Back pain may start off mild and seem like a small nuisance, but left untreated it can become debilitating. Simple activities you used to do with ease, like taking a walk around the block or reading in a recliner, can become challenging and leave you in pain. Back pain can also be scary because it feels like every movement you make triggers more discomfort. We understand how important it is to find the best doctor for your back pain treatment. A chiropractor can help offer a natural, non-invasive option that uses gentle yet effective techniques like spinal decompression in Austin.
Common Types of Back Pain
There are several types of back pain and a chiropractor will be able to identify the source of your pain.
Wear and Tear
Everybody experiences general wear and tear as we age and participate in various low to high impact activities. Wear and tear along your spine may occur at a younger age if you regularly participate in high-impact activities or have had an injury that went untreated or didn’t heal properly. This type of back pain can occur when too much pressure is put on certain parts of your back.
Sciatica
Sciatica specifically refers to pain caused by an aggravated nerve in your lower back called the sciatic nerve. Through intense pressure or injury on this nerve, you can experience pain in your lower back that also radiates through your hip and buttocks, and down through one leg to your foot. Back pain by sciatica can also be caused by the Piriformis Muscle.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc, also commonly referred to as a slipped disc, occurs when the spongy tissue that separates your vertebrae slips out of its normal position. When a disc is out of place it is no longer able to properly absorb the shock of your daily activities, which can cause the vertebrae to rub together. A herniated disc may also put pressure on a nearby nerve, causing back pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease also occurs as we age and specifically relates to the discs that separate your vertebrae as well. These discs can begin to break down or degenerate, meaning their once spongy, liquid-filled tissue dries out and no longer cushions your vertebrae effectively. Depending on where the disc degeneration occurs, it can also cause pain in your shoulder, arm, and hand, or down the back of your leg.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
Whether your pain occurs from general wear and tear or disc degeneration as you age or from a specific injury to your back, it can be treated by a chiropractor, whether with manual adjustments, instrument adjustments, or spinal decompression in Austin. Chiropractic care for back pain is a natural, safe, and effective solution to treating your back pain without the risks associated with other types of treatment. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications so you don’t have to worry about side effects, nor do they perform risky surgeries that can cause complications and often come with long recovery periods. Instead, your chiropractor will use gentle adjustments, massage, stretches, and other non-invasive techniques to help relieve your pain and get at the root cause. Your chiropractor may also recommend spinal decompression as a way to compliment your chiropractic treatment and help you avoid surgery.
Spinal Decompression
Whether or not you have tried other, more traditional treatments, spinal decompression in Austin can help provide pain relief from back pain. This is a nonsurgical technique that works by gently stretching your spine and taking pressure off of your back. Spinal decompression is a type of motorized traction that helps to release tension in your back, which can allow a bulging or herniated disc to slip back into place and stop putting pressure on nearby nerves. Spinal decompression also makes it possible for more oxygen and nutrients to flow into your back, keeping your discs flexible and healthy. A spinal decompression specialist will talk you through the entire process, making sure you feel comfortable, relaxed, and supported so you can experience true relief from back pain.
At ProCare Medical Center, we offer spinal decompression in Austin, TX, along with primary care and chiropractic care so you can get the help you need and the relief from back pain all in one modern, convenient location. To learn more about what to expect from spinal decompression therapy, visit our website and call or schedule an appointment online to learn if this is the best option for you and your back pain.
