If you've ever been in a car accident, there's a good chance you suffered an injury.
At the very least, most people are a little sore the day following an accident.
Many people suffer from back pain following an accident due to the force of the collision.
When faced with back pain, most people turn to over the counter and prescription painkillers.
However, painkillers don't fix the underlying issue, they are just masking your pain.
And, they come with a pretty long list of side effects including throwing your hormones out of whack, affecting everything from your libido to your risk of osteoporosis.
They also lead to overuse and addiction.
Many people today are trying to avoid painkillers and are looking for safer, more natural alternatives.
That's where chiropractic care comes in.
Chiropractic care is an all-natural, holistic approach to healthcare that can ease your back pain without the use of prescription drugs.
And, it heals your back pain from the source instead of just hiding the pain.
In the article below, we will examine how chiropractic care treats back pain without the need for prescription drugs.
Table of Contents
- What Is Chiropractic Care?
- Core Chiropractic Treatments
- Chiropractic Treatment Plans
- Beyond Adjustments
- Chiropractic Therapy
- All The Benefits Without The Side Effects
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession that treats disorders of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system without the use of invasive surgery or damaging drugs.
Chiropractors maintain a unique focus on spinal manipulation and treatment of surrounding structures.
There have been numerous studies that have proven that manual therapies used by chiropractors are effective for the treatment of lower back pain.
It is also effective for the treatment of lumbar herniated disc for radiculopathy and neck pain, among many more conditions.
When patients with non-specific chronic low back pain are treated by chiropractors, the long-term outcome is enhanced by receiving regular treatments after the initial visit.
Back pain isn't always a result of trauma. For more information, read our blog post: "Can Stomach Problems Cause Lower Back Pain?"
Core Chiropractic Treatments
The core of chiropractic care involves the treatment of common lower back pain conditions through manual therapy.
Spinal Manipulation: This type of manipulation refers to a high velocity, short lever arm thrust that is applied to abnormal vertebrae to improve functionality.
It reduces nerve irritability and restores range of motion in the back.
Spinal manipulations are also referred to as chiropractic adjustments.
There is an enormous amount of literature that supports chiropractic care for the treatment of lower back pain.
Many guidelines recommend spinal manipulation to be included in the treatment plan early in the care of lower back pain.
Mobilization: Chiropractic mobilization is low-velocity manipulation, movement, and stretching of the muscles and joints to increase the range of motion in those areas.
Chiropractic Treatment Plans
After your initial visit and a physical exam along with a review of your medical records, your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs.
Your chiropractor will set goals for your treatment based on your pain level, disability issues, and activity intolerance.
All low back pain treatments aim to keep back pain from becoming chronic.
The use of active care, or care that is patient-driven like exercise, activity modification, and ergonomic modifications, is emphasized to accomplish this goal.
Beyond Adjustments
Spinal adjustments are what make chiropractors unique in their approach to treating patients with back problems, especially after car accidents.
But the chiropractic adjustment isn't the only procedure a chiropractor could use to manage a patient's care.
Natural agents like heat, cold, water, massage, light, and exercise are some of the physiological therapeutic measures that chiropractors often use.
When controlled, these and other elements help several lower back pain problems.
Chiropractic Therapy
Some of the most common therapeutic measures utilized in chiropractic care are:
Heat and Cold: Chiropractors can alternate between heat and ice therapy to help patients treat back pain.
Ice packs may be used to numb the back for a 10 to 25 minute period and then switched with a heating pad, heat wrap, or hot water bottle to restore blood flow to the area and promote faster healing.
Exercise: Chiropractors may provide patients with instructions for an exercise program that focuses on stretching and strengthening the back.
Massage: Chiropractors can massage the soft tissues in the back to improve circulation, reduce swelling and inflammation associated with the back pain, and encourage quicker healing.
Dietary Management: Many chiropractors provide their patients with tips on how an improved diet can help with their back pain.
Some chiropractors will also recommend dietary supplements after spinal manipulations.
All The Benefits Without The Side Effects
Chiropractic care accomplishes what people hope painkillers can accomplish without any of the side effects.
Painkillers don't actually treat the condition, they just mask the symptoms, and they come with a laundry list of side effects.
Many times they end up doing more harm than good.
On the other hand, chiropractic care tackles your issues head-on, and treats the source of your pain.
It's also all-natural without any of the nasty side effects that come with painkillers.
If you have back pain due to a car accident, you should consider contacting a chiropractor before you start a painkiller regimen.
To speak with a chiropractor today, contact the Car Wreck Doctor to be placed with a chiropractor in your area.