Chiropractic Care for Your Lower Back Pain

Back pain can sometimes be incurable, as not all medications and treatment are effective to treat the pain. Most people choose chiropractic treatments for back pain, as 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually for treatment. Of these people, 35%, or 7.7 million, are looking for relief from their chronic back pain that has been caused by various factors, such as sports wounds, muscle strains, and accidents.

The Basics of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors use practice with hands-on spinal manipulation.There are other alternative treatment options in this field, such as proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, predominantly with the spine, which can allow the body to heal on its own without surgery or medication. Manipulation is used in order to restore mobility to the joints that have been restricted by different injuries to the spine.

Chiropractic is mostly used to provide relief to patients suffering from pain in the joints, bones, muscles, and other connective tissues -- ligaments, cartilage, and tendons -- in the back. When conventional medical treatment cannot relieve the pain, this alternative option is also used in conjunction with a conventional treatment method.

What to Expect if You Opt for Chiropractic Care

During an appointment with a Chiropractor , he or she will ask for the patient’s medical history and then perform different physical examinations, such as lab tests or diagnostic imaging. These methods can determine what treatment is suitable for your back. The treatment plan may also include one or more manual adjustments, where the doctor will manipulate the joints. The manipulation is performed by using a controlled yet sudden force to improve quality and range of motion in an individual. Certain chiropractors may also add nutritional psychoanalysis and workouts into the treatment plan.

What is the Risk-Benefit Ratio of Chiropractic Care?

Treatment plans that include chiropractic care and spinal manipulation are generally considered safe and efficient for lower back pain. Acute lower back pain can be sudden damage that resulted from heavy lifting. Acute back pain is normally more common that chronic pain, as it lasts no more than six weeks and usually improves on its own. Chiropractic care is considered helpful in treating these complications.

Moreover, chiropractors are also able to alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis with the use of mild pressure to the affected areas. These forms of therapy involve injections, such as sugar water or anesthetic, which are believed to strengthen the ligaments in the back.

Prolotherapy and sclerotherapy for pain relief, which are two methods used by chiropractors, can also be used to treat chronic back pain. However, individuals who suffer from these conditions should not undergo spinal manipulation if they take blood-thinning medications, as it can be dangerous to their health. 

3 Easy Ways to Prevent Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a condition that occurs when pouches (diverticula) in your large intestine become inflamed.  Presence of non-inflamed pouches in the large intestine is known as diverticulosis.  You may be at risk of developing diverticulitis if you have been diagnosied with diverticulosis.

1.     Consume more fiber

Many studies have shown that foods food rich in fiber can be beneficial in the treatment of diverticulosis.  By following a dietary recommendation, you can reduce risk of developing complications associated with the disease.  If you are not accustomed to eating fiber enriched foods, gradually introducing it into your diet over the course of a few weeks is stressed. Recommended daily intake is twenty to thirty five grams per day.  Be sure to drink plenty of fluids as well.  There are two types of dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble.  Soluble fiber dissolves in water, creating a gel-like substance making stools softer.  Insoluble fiber absorbs water and increases the volume of the stool.  This enables it to pass through the intestines more easily.  The lack of dietary fiber results in a harder stool, which requires more pressure to to expel.  Fiber can be found in various fruits, vegetables and cereals.  Your diet should include at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day.  Also try not to delay going to the bathroom once you feel the urge, as waiting too long can cause the stool to harden, increasing pressure in your colon.  Pressure build up in your colon is a primary risk factor for diverticulosis, and consequently diverticulitis.

1.     Control your weight

A study performed back in 1986 had shown that obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is one of the main risk factor for developing diverticulitis.  It was found that seventy-five percent of patients with diverticulitis had been either overweight or obese.  By lowering your waist circumference and BMI (Body Mass Index), you can quell the likelihood of developing diverticulosis or diverticulitis.  Being overweight significantly increases the risk of developing complications, subseqently resulting in more invasive procedures.  Additionally, you should exercise regularly.

1.     Use supplements

Using the following supplements can be beneficial in making up for deficiencies of micronutrients and relieving symptoms:

Vitamin B complex – enables proper digestion and activates various digestion enzymes

Aloe vera gel – has laxative properties and stimulates bowel movement

Probiotics – helps in maintaining normal bowel microflora

Omega 3 fatty acids – decreases inflammation in the intestines

L-glutamine – helps to preserve structural and functional health of the intestine

Sodium butyrate – significantly decreases number of diverticulitis episodes

Herbs - chamomile, licorice, marshmallow, slippery elm, wild yam