Chiropractic techniques are 40% more effective than medical care for treating lower back pain. In fact, lower back pain is the top reason (46%) patients visit chiropractors, followed by neck pain. Not sure if you need to schedule an appointment with your Lexington chiropractor for back pain? Here are six signs it’s definitely time! After reading this guide, you can get the help you need to ease the pain.
Read on to learn more.
1. Constant Headaches
Most people assume a headache is a sign they’re dehydrated or haven’t eaten recently. While neglecting your nutrition can cause a headache, it’s possible a misalignment is the real culprit.
A misalignment can impede blood flow to your brain. You might experience chronic headaches as a result. Chronic headaches can impact your quality of life.
A practice-based review indicates chiropractic care could help treat headaches, migraines, and neck pain.
Talk to your chiropractor if you’re struggling with constant headaches. They might recommend a manual adjustment.
Your chiropractor will apply controlled pressure to your spine and back. Then, they can correct the misalignment. The supply of blood and oxygen to your brain should improve as a result.
Then, your headaches should start to subside.
2. Wear and Tear
Turn your shoes over to take a look at the soles. Does one side seem more worn out than the other? Uneven wear and tear, along with back pain, could mean you have an alignment issue.
If there’s a subluxation in the spine, you could wear down one shoe faster than the other. A subluxation can also impact your range of motion (more on this below).
Think about your daily routine. Do you sit in front of a desk all day? Talk to your Lexington chiropractor about your work environment.
It’s possible your workspace has caused your misalignment as well as poor posture. Visiting a chiropractor for back pain can help you gather the tools and tips you need to improve your posture.
First, make sure to press your back against your chair. Keep your head up and spine straight.
Sit with your feet flat against the ground, too.
Avoid reaching for your mouse or keyboard. Instead, move everything within reach. Lift your monitors to avoid straining your neck, too.
While visiting the best Lexington chiropractor, consider discussing exercises you can complete at your desk to ease your back pain.
Visiting your chiropractor for routine appointments can help you improve your posture. Otherwise, you’ll continue putting unnecessary pressure on the upper back, neck, and spine.
To accommodate this pressure, your discs and bones will begin to shift. You might develop a slipped disc or other chiropractic issues.
Working with your chiropractor can help you avoid complications as you improve your posture.
3. Chronic Pain
One of the top signs you need to visit a Lexington chiropractor for back pain is persistent pain.
Nearly 65 million Americans experience recent episodes of back pain. About 16 million (8% of adults) struggle with chronic back pain.
In fact, back pain is now the most costly condition in the Us. Health care and indirect costs reach over $12 billion every year.
You could begin missing work as a result of your chronic back pain. In fact, 83 million days of work are lost every year. It’s the top reason for missed days at work.
Back pain can also impact your mobility, range of motion, mood, and quality of life.
If your back pain is persisting, you don’t need to rely on addictive pain medications to ease the pain. You could avoid surgery (and the resulting costs) by visiting a chiropractor, too.
You and your Lexington chiropractor can work together to develop a customized treatment plan. In addition to manual adjustments, you might also benefit from physical therapy. Stretching can help ease tension in your spine as well.
You’re at a higher risk of experiencing chronic back pain if you:
- Have bad posture
- Are older
- Don’t exercise
- Smoke
- Work in a sedentary environment
If you’re at risk, consider visiting a chiropractor before your pain symptoms become chronic.
4. Trouble Sleeping
It’s important to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Otherwise, you could struggle to focus and function during the day. You might experience weight gain and other complications without sleep.
Unfortunately, your back pain might impact your ability to fall and stay asleep at night.
If you’re experiencing trouble sleeping, schedule a consultation with a chiropractor for back pain. They can determine the root cause of the problem.
Then, they can ease the tension in your back to help you get the rest you need.
5. A Recent Accident
Were you recently in a car or sporting accident? Visit your chiropractor before you start experiencing symptoms.
An accident can trigger your body’s adrenaline response, which could mask your pain. It’s important to start treatment right away. Otherwise, you could develop complications in time.
Your chiropractor can take X-rays to assess your spine’s current health. They might recognize a problem before the adrenaline fades.
Otherwise, inflammation can build throughout the body. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to pain and injury. Chronic inflammation can lead to health complications when left untreated, though.
If you plan on filing a personal injury lawsuit, your chiropractor’s assessment can benefit your case, too. Here are a few extra benefits of seeing a chiropractor after a crash to keep in mind.
6. Limited Range of Motion
You might start noticing changes to your range of motion in addition to your back pain. For example, you might struggle to look over your shoulder to check your blind spot while driving.
Talk to a chiropractor if you’ve noticed a change in your range of motion.
They can use a spinal adjustment to improve your flexibility. With routine appointments, your range of motion should improve.
Straighten Up: See Your Lexington Chiropractor for Back Pain Today
Don’t let your back pain impact your quality of life. Instead, visit your Lexington chiropractor if you experience these symptoms. They’ll help by designing a customized treatment based on your needs.
With their help, you can put an end to your aches and pains.
Eager to get started? We can’t wait to help.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment.