having a child is a special time for an expecting family, and no decisions should be taken lightly.

It’s essential to understand and respect our body’s natural ability to navigate the process.

And if you’ve been looking for a holistic pregnancy chiropractor in Mount Pleasant, know that our team is here to empower our patients and their families to create the birth experience that makes sense for them.

We’re proud to work with midwives, doulas, and OB-GYNs in this community to help those of you navigating pregnancy do just that through education, adjustments, massage, and more!

Pregnancy and chiropractic care go hand in hand, and our supportive team would be honored to be a part of your wellness team.

What Expecting Families Need to Know About NSAIDs and Medications

Bottom Line:

While expecting mothers may have a glow about them, they’re unfortunately no less immune to body aches and pains than the rest of us.

In fact, it’s estimated that over 85% of women will deal with back pain at some point during and likely after their pregnancy.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learned in years of treating pregnant patients, it’s that finding relief without the use of over-the-counter and prescription medications is possible – and absolutely probable.

Here’s a quick overview of what your expecting family should know about pregnancy and medications and pregnancy and chiropractic adjustments.

Why it Matters:

It’s likely that you or an expecting mother you know have had their doctor caution that no medications should be taken without checking with them first.

It’s no secret that all medications come with some level of side effects, and these are often heightened during pregnancy.

Some medicines aren’t safe to take when a woman is pregnant, even those that are available over-the-counter.

For example, there have been preliminary studies that suggest over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and other common NSAIDs may increase the risk of health challenges in newborns such as asthma and gastrointestinal problems, respectively.

The good news is that there is good news on this front.

Pregnancy and chiropractic adjustments go hand in hand’

The low back and other pregnancy-related pains that women often experience during pregnancy can usually be relieved with spinal adjustments.

To recap a few of the key points here…

• NSAIDs cross from mother to baby easily through the placenta and can influence the production of prostaglandins.
• Recent studies suggest that taking NSAIDs can increase the risks of asthma and hypertension in newborns.
• Chiropractic care is a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to manage pregnancy-related aches and pains.

Next Steps:

Yes, talking to your doctor about medication use before becoming pregnant is a smart idea.

And if you or a loved one close to you anticipates becoming pregnant, it’s smart to be proactive with your health and explore natural ways to stay active and pain-free during your pregnancy.

As a trusted pregnancy chiropractor in Mount Pl17easant who specializes in natural pain relief solutions, we can help.

Whether you’re ready to come in and start receiving chiropractic care or you’d like to stop in to get your questions answered, our expert team is just a phone call away.

We’d be honored to serve you and yours for trimesters and years to come!

Why Expecting Families May Want a Chiropractor on Their Wellness Team

Bottom Line:

Did you know it’s been estimated that over 85% of women experience back pain during pregnancy?

If that number caught you by surprise, here’s another question for you.

Did you know that as an expecting mother enters her second and third trimesters, their baby is pulling their center of gravity forward which causes the curve of their low back to increase?

Now that number is probably making more if not absolute sense.

We know that most expecting mothers will experience some level of increased stress on their low back, and that increased stress often leads to back aches and pain

So, what pain relief options are available for treating these pregnancy related pains?

Read on (especially if you’ve been looking for a chiropractor who treats pregnancy back pain in Mount Pleasant.

Why it Matters:

We have one last question for you to bring this full circle.

Did you know that spinal adjustments are considered a highly safe, effective, and evidence-based option for the care of pregnancy related aches and pains?

Odds are you did, and that’s why you’re here – to learn how chiropractic can help with pregnancy pain.

We can confirm, you’ve come to the right place.

What’s more is that in addition to gentle and non-invasive adjustments, chiropractors have the know-how to provide personalized pregnancy stage and condition specific exercise and stretching recommendations to help mothers successfully manage their pain.

And get this.

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.

Here are some key points to remember as you consider chiropractic care…

• It’s estimated that 92% of women are advised by their doctor to exercise while pregnant.
• 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.

Next Steps:

We’ve got one last key statistic to share regarding how chiropractic can help with pregnancy pain.

It’s estimated that nearly 90% of women report having a high level of satisfaction with chiropractic during pregnancy.

It’s no wonder that chiropractic is one of the most popular healthcare choices for expecting moms!

