| 1> | | | | forces (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) will likely |
| When Dorothy followed the yellow brick road, she | | | | pull the bones and joints right back out of place |
| was told to do so by those who wanted her to | | | | again. Also, most (not all) chiropractors will spend |
| get where she wanted go. Well as humans when | | | | 15 minutes with you if your lucky. |
| we blindly follow recommendations even by | | | | Ask people who see a chiropractor how long |
| individuals who have good intentions, it may not | | | | they’ve been going
I hear of people |
| always be your best option. So I’m | | | | who have been going for 10-15 years and still |
| preparing this article to compare and contrast | | | | don’t have a healthy back. Look, the fact |
| what are known as traditional treatments vs. | | | | is chiropractic care is lacking
|
| complementary or alternative treatments for | | | | Unless the chiropractor combines the two |
| back pain. Remember there is rarely only one | | | | approaches, it doesn’t make sense
|
| reason for your back pain and almost never one | | | | The ONLY way chiropractic care makes sense is |
| silver bullet fix
you may need to try several | | | | if you are addressing the muscle imbalances that |
| approaches till you find what works for you. | | | | are pulling the bones and joints out of place to |
| So when reading this article and thinking back on | | | | begin with and that requires strengthening and |
| your visits to medical professionals, did you have | | | | stretching exercises that are chosen specifically to |
| the big picture or were you just following that | | | | correct your muscle imbalances. |
| yellow brick road? If you have been down that | | | | Alternative Treatments for Treating and |
| road, or if you are just starting to suffer from | | | | Eliminating Back Pain |
| back pain it’s never too late to seek out | | | | Massage Therapy |
| new and more encompassing information about | | | | Massage therapy, if done correctly can work |
| your condition when trying to find a solution that | | | | wonders for people with back pain. This is not to |
| works for you. Don’t say you’ve | | | | say that it is the best choice and that it will work |
| tried everything because you haven’t... | | | | for everyone
however, most people will get |
| your solution is out there and you just have to | | | | great results from it if the massage therapist has |
| find it! | | | | a good understanding of muscle imbalances and |
| Orthopedic Care | | | | how to work on them. |
| One of the first places many people go when | | | | NOTE: Not all massage therapists are the same! |
| they experience back pain is the orthopedic | | | | Just like any profession, there are varying |
| specialist (surgeon) and a visit usually last 5-10 | | | | degrees of training and qualifications. When |
| minutes. They will typically look at the problem | | | | selecting a massage therapist please check to see |
| symptomatic area and often fail to look at the | | | | if they are licensed and insured in the state where |
| body as a whole. If you've been to an orthopedic | | | | you will be seeing them. You should also ask the |
| specialist for your back pain, did they do a full | | | | massage therapist if they have training in one of |
| body physical evaluation (takes 30 mins. or | | | | the following areas: Orthopedic massage, Medical |
| more)??? Not likely. | | | | massage, St. Johns technique and/or has a |
| Here are some of the common treatments used | | | | comprehensive knowledge of muscle imbalances |
| prescribed by orthopedic specialists: | | | | relating to back pain. With that said the benefits |
| Cortisone Shots | | | | are as follows. The root cause will be identified, |
| Cortisone is a catabolic steroid which is intended | | | | your discomfort will be addressed and you root |
| to reduce inflammation by killing off the tissue in | | | | cause will be corrected all in an attempt to make |
| the inflamed area
now let me ask you, does | | | | you pain free and give you the tools you need to |
| that make any sense to you at all? | | | | keep you that way. What to expect when you |
| Not only are these injections quite painful, but | | | | see a massage therapist. |
| they rarely result in any pain relief and if they do | | | | All massage sessions are one on one allowing you |
| it is short lived, usually 1-2 weeks if at all. Plus, it | | | | the opportunity to converse with the therapist as |
| does NOTHING to identify or address the cause | | | | well as get the attention you need to get results. |
| of the pain
it is only intended to treat the | | | | You can ask questions about how you compare |
| symptom. It’s for those reasons that we | | | | to other people. Feel free to ask the therapist |
| do not recommend them. | | | | what approach they will be taking so that you |
| Anti-inflammatory Drugs | | | | know what to expect. The massage therapist has |
| Just the name should scare you away
just like | | | | many different techniques they can use when to |
| cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory medications do | | | | dealing with you back pain and some are better |
| not identify or address the cause of your pain | | | | than others. On the down side sometimes a |
| and for many people, they deliver little pain relief. | | | | therapist can get distracted with other problem |
| These medications also deliver serious side | | | | areas, it is in your best interest to keep them |
| effects! The main reason they are prescribed is | | | | focused on you back and associated problem |
| money
and if you don’t believe me, do | | | | areas. Like anything else you may need to try |
| the research and you’ll see for yourself. | | | | several different therapists before finding the one |
| The drug industry is huge and unfortunately, they | | | | that works best for you and with you. |
| have a huge influence on the whole medical | | | | Post-rehabilitation Fitness Training |
| community, including the doctors. | | | | Another overlooked form of treatment that is |
| I challenge you to find a drug that will fix your | | | | very effective is post-rehabilitation fitness training. |
| back problem
you’ll be looking forever | | | | This includes targeted strength and flexibility work |
| because there is no way a medication can fix a | | | | to correct / improve the individuals muscle |
| physical problem so avoid medications at all costs! | | | | imbalances. This service can only be performed |
| Back Surgery | | | | by certified post-rehab fitness trainers and there |
| Surgery for back pain is very common and more | | | | are limitations to what they can do for you. For |
| often than not, the individual still has pain | | | | example, they can not diagnose a condition, |
