Can a chiropractor help with arthritis in your back? The short answer is yes. But first, let’s talk about when to see a chiropractor and when to go to a doctor.
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In general, seeing a chiropractor can be an appropriate first line of treatment for neck and low back pain. Chiropractors specialize in treating spine conditions, including neck stiffness and headaches. They can also help with other conditions involving the joints and muscles of the body. And they’re able to offer advice on how to prevent injuries from happening again.
But what about when you’ve got arthritis or degenerative conditions of your lower back, like degenerative disc disease? Well, there are some specific things chiropractors are trained to do for someone with arthritis in their back if it’s causing pain: they can adjust the joints where there is inflammation or stiffness so that they can move more easily; they can provide traction therapy which helps loosen up muscles around joints; and they can prescribe exercises.
If your low back pain isn’t getting better fairly quickly, then it might be time to see a spine physician or surgeon such as a physiatrist, orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. They can evaluate your x-rays, order and interpret an MRI, and decide more advanced treatments like epidural steroid injections or even surgery.
Also, if you have symptoms that suggest the problem is more serious early on, such as pain that radiates down one leg, numbness or tingling in that leg, ankle or foot, or weakness in that ankle or foot, you might consider skipping the chiropractor and seeing the doctor or surgeon sooner to find out if you have a herniated disc or some other serious lumbar spine injury.
We are looking for 5 patients with low back pain who want to get significantly better in the next 30 days, without cortisone shots, physical therapy, or surgery. Click this link and enter the term ‘Interested’ in the description box to learn more.