So, if reducing your stress, staying physically active, and reducing aches and pains interests you or an expecting mother close to you, then you’ll want to consider having a chiropractor as a part of your growing family’s birth team.

Our expert team is standing by, and we’d be honored to serve you.

Key Ways Expecting Families Can Benefit from Chiropractic Care

Bottom Line:

A woman’s body undergoes many transformations during and after months of pregnancy.

Some of these changes are easily recognized, such as an expanding abdomen and episodes of morning sickness, while others less well known.

In fact, some common physiological changes can catch expecting mothers by surprise.

Why it Matters:

Before we dive into those changes, let’s start with the basics.

Throughout a woman’s pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is produced to help loosen the joints and ligaments of the pelvis in order to prepare the body for delivery.

And while relaxin relaxes (hence the name) the ligaments in and around the pelvis, it also does the same to other joints and ligaments all over the body.

This is one reason expecting mothers tend to develop back pain or sciatica symptoms (pain that starts in the back and then travels down the leg and into the foot).

It’s probably another reason you’ve been researching the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy you’ve heard about.

And all the while a baby continues to develop and grow, and that beautiful baby is pulling the pregnant woman’s center of gravity forward.

So, at any point during and after a pregnancy, that woman’s biomechanics, balance, and posture are in a constant state of flux, and these changes can place a lot of stress on the supporting structures and muscles in the low back.

Let’s recap…

• Relaxin is a hormone produced during pregnancy to relax the joints and ligaments to prepare the pelvis for birth.
• Relaxin also causes the other joints and ligaments of the body to “loosen” which can cause changes in a woman’s normal movement patterns.
• These altered movement patterns can often lead to low back pain and other joint pains throughout pregnancy and after.

If pregnancy is a part of your life in some way, know this. Taking steps to prevent and treat back pain can help reduce the risk of injury and the chances of developing long-term back pain.

That’s where we come in.

Chiropractic is a safe and all-natural option for the care of back pain before, during, and after pregnancy, and our entire team is here for you.

Next Steps:

Pregnancy is both a special time in a woman’s life and a unique time for their body.

The changes that help facilitate a successful delivery can also wreak havoc on that mother’s back and joints.

So, if you or someone you know is experiencing pregnancy related back aches and pains and looking for natural and non-invasive pregnancy chiropractic care in Mount Pleasant, give us a call.

Whether you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, we’d be honored to help.

We’re also happy to work with your expecting family’s birth team to provide the safest and most effective care to keep everyone active and feeling their best throughout all three trimesters and beyond!

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?

Are opioid alternatives for pain management actually effective?

Allow us to answer that with a resounding YES!

One of the problems with pain medications is that they only treat the symptoms – they aren’t doing a thing 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.

Why It Matters:

To get things moving on the path towards relief, we have found a lot of success with a plan that typically encourages a couple of core components.

First, we incorporate whole body movement with daily exercise.

It may seem impossible to get out and get active when you’re 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.

Next, we add specific, targeted 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 targeted active exercise can effectively address the cause of your pain to best reduce your symptoms.

If you or someone you know has struggled with chronic pain, please reach out to us at our holistic pain management clinic in Mount Pleasant today.

Our expert team is standing by to 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?

Opiates vs. opioids – while they come from different sources, they are similar in a very specific way.

Both opioids and opiates have caused millions of people looking for pain relief to enter a cycle of addiction.

And the truth is that many of the people who are currently addicted to opioids weren’t recreational drug users looking for their next high…

They were people who were prescribed these drugs by their doctors to treat their chronic pain.

Why it Matters:

To understand more about how this addiction epidemic happened, it’s helps 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.

It goes without saying that these drugs are highly addictive and dangerous.

Opioid drugs used to treat pain include oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Oxycodone exhibits the highest risk of abuse and poses the most significant dangers.

It affects the nervous system in the same way as heroin.

Next Steps:

Current medical guidelines no longer recommend the use of opioids for most spinal pain.

If you’re struggling with pain, movement-based care, like chiropractic, is often the best way to accelerate the healing process and put yourself in a position for long-term relief.

Both the research and results we’ve seen at our drug-free pain management clinic in Mount PLeasant don’t lie.

Call us today if you want to explore a relief path that doesn’t include medications.