By Dr. Ken Freedman
Did you know the No. 1 condition that causes people to lose time from work is back pain? Is back pain stopping you from living an active life? You’re not alone: Millions of Americans struggle with acute and chronic back pain each year.
I understand just how seriously back pain can impact your quality of life. Many conventional treatments rely on medication to cover up back pain symptoms. Unfortunately, drugs merely numb your pain and can interfere with the healing process. They do not address the underlying cause of why your body is not working properly.
Chiropractic care is different. By addressing the underlying nerve interference that is contributing to your pain, our conservative care improves your body’s ability to function and heal better naturally, for better effective back pain relief without the need for drugs. Back pain can come from a variety of causes. One of the most common is the vertebral subluxation complex, or subluxation, an irritation of the nerves that exit the spine and prevent the muscles, joints and organs from functioning at their best.
Numerous independent studies have shown that chiropractic care is the most effective, safest approach toward back pain relief. In fact, an issue of Consumer Reports in September 2011 found that chiropractic care outperformed all other treatments, and was highest in patient satisfaction.
Conservative chiropractic care is a safe, effective alternative to pain meds, surgery
Have you been told that your only back pain treatment options are surgery or medication? Unfortunately, neither of these options may be the best solution for your back pain. Prescription painkillers numb the brain’s ability to perceive pain. Once these drugs wear off, the pain will return. Some patients even find themselves becoming increasingly dependent on drugs to function, fueling the dangerous prescription drug epidemic. Surgery can also be risky. These invasive procedures may leave you with more pain than when you started. It is natural to feel frustrated with these limited options and seek a safer, more conservative approach to care.
The reason why chiropractic care has worked so well for my patients is because it is less about treating the pain, and more about improving their body’s ability to heal better and function without interference. Chiropractic care does not involve the use of drugs and surgery, so it is safer.
Back pain affects the entire body
The spine is the body’s lifeline. When it is correctly aligned, the body can function in a state of ease and better health. When the spine is out of alignment, the body is at increased risk for a host of health problems, including pain, fatigue and disease. A misalignment of the spine in the lower back can impact other areas of the body, such as the hips, shoulders, mid-back or neck. For some patients, a misalignment in another part of the body, like the feet, knees, hips or neck, can trigger a chain reaction that leads to pain in the lower back. Those afflicted can also experience numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hips, legs and feet. Lower back subluxations have also been known to cause constipation and other lower digestive disorders, menstrual problems, and sexual dysfunction.
There are many contributing causes for back pain. Everything from repetitive stress injuries caused by prolonged sitting, playing sports or doing yard work, to an accidental slip and fall or whiplash injury, may cause a spinal misalignment. Additionally, eating a diet high in inflammatory foods or being overweight can contribute to back pain.
Beginning with a thorough history and comprehensive, painless checkup, I can accurately identify the root cause for your pain. Should you require chiropractic services, I am an expert in a variety of chiropractic adjusting techniques. I offer the traditional twisting and popping techniques as well as techniques that require absolutely no twisting popping or cracking of the spinal joints. This enables me to care for every patient at any age using an approach that is comfortable and satisfies their clinical needs. At Freedman Chiropractic Center, LLC, the mission is to identify these different factors affecting you and create a care plan customized to your unique needs for fast, affordable, long term results. Should your back pain have a medical cause, I will quickly refer you to the appropriate medical provider.
Dr. Ken Freedman is the owner and director of Freedman Chiropractic Center, LLC. The office is located at Brier Hill Court D-6, East Brunswick. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call 732-254-6011.