Treatment

Chiropractic care has brought relief from back pain and other spinal problems to countless patients. Chiropractors believe one of the main causes of pain and disease is when the bones in the spine (vertebrae) are not correctly aligned (i.e. a subluxation). Chiropractors treat these subluxations by a combination of techniques including applied pressure, massage, and manual manipulation of the vertebrae and joints (called adjustments). Using these techniques, chiropractors are often able to relieve pressure and irritation on the nerves and restore joint mobility.

Physical Therapy (PT) is often prescribed for patients with back pain and other spinal problems. It can help to reduce pain, increase flexibility, build strength, and even improve your posture.

Physical therapists use passive and active therapies to treat patients. Passive therapies include heat/cold therapy, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, massage, and joint mobilization. Active therapies include carefully monitored stretching, strengthening and other therapeutic exercise.

A well designed PT treatment plan can help speed a spine patient’s recovery! The articles below will address all of your questions about PT, from the most basic questions to the most advanced.

About 95% of back and neck problems can be treated effectively without spinal surgery. Non-surgical treatment can include medication, physicaltherapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, braces, and spinal injections. The new standard of care is to combine these therapies to maximize benefits.

Most cases of acute back or neck pain are treatable, that is — the cause of the pain is identified and a treatment plan is developed. The patient’s pain usually goes away or is reduced as a result. Chronic back or neck pain, on the other hand, often has to be managed. This is because what can cause chronic pain may be difficult to determine. The treatment plan may require multiple and/or combined therapies. The complexity of chronic pain may mean it takes a patient longer to find relief from their symptoms. Pain management specialists have many different therapies from which to create a chronic pain treatment plan. Such as:

Activity modification may be included first in the patient’s suggested treatment course. The idea is to restrict activities that irritate the patient’s existing disorder.

Medications
Some drugs not only relieve pain but also reduce inflammation and help relax muscle spasm. Many can be found at the local drugstore or pharmacy and include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol* and other brands)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and include aspirin, ibuprofen, Naproxen®, and other medicines
• COX-2 Inhibitors (available by prescription only, such as Celebrex®)
• Muscle relaxants (Flexeril® and others, available by prescription only)
• Anti-Depressants (Cymbalta®, Wellbutrin®, Zoloft®; by prescription only)

• Anti-Seizure medications (Neurontin®, Tegretol®, Topamax®; by prescription only)

Most spine patients respond well to non-surgical treatment. However, some back and neck problems are best treated with surgery. If you are facing surgery, you probably have questions about the procedure, its benefits and risks.