Lower back pain can be a debilitating condition which can come in varying forms of symptoms from localized pain on one side, to pain on both sides radiating down the back or front of the legs. As a matter of fact, lower back pain is considered the second most common cause for disability amongst adults in the U.S. and is the cause for an estimated 149 million missed work days per year 1. Moreover, greater than 80% of our population will have an experience with lower back pain at some point in their lives, again with varying degrees of symptoms and timelines.
Traditionally, primary medical providers have prescribed medications, physical therapy and/or surgical procedures to combat their patient’s pain. Prescribing medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) have been proven effective at reducing pain, however they come with potentially detrimental side-effects such as ulcers and internal organ damage when taken for prolonged periods. It wasn’t until more recently that researchers have begun assessing the efficacy of chiropractic spinal manipulation on cases of acute or chronic lower back pain. Current research, including an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is demonstrating that chiropractic spinal manipulations can help improve pain and function in people with uncomplicated lower back pain 2. Adding in a supplement such as a quality fish oil, which has been shown to naturally block the same enzymes that NSAIDs do to reduce inflammation, will also boost the potential benefits of a spinal adjustment (consult your primary care physician before taking fish oil if you are on a prescribed blood thinner medication).
The best part about chiropractic care, is that research has shown it to be an extremely safe treatment option! So call us today to schedule your appointment so we can determine how we can help you get rid of that nagging lower back pain.
1 Freburger JK, Holmes GM, Agans RP, et al. The rising prevalence of chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(3):251-8.
2 Paige, Neil M., et al. “Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Jama 317.14 (2017): 1451-1460.
