Are you suffering from lower back pain? Do you find that it is impacting your daily activities? Lower back pain has a variety of factors. Past or current injuries to your discs, ligaments, or muscles can cause you to experience pain in your lower back. You may not even be aware of what caused the pain, but you most certainly are aware that the pain is there. Perhaps you have heard friends or family members in the Birmingham area talk about seeing a chiropractor for their back pain. But, can a chiropractor really help reduce the pain you are experiencing in your lower back?
What Does a Chiropractor Do?
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional. In order to practice as a chiropractor, need to go to school to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree. They must also become licensed by the state before they can begin seeing patients.
Chiropractors work to manipulate your body and realign your spine. Chiropractors use their hands and special techniques to move your body and get your spin realigned. When the spine is in alignment, it helps to alleviate pain that is felt in other areas of the body.
How Can a Chiropractor Help Alleviate the Pain in My Lower Back
If you see a chiropractor to help relieve the pain you are experiencing in your lower back, the chiropractor will first complete an evaluation of your condition. They will talk to you about where you are experiencing pain and check the alignment of your spine. They may also take x-rays to get a clearer look at your spine to help them determine what will need to be done to realign it.
After the chiropractor has evaluated your condition, they will go over their treatment plan with you. They will help you understand what is causing your pain and share what they will do to help you experience relief. Then, they will start treating your condition.
Since chiropractors manipulate your body to provide relief for your pain, the chiropractor will likely start with more gentle manipulations to allow your body to get used to how it will be moved. After a few sessions with the chiropractor, they will begin using more pressure to really move your body back into alignment so your lower back pain is relieved.
What Can I Expect During the Adjustment?
During your adjustment, the chiropractor will use a variety of technologies to help realign your spine. Every chiropractor is a little different and has its own particular style, but in general, here is what you can expect to happen during your adjustment.
- Before the adjustment begins, you likely lay on the adjustment table with your back up. Some heat will be placed on the areas where you are experiencing pain. The heat will loosen you up so your body will be more receptive to the adjustment and will move more easily.
- Depending on the chiropractor you visit, you might also receive something called traction. Traction refers to when the table you are laying on moves underneath you to stretch out your muscles and ligaments. This can help your body move more easily when the doctor comes in for your adjustment.
- Some chiropractors also use electrical muscle stimulation before your adjustment. Electrical muscle stimulation may be used if areas of your low back are extremely painful or are experiencing spasms. Muscle stimulation involves applying a mild electrical current to your muscles to help relieve the pain you are experiencing.
- After you have had the heat on you for a few minutes and receive traction or electrical muscle stimulation (if they’re deemed necessary by your chiropractor), the doctor will come in to adjust you.
- During the adjustment, your chiropractor will apply a sudden force to the areas of your spine that need to be realigned. The force is very controlled and aimed at the exact area of your spine that the doctor has determined needs to be moved. If you hear cracking or popping sounds during the adjustment, don’t worry. These are normal and are a sign that the adjustment is working.
- Depending on the severity of your condition, it may take a few adjustment sessions before you begin to feel better. However, some people notice an improvement after their first adjustment.
If you have been experiencing lower back pain, seeking help from a chiropractor could help you experience relief and alleviate your pain. If you are ready to get started, call us today at 205-637-1363. We can help you!