| afterwards (or it returns within weeks) and | | | | prescribe any medications take x-rays, etc
|
| sometimes even new problems! Very rarely is a | | | | however, if they are well trained they can pinpoint |
| surgery the answer...for example, many people | | | | your muscle imbalances quickly and get you |
| have surgery for herniated discs. The logic behind | | | | started on a fitness program that will restore |
| the surgery is if you remove the piece/portion of | | | | balance to your body and likely eliminate your |
| the disc that is putting pressure on the nerve the | | | | back pain. |
| problem is solved. Unfortunately, the same forces | | | | Often times this can be combined with massage |
| that forced that disc to protrude or bulge will likely | | | | therapy and/or manual physical therapy for a |
| force more of the disc out, or another disc out. | | | | total solution. If you decide to go this route, which |
| Surgery should always be the last resort... and | | | | I recommend you do, be sure to thoroughly |
| even then I'd question it! | | | | check out the fitness trainer and ask to see their |
| Physical Therapy | | | | certification, insurance, references, etc. |
| Physical Therapy is traditionally the next step | | | | Manual Physical (muscle) Therapy |
| after seeing an Orthopedic Doctor. That is if | | | | Manual Physical Therapy is NOT the same as |
| surgery is not recommended. So what should you | | | | regular physical therapy
there are some major |
| expect? The process will start with an evaluation | | | | differences and here are just a few: |
| and here may be the start of the problem
| | | | 1. Manual therapy consists of hands on muscle |
| here is why
. the doctor has to write a | | | | work primarily whereas traditional physical therapy |
| prescription with a diagnosis on it. You give the | | | | consists of heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical |
| prescription to the PT and he or she will perform | | | | stimulation, etc |
| an evaluation... chances are the PT will simply | | | | 2. Manual therapist will typically perform a much |
| confirm the diagnosis from the doctor, however | | | | more thorough physical evaluation |
| the hope should be that they take the extra step | | | | 3. Manual therapists will usually be able to spend |
| to look for the root cause of your pain. They | | | | more time with each patient |
| may but chances are they have several other | | | | 4. Manual therapy is more holistic in it’s |
| clients in the office at the same time and simply | | | | approach and focuses the body as a whole |
| do not have the time. | | | | unit
something lacking from nearly all traditional |
| So without a comprehensive evaluation to identify | | | | treatments for back pain. |
| the root cause of you pain they will simply treat | | | | So before you say, I’ve already tried |
| your symptoms. We have just identified the | | | | physical therapy
did you try manual |
| second problem. The health care industry is | | | | physical therapy? They are two very different |
| required to show improvement with each and | | | | treatment approaches and I highly recommend |
| every session so the push is to reduce your | | | | you consider manual physical therapy. |
| symptoms to show progress in order for them | | | | Conclusion |
| to get paid. The long and short of it is that yes | | | | As you can see traditional treatments are the |
| your pain can be reduced but the root cause | | | | main stay of modern medicine
not necessarily |
| rarely gets addressed, meaning that the pain and | | | | for the patients benefit, but it’s just how |
| your suffering will return again and again. | | | | the system works best for itself. The system will |
| So what should you do? When selecting a Physical | | | | not change until the system is confronted with a |
| Therapy office you may want to ask how many | | | | very powerful competitive force. That force may |
| patients the office sees in a day and how many | | | | well be complementary or alternative care from |
| PTs they have on staff... then ask how many | | | | the likes of Personal Trainers, Acupuncturists, |
| patients can a PT work with in an hour. Do not be | | | | Massage Therapists, Manual Physical Therapists, |
| surprised to hear that a PT can see up to three | | | | and the like. |
| patients in an hour. That’s you and two | | | | So that’s what we’ve tried to |
| others at the same time. Do you think you will | | | | do
force change. The traditional treatments |
| get the attention and proper treatments you | | | | that people have been receiving for decades just |
| need? I doubt it. | | | | doesn’t work, and we have found a |
| There is a little joke in Physical Therapy when | | | | combination approach that not only works the |
| treating patients and it has to do with what | | | | best, but it’s safe, natural, and inexpensive. |
| course of modalities you will get. The joke is called | | | | Check out our Lose the Back Pain video |
| Shake and Bake and it refers to everyone gets | | | | now
it will show you how to identify the cause |
| the same treatment protocol
that way it can | | | | of your back pain and the show you the exact |
| be timed so that your PT can see other people | | | | combination of steps to take to eliminate it. |
| simultaneously. What goes into a shake and bake | | | | If you have tried other treatments with little or |
| treatment? It may start with a spin on a | | | | no relief/improvement, you owe it to yourself to |
| stationary bike or a trot a treadmill than you will | | | | try this approach
so take charge of your |
| get a 3 to 5 minute Ultrasound over the effected | | | | health and get started now working towards not |
| area followed by Electrical Stimulation to the area | | | | only a pain free back, but a healthy and balanced |
| with a little Ice strapped to your body and to | | | | body! Only you can fix your back
all you need |
| finish off your session you will get a hand out with | | | | is the right approach! |
| exercises you should do at home. Certainly not a | | | | Warning: This article is not intended to be medical |
| recipe for success! | | | | advice however its intent is to make you a |
| Chiropractic Care | | | | better, smatter and more informed client. The |
| One of the most common treatments for back | | | | more you know and understand about your |
| pain is Chiropractic Care. The approach consists of | | | | medical condition the better off you will be when |
| physical manipulations of bones and joints in an | | | | it comes time to make the hard choices. As well |
| attempt to line things back up and it's | | | | as communicating with medical professionals.... |
| recommended typically 2-3 times per week. | | | | believe me it will make a world of difference. |
| The problem with this approach is that the same | | | | |