Back pain is among the most prevalent issues for adults, in fact, up to 80 percent of us suffer from some form of back pain. It can show its ugly face in many forms and guises, from short, bursting spurts, to chronic, life-long discomfort.

Does this sound all too familiar to you? If so, you might want to head on down to your friendly neighbourhood chiropractor.

Why talk about back pain?

It seems that more often than not Australians are affected by back pain, in fact, it’s the very reason many of them call out from work. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in six people deal with chronic back pain every year.

No matter what the cause of your pain it will most likely leave you laid up under the weather. Anything from easy twisting at the waist to heavy lifting could set it off, so one must tiptoe on the eggshells if they want to make it through the day painlessly. If you are experiencing this condition, you’ll know it

as you’re likely to be stiff, achy, or just generally unable to cycle through normal motions easily. Back pain can occur at any age but is found to be most common among young and middle-aged adults.

Is it time to see a chiropractor?

If your back pain becomes unbearable or has persisted for any period of time, the best thing you can do for yourself is to seek out a healthcare professional. Chiropractors’ skilled hands are trained to effectively treat and subdue back pain through careful manipulation of the spine and surrounding muscles and joints.

You should contact a chiropractor (or GP) if you experience any of the following symptoms for longer than a week:

• Constant or intense pain, especially when you are lying down, or at night

• Pain radiating down one or both of your legs

• Weakness, tingling or numbness in one or both of your legs

• Unintentional weight loss

• Redness or swelling in the region of your pain

It is recommended you seek emergency treatment or call 000 if you experience:

• Back pain after a serious car accident, fall or major sports injury

• Bowel or bladder control issues that weren’t pre-existing

• A fever

What to Expect

At your first chiropractic appointment, you can expect your practitioner will take an in-depth history of your back pain as well as a general medical history. You’ll be asked when you first experienced the pain, where it’s located and what type of pain you are feeling. You will also most likely be asked whether there are any favoured methods of pain relief for you and any treatments you’ve tried in the past.

Your healthcare professional will conduct a thorough physical exam to include tests on blood pressure, respiration and pulse. You may also undergo several orthopedic or neurological tests to determine your range of motion, posture, and your muscle tone and strength.

Though not common, you may receive an X-ray or MRI scan to more accurately diagnose your condition, and to hopefully rule out any physical abnormalities.

Your chiropractor will examine you and devise a treatment plan with goals and recommendations to improve your specific condition. This may include any combination of physical joint adjustment, soft tissue healing, self-strengthening exercises, stretches, and massage. In most cases, your treatments will start right away.

If these symptoms are a daily part of your life or you’ve been enduring persistent back pain for six weeks or more, it’s time to get on the phone and call your chiropractor.

What’s Next?

If you have back pain and you are ready to talk to a chiropractor about how they can help, contact Melville Wellness today!