What’s the best back pain treatment? It depends on where the pain is coming from. If your back pain originates in your neck and upper back and it radiates down toward your shoulders, then rest and ice may be enough to take care of it. But if your back pain trouble originates in your lower back and/or buttocks and it radiates downward to your shoulders, then you might want to consider physical therapy or chiropractic services. If it’s muscular in nature, you won’t need surgery, but if its a pulled, pinched nerve, then you might need to have surgery, for example, when it is due to a spinal disc herniation, spinal stenosis or some other problem.
Physical therapy is designed to help people regain strength and flexibility while reducing stiffness, pain and mobility restriction. Most commonly, the goal of physical therapy is to reduce pain, limit or eliminate mobility restrictions, improve function, and increase muscle and bone strength. Spinal decompression is also another form of therapy, this involves preparing the spine for potential future injuries by lengthening the spine with traction or a brace. This type of treatment can help treat conditions like herniated disks, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis. Chiropractic services meanwhile treat conditions such as jaw disorders, headaches, tension, whiplash, stress, asthma, sinusitis, migraine, TMJ, spinal cord compression, urinary incontinence, sciatica, digestive problems, insomnia, and low back pain. In addition, they can prescribe medications to help control symptoms of certain disorders, prescribe exercise programs, and recommend therapeutic massages and stretching techniques.
But which type of therapy or medicine best offers relief? It depends on your individual needs and what you’re willing to put up with. Physical therapy or massage can give fast relief and can keep you active in your daily activities. Chiropractors can provide fast relief through manual manipulation, deep breathing exercises, stretching and strengthening exercises.