Johnson Chiropractic
Back & Neck Pain
Back pain is a warning sign much like the piercing sound from a smoke alarm. The alarm isn’t the problem. The alarm has a cause, just as every ache or pain does. Some people choose to cover up the pain instead of correcting the cause. What’s your approach?
The nerve rich facet joints on the back side of each spinal bone are a common cause of back pain as are the discs between spinal bones that act as spacers, connectors, and shock absorbers. If the facet joints aren’t moving right or if the discs have begun to bulge or herniate, you are no doubt experiencing pain.
What are your choices?
Bed rest is a possibility but research has shown that prolonged bed rest can actually delay recovery and make problems worse!
Another choice is drugs. While drugs can offer temporary relief, they can’t correct functional problems of affected spinal joints.
The most drastic measure is surgery. You can opt for a laminectomy or a spinal fusion, but surgery is expensive, risky, and more than half of all back surgeries fail.
It is not surprising that more and more people are choosing chiropractic. Chiropractic can help improve spinal function. It is natural and safe and addresses the underlying cause of the problem.
People are choosing to circumvent insurance companies that deny coverage for chiropractic care by making arrangements directly with the doctor. We offer ways to make chiropractic care affordable for just about anyone.
Patient results vary depending upon many factors. Length of treatment in your case will be reflected by the length of time you have had your problem, whether or not you are keeping your appointments. Are you getting proper rest, exercise and nutrition? Are you in otherwise good health? In general most people sense a change within a very short period of time that justifies completing our recommendations.
After patients get the relief they want, many choose to continue with some time of periodic care.
Low back pain is caused by spinal strain and postural fatigue in about 70% of cases not caused by more serious conditions. Depending on specific examination results, a basic treatment plan would include the following basic steps supported by the introduction of custom orthotics:
1. Reduction of pain: Ice / heat therapy and activity restrictions, bed rest, supports.
2. Recovery of function: Spinal and extremity adjustments, physiotherapy, low-level exercise
3. Rehabilitation: Recovery of full, normal, unrestricted activities requiring continued spinal
adjustments, expanded exercise, postural retraining, and use of orthotics
4. Reinforcement: A continuing prevention program and maintenance visits
Sciatica is a distracting pain that starts in the lower back and extends down into one or both legs. Chiropractic care has proven to be quite helpful in relieving its effects.
Sciatica is often the result of cumulative damage to the sciatic nerve resulting in swelling and inflammation. Years of bad posture, poor muscle tone, excess weight or countless other causes set the stage, then something quite innocent triggers an episode.
Sciatica often worsens with extended bed rest. Pain pills or muscle relaxers are unable to correct the nerve compression caused by a bulging disc. Physical therapy exercises the unstable joints, and surgery often involves a radical cutting away of disc tissue.
Chiropractic adjustment on the other hand improves joint motion and has resulted in positive results for millions.
Most sciatica patients are delighted with the results they get after weeks or months of care. In general these patients choose to continue with periodic chiropractic checkups.
Besides discomfort, chronic neck pain is a sign that something is wrong. Your neck is the most vulnerable part of your spine. Not only does it support your 10- to 12- pound head, maintain a gentle forward curve, and permit head rotation, but it must also allow the free flow of nerve impulses to the head, face, hands and the rest of your body.
A thorough exam can determine if you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care. Can you turn and bend? What is the muscle tone of the supporting muscles of the neck? Diagnostic imaging to reveal the underlying structure of the spine may be requested. All these measures are designed to identify the cause and location of your neck pain.
The most common cause of neck pain is functional distortions in the spine resulting from vertebral subluxations.
These subluxations are seen in cases of reverse cervical curve, whiplash, and joint instability. The body’s response is to tighten muscles in the neck. Chiropractic care can help.
Most of the pain-sensing nerves in the neck are located in the pairs of facet joints on the back side of each vertebra. If these joints become locked or fixated, neck pain can result. Chiropractic can restore proper joint motion.
A more difficult problem to correct is the degenerative changes that result from neglect. Years of uncorrected spinal problems can cause bone spurs, disc thinning, and other forms of spinal decay. These types of problems respond more slowly, and some type of on-going supportive chiropractic care may be necessary.
Many patients are surprised when their chiropractic examination involves other areas of their body besides the local site of their symptom(s). Some neck pain cases can be a compensation to problems in the feet, knees, hips and lower back. Your chiropractor sees you as a whole person, not just a collection of parts.
Whiplash can have tragic consequences on your health. What you do about it in the next hours, days and weeks after an accident can forever affect your life. Specific chiropractic spinal adjustments can help restore proper motion and position of individual spinal bones and can help assure proper healing. Chiropractors can help you get well and stay well after the trauma of a whiplash injury.
Information courtesy of the following publications and their publishers: "Low Back Pain: A Guide for Patients," Foot Levelers, Inc., 2005; "Neck Pain: What Patients Want to Know about Neck Pain," Patient Media, Inc., 2003; "Sciatica: What Patients Want to Know about Sciatica," Patient Media, Inc., 2003; and "Whiplash: What Patients Want to Know about Whiplash," Patient Media, Inc., 2002.
Johnson Chiropractic
2210 Omro Road, Suite A
(1st stoplight west of Highways 21 & 41)
Oshkosh, WI 54904
(920) 426-4200
